MIND MAPPING

Mind mapping 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.

A mind map’s radiant structure directly corresponds to the way our brains store  and retrieve information.

A mind map conveys the hierarchy and relationships between individual ideas and  enables you to see the big picture.

A mind map makes use of mental triggers (such as pictures, colors, and  connections) to help your brain memorize things more easily.

The best part: mind mapping doesn’t feel like work!

Mind maps are a visual way to organize your thoughts around one topic using  words, colors, images and numbers to highlight ideas and draw connections.  Invented by Tony Buzan in the 1960s, mind mapping is much more than drawing:  It’s a framework to help you fully think through ideas, and show how topics and  ideas are connected and allowing with more flexibility than an outline or list  affords.

Mind mapping can be a solo or team activity, and they can be used for all types of  tasks: learning, thinking through ideas, strategic planning, mapping out processes  or organizing overwhelming amounts of information. I’ve even come across mind  maps made to plan weddings or organize Thanksgiving dinner.

You don't have to make a mind map—you could just jot a note down on that  napkin, or use an outlining app to list the things you're thinking about. So why  mind maps?

“Lists always get long, and they assign importance in terms of where the item is  on the list,” explained MeisterLabs co-founder Michael Hollauf. “If something is  further down, it’s inherently less important. If you have topics that are on a  similar level, it’s hard to show that in a list. Mind maps can reorganize really easily  if you decide something belongs to something else.”

In other words, instead of capturing information linearly by default, mind maps  can show–and help you discover–connections between different topics, the way  your mind works.

List or outlines can be great for small tasks, but Roberta told me fresh ideas are  more likely to pop up when creating a mind map because of the free format.  “When I’m planning a project, a mind map helps me capture my ideas without  having to lay out steps in a linear fashion. I find that a linear list, or even an  outline, hems me in and stops me thinking freely.”

For mind mapping beginners, it can be helpful to have a pro guide your first few  maps. "Look for someone who often uses mind maps and ask their opinion,”  Roberta told me. “This can help to remove blocks to mastering the technique in the  early days.”

