Every long session has an energy dip: after lunch, after a dense presentation, or 90 minutes into a video call. An energizer is a short activity that resets attention so people can do their best thinking again. This guide explains when to use energizers, how they differ from icebreakers, and 25 energizers for workshops, training, meetings, and online sessions, most of which take five minutes or less.
What Is an Energizer?
An energizer is a brief activity, usually two to five minutes, used during a session to raise energy, refocus attention, or shift the group’s mood. Energizers often involve movement, laughter, or quick thinking. Unlike icebreakers, which help people get to know each other at the start, energizers are used in the middle of a session when attention starts to fade.
When to Use an Energizer
- Right after lunch or a long break
- After a long block of presentation or reading
- When you notice side conversations, phones, or blank faces
- Between two very different activities, to mark a transition
- In online sessions, roughly every 45 to 60 minutes
Movement Energizers (In Person)
- Stand and stretch with a question. Everyone stands. Ask a quick question and have people answer to a neighbor while stretching.
- Walk and talk. Pairs take a three-minute walk while discussing a prompt related to the next activity.
- Change seats. Ask everyone to move to a table with people they have not worked with yet. Simple and surprisingly effective.
- Four corners. Label the room’s corners with four options, such as four approaches to a problem. People move to the corner they prefer and discuss why.
- Count to twenty. The group counts to twenty, one person at a time, with no order agreed in advance. If two people speak at once, start again. It requires focus and builds attention.
- Rock, paper, scissors tournament. Losers become cheerleaders for the winner until two finalists remain. Loud and quick.
- Human sculpture. Small groups form a still image of a concept from the session, such as “great teamwork” or “our customer’s frustration.”
Thinking Energizers
- Thirty circles. Give each person a sheet with thirty circles and three minutes to turn as many as possible into recognizable objects. A classic creativity warm-up.
- Alternative uses. List as many uses for a paper clip or a brick as possible in two minutes.
- Yes, and. Pairs plan an imaginary event, each line starting with “Yes, and…” to build on the previous idea.
- Word at a time story. The group tells a story one word per person.
- Quick quiz. Five fast questions about the content so far, answered in teams.
- Headline it. Teams write a newspaper headline that summarizes the last session.
Online Energizers
- Scavenger hunt. Give people 60 seconds to find something in their space, such as something blue, something old, or something that makes them smile, and show it on camera.
- Chat waterfall. Everyone types an answer and waits to press enter until you say go.
- Stand up if. Cameras on, people stand if a statement applies to them.
- Emoji story. Describe your morning in three emojis in the chat.
- Draw it. Everyone draws something on paper in 30 seconds and holds it up to the camera.
- Whiteboard sprint. Two minutes to add as many sticky notes as possible to a shared board on a fun prompt.
- Breathing reset. One minute of guided breathing with cameras optional. Calm can be energizing too.
Quick Energizers for Meetings
- One-word check-in. Each person says one word about how they are doing right now.
- Two-minute stand-up. Finish the next agenda item standing.
- Gratitude round. Each person thanks someone for something specific.
- Quick poll. A light poll on a topic related to the agenda.
- Silent minute. One minute for everyone to write their own thoughts before discussion.
Energizers vs. Icebreakers
| Energizer | Icebreaker | |
|---|---|---|
| Timing | Middle of a session | Start of a session |
| Purpose | Raise or reset energy | Introductions and trust |
| Length | 2 to 5 minutes | 5 to 15 minutes |
| Typical form | Movement, fast games, quick thinking | Questions, sharing, getting to know each other |
For start-of-session ideas, see these icebreakers for meetings, workshops, and webinars.
Tips for Using Energizers Well
- Keep it optional. Offer a way to participate for people who cannot or prefer not to move.
- Connect it to the content when you can, so it feels purposeful rather than random.
- Explain briefly and start quickly. Long instructions kill energy.
- Read the room. A senior leadership group and a student group need different energizers.
- Build them into your agenda rather than improvising. See these workshop agenda examples.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long should an energizer be?
Two to five minutes is ideal. Longer activities start to compete with the session’s real work.
How often should I use energizers?
In a full-day workshop, after lunch and once in each long block. Online, roughly every 45 to 60 minutes or whenever attention drops.
What is a good energizer for a virtual meeting?
A 60-second scavenger hunt or a chat waterfall works well because everyone participates at once with no setup.
Want more techniques for keeping groups engaged? InnovationTraining.org’s guide on how to facilitate a workshop covers energy, pacing, and participation in depth.
