Oblique Cards

Get unstuck in seconds. Oblique Cards is a deck of short, surprising prompts that help you reframe problems, find focus, and move forward—at work and in life.

Inspired by Brian Eno and Peter Schmidt’s Oblique Strategies (1975), reimagined for modern life and a wider set of topics.

How it works

• Swipe right to see the next prompt.
• Swipe left to save a favorite.
• Open your favorites anytime for a reliable nudge.

Why it helps

• Breaks ruts: randomness interrupts habitual thinking.
• Adds constraints: small rules reduce overwhelm and spark momentum.
• Encourages lateral thinking: fresh angles reveal overlooked options.
• Focuses action: each card is short, clear, and immediately usable.

What you’ll find inside

• Productivity & Daily Routine: Alter the scale, context, or entry point of a task, rather than the task itself.
• Writing: For the scene that won't resolve and the page that won't start. These are creative crowbars, not direct answers.
• Relationships & Communication: Focus on the other person, the unspoken dynamic, or the assumptions being made.
• Career & Professional Life: Challenge the established roles, processes, or definitions of success.
• Personal Growth & Mindset: Prompt introspection about one's internal narratives, beliefs, and emotional state.
• Decision Making & Problem Solving: Manipulate the constraints, variables, or fundamental logic of the problem itself.
• Health & Wellness: Promote gentle, intuitive action and listening to the body's signals.

Use it when

• You’re stuck and need a fresh angle fast
• You’re choosing between options and want a new lens
• You’re starting a session and want direction
• You’re journaling or reflecting and want better prompts

Features

• Simple, fast, and focused: one swipe, one idea
• Favorites to build your personal deck
• Wide range of prompts for work and life

Oblique Cards gives you just enough structure to get moving—and enough surprise to see possibilities you were missing.