A mind map is a graphical way to represent ideas and concepts. It is a visual thinking tool that helps structuring information, helping you to better analyze, comprehend, synthesize, recall and generate new ideas.
Just as in every great idea, its power lies in its simplicity.
In a mind map, as opposed to traditional note taking or a linear text, information is structured in a way that resembles much more closely how your brain actually works. Since it is an activity that is both analytical and artistic, it engages your brain in a much, much richer way, helping in all its cognitive functions. And, best of all, it is fun!
So, how does a mind map look like? Better than explaining is showing you an example.
This is a mind map about - conveniently enough - mind mapping itself. It presents, in a visual way, the core elements and techniques on how to draw mind maps. Yes, I know this may look a little too messy initially, but bear with me: once you break the ingrained habit of linear note taking, you won’t look back.
Benefits and Uses
I think I already gave away the benefits of mind mapping and why mind maps work. Basically, mind mapping avoids dull, linear thinking, jogging your creativity and making note taking fun again.
But what can we use mind maps for?
- Note taking
- Brainstorming (individually or in groups)
- Problem solving
- Studying and memorization
- Planning
- Researching and consolidating information from multiple sources
- Presenting information
- Gaining insight on complex subjects
- Jogging your creativity
It is hard to make justice to the number of uses mind maps can have - the truth is that they can help clarify your thinking in pretty much anything, in many different contexts: personal, family, educational or business. Planning you day or planning your life, summarizing a book, launching a project, planning and creating presentations, writing blog posts -well, you get the idea - anything, really.
How to Draw a Mind Map
Drawing a mind map is as simple as 1-2-3:
- Start in the middle of a blank page, writing or drawing the idea you intend to develop. I would suggest that you use the page in landscape orientation.
- Develop the related subtopics around this central topic, connecting each of them to the center with a line.
- Repeat the same process for the subtopics, generating lower-level subtopics as you see fit, connecting each of those to the corresponding subtopic.
Some more recommendations:
- Use colors, drawings and symbols copiously. Be as visual as you can, and your brain will thank you. I’ve met many people who don’t even try, with the excuse they’re "not artists". Don’t let that keep you from trying it out!.
- Keep the topics labels as short as possible, keeping them to a single word - or, better yet, to only a picture. Especially in your first mind maps, the temptation to write a complete phrase is enormous, but always look for opportunities to shorten it to a single word or figure - your mind map will be much more effective that way.
- Vary text size, color and alignment. Vary the thickness and length of the lines. Provide as many visual cues as you can to emphasize important points. Every little bit helps engaging your brain.
Final Thoughts
Mind mapping is an absolutely fascinating and rich topic - this post only scratches the surface. If you want more reference material now, Wikipedia is always a good starting point.
Mind mapping is a passion for me, and it is one of the strongest drivers behind this blog. I plan to explore it in much more depth - publishing mind maps, providing tips, talking about computer mind mapping, and much more. Just make sure to keep visiting (or better yet, subscribe).
In the meantime, please give mind mapping a chance - try it out. Follow there handy tips and see the results for yourself. Don’t worry too much about doing it the "right" way - just make it fun.
To inspire you, one more great mind map from Buzan Centre Australia on Creative Intelligence.
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Never heard of it but it looks interesting, i checked ubuntu has some software for that, busy checking it out.
Hi, esvl. You’re probably talking about Freemind, which is a cross-platform, free mind mapping software that can run on Linux. I plan to review it here soon.
I´ve been using this tool since when my friend Luciano presented it to me, about one or two years ago. It´s incredible what it can do to organize my thoughts, in order to visualize a lot of ideas and concepts globally and integrally. Thank you, Luciano! My academical and professional works are really improving their quality.
Thanks, Giuliano. I appreciate your testimonial and feel really glad you could get so much from mind mapping in the last few years.
hi!
I used before one tool called MindManager (I am not sure about the name). Anyway, I used to use this tool to organize the ideas of IT Projects.
I did not know the theory behind it… not even the strength of it.
Do you know any freeware (windows) for it?
cheers
daniel
Cinalli, please check my response to esvl’s comment above. Freemind is a free Java application and runs wherever Java runs - Windows, Linux or Mac.
It is not as good as MindManager - but you get what you pay for!
Mind Maps can be used for a large range of things, for example:
http://internetducttape.com/20.....omplexity/
Luciano,
This is a nice piece on mind mapping - well chosen illustrations.
Anyone wanting to know about available software should be aware that there over a hundred applications doing this sort of thing, so look around before comitting the time to learning one only to find another more appealing later.
FreeMind is good, and it’s free as has already been pointed out, but there are web-based free ones as well. Here are some: bubbl.us, bubble-mind.com, comapping.com, glinkr.net, kayuda.com, mapul.com, mind42.com, mindomo.com, mindmeister.com, webofweb.net
Then there are diagramming tools like gliffy.com, cumulatelabs.com/cumulatedraw/ and flowchart.com that handle mindmaps quite well, and many other desktop mind mapping applications.
Regards
Vic
http://www.mind-mapping.org
The master list of mind mapping &
information management software
Hello All!
I just want to share my last experience with Mind Mapping.
I am new into it.
But, yesterday, I was going home by subway thinking about a specific system I would like to build. It is relatively complex but the purpose is to help a friend’s family.
Then, I took my credit card bill and started to write the logic… using mind mapping…
Yesterday I could complete 70% of the logic… and today, coming to my job I finished and everything looks so clear.
I can say I am a new big fan of it.
cinalli
Hi,
I’m in the process of writing a piece for my study and I would like to put your drawings on mind mapping in because they make so clear how it works.
Please let me know if it is oke.
Have a nice day!
Simone
@Simone: The mind maps used in this post are originally from Buzan Centre Australia (credited in the post). Yes, they’re beautiful, but, OUCH, I just noticed they’re also copyrighted. I will get in touch with them for permission to use. You should also do the same.
I’ve heard of mind mapping and wanted to get started with it a long time ago, but I’m a procrastinator. I recently started a blog on self improvement and memory improvement and I came across this blog.
After reading this post, I really want to get into mind mapping. I love writing, and I’m reading a book right now that’s about the craft of fiction and I’d love to do a mind map of it. It’s easy to be reluctant, though, because it feels like you need some kind of structure, but this post inspired me to just do it and see what happens.
Thanks!
Another purile statement of the obvious with lots of “awesome# type comments from sycophants hoping that others will respond by saying nice things about them in return.
Get a real job sponger.
@ John Orrett,
The great thing about the Internet is that they aren’t beaming sites directly into our brains yet. You have the ability to navigate to sites that you like and ignore sites that you don’t. Nobody is writing things that everyone is going to like, but obviously there exists a group of people for whom Luciano’s blog is informative and enjoyable. What would be “puerile” (is that what you meant?) would be sitting around all day reading sites you don’t like and complaining about them.
If trolling is your goal, then might I suggest you be a little more creative about it? Perhaps you could organize your objections a little better, or demonstrate your profoundly elevated insight into this topic.
There are actually some great techniques for how to do this - I would recommend that you check out this article: http://litemind.com/what-is-mind-mapping/ - you may find the information there useful.
Skairam: Genial answer. Applause.
John: please, bark elsewhere.
skairam
Great response. It always amazes me that some people spend time trolling and complaining about other people trying to grow and contribute. This is especially fascinating when their contributions add zero to the conversation. They live in glass houses and yet throw stones! Maybe they should do a mind map of their own thought process and motivation.
I’ve been using mind maps for 5+ years now. Love them. They help me catalog, document, create with words yet they allow me to stay towards the Right Side of the Brain (aka R-Mode).
Thanks for the great post.
“We don’t need no hateration, holleration, in this dancery. … We just want ya’ll to have a good time. No more drama in your life. … If you got beef, your problem; not mine. Leave all that BS outside. … Let’s have fun tonight; no fights.” — “Family Affair” by Mary J. Blige
Great post, Luciano! I prefer brainstorming with straight lists like I did in my post about what people might like to do if they only had one year to live at http://shanelyang.com/2008/08/.....r-to-live/ Mind-mapping always seemed too spread out in all directions for my taste, but I’m gonna give it a whirl. ; )
Shanel,
Maybe the linear list versus the mind map approach has to do with left-brain versus right-brain activities? Just wondering? I’m mostly right brain so it seems real natural to mind map. As to the spread out nature of maps, I actually find a great map can be used to present concepts much more densely than in linear fashion and one that the viewer doesn’t notice the density. This is especially true if you are doing presentations. So my preference is 95% toward Mind Maps and away from Powerpoint or Mac products like Keynote.
I once had a large program health assessment map that contained over 800 concepts and root causes and was able to map that on a tabloid (11×17) sized piece of paper. Walking people through it was a breeze. No one was mind mappers and no one complained.
Mind map tools that allow expand and collapse of topic branches helps. Mind Manager does this (mindjet.com) and I think FreeMind does (but it has been awhile since I used FreeMind). I’m sure there are other products that do this as well.
The map (if you use the right tools) also allows for showing relationships better than in linear fashion. Maybe I’ll post a comment on your blog post showing my first cut at what I want to accomplish before I die. Originally had 118 goals on that map.
Thanks - it is always interesting to see how other people work. there are no right and wrong ways. Only ways that work for us as individuals.
Cheers
Eric