Mindmapping is a quick and easy way to brainstorm your thoughts about a topic. It is meant to be an organic process that allows you to visually structure your ideas. The point is to get thoughts onto paper to help you think through things or analyze them. You may have done some sort of mind map activity in school, especially if you ever took some sort of writing class. However, mind mapping isn’t just useful for getting assignments done. Mindmapping is a great tool to help you think through any situation.
What is Mindmapping?
A mind map is a diagram with a central concept or subject at the center. Around that concept are words, tasks, and ideas branching out that link to the central concept in one way or another. There is no set layout. It is a free-thinking exercise to get things out of your mind and onto a piece of paper so you can see it.
Mindmapping is a brainstorming activity. A mind map is a way to generate ideas by association and see your thoughts in a memorable way. It is a perfect activity for problem solving, visualizing ideas, organizing thoughts, taking notes, and making decisions. It can actually show you the way your brain thinks things through, which can be helpful when you are trying to prioritize things or make decisions.
Since mindmapping is a way to express your brain’s natural way of thinking, everyone’s mind maps will look different – even when two people are mindmapping the same concept. Someone who is hyper-organized and who thinks in a very linear way might have a very structured and organized mind map, while someone who tends to jump from idea to idea might have a mind map that circles all over the place and connects all kinds of things.
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Getting Started
To begin your mind map, start by placing your central concept or subject in the middle of your piece of paper. Next, using lines, arrows, speech bubbles, or whatever you like, add branches to connect key ideas that stem from that central concept. Cluster similar information together off each line or branch.
If it helps you organize ideas, you can use different colors to show connections between things. Use different colors to symbolize different things. For instance, write down things in blue that are essential to the concept or problem, purple for things you think are your most brilliant ideas, and red when something needs more thought or consideration.
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Your method is entirely up to you, but try to remain consistent so that you can better reflect on your mind map later on. However, be sure to draw branches and add topics quickly. It is important not to spend too much time taking major pauses or editing your thoughts. The idea here is to brainstorm and get your initial thoughts on paper. You want to consider all possibilities. But be sure to leave some space on the page so that you can go back and continue to add to your mind map if something else comes to you later.
You can also add little drawings and other visual elements to your mind map since images are often much more effective at conveying information than words. Do not worry about creating an artistic masterpiece though. If your mind map is simply words and lines on a page, you are doing just fine. This is an exercise to get ideas out of your head and into a space you can look at and digest.
Mindmapping for Any Situation
The cool thing about mindmapping is that you really can use it for anything. Say you want to plan a trip but are not sure where you want to go yet. You can create a mind map to help you decide where to go! You could start with something like Summer Vacation as your central concept. Branching off you might have Driving Trips and Flying Trips. From there, you could divide each of those into potential trips depending on where you live: The Beach, Chicago, Florida Keys, Grand Canyon, Camping, etc. Each destination could then branch off into things you could do there or reasons why you would like to go there.
Then you get to sit back and look at all your thoughts. Maybe walk away for a day and come back to your mind map and consider your options. Chances are you will find one there you like or it will prompt you to think of a few more ideas, one of which is probably a winner.
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You can use mindmapping for something like solving a problem. Put your problem or issue at the center and branch off with anything you associate with that problem. That might include people, things, situations, how it makes you feel when it happens, and possible solutions. Getting it on paper will help you digest it and come to a decision.
Mind map ways to get healthier, ideas for organizing a room in your house, your goals, and especially any creativity-related ideas. Mindmapping could even make an interesting journaling activity. Rather than keeping a typical journal, you could write a central concept down for that day – maybe the date and day of the week – and then branch off with things that happened that day.
Making a mind map is not just for high school students writing an essay. It is a great way to get things out of your mind so you can visualize your thoughts and think them through. Whether you stick to simple circles and lines or you do it up with colored pencils and little drawings, a mind map is a great way to generate ideas and problem-solve your way through anything.
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