It was "cognitive shuffling". While eyes closed, pick a 5-6 letter word (like Blanket), then starting from first letter start making words while visualising each briefly (baloon, bed, bicycle, banana and so on). When first letter is fully exhausted for you, move to next one and do the same.

From what I read and have experienced, I rarely reach second letter. This helped my wife too.

There was another variation where you pick one category (fruits, cities etc) then make words starting from A to Z. Then move to next category. This one requires more mental work for me therefore I haven't tried it yet.

If either works for you, please update :)