Mind maps are graphical representations of information. In contrast to the traditional, linear notes  you make in a text document, mind maps let you capture thoughts, ideas and keywords on a blank  canvas where you can organize them in a two-dimensional structure. The title/main idea is always  located in the center of the map and thus always clearly visible. Related ideas branch off from the center  in all directions, creating a radiant structure.

There are many reasons why mind mapping is used by millions of professionals, creatives and students  all over the world. Here are the top 4:

1) Mind maps can store and structure vast amounts of information. They display hierarchy, show  relationships between individual ideas and enable you to see the “big picture” at a glance. These  features also make mind maps an ideal tool to present information to others, create knowledge pools  and solve complex problems.

2) Mind mapping enables you to learn faster, communicate more efficiently and brainstorm more  effectively. Whether you’re planning a project at work or writing a scientific paper—mind mapping will  help you save tremendous amounts of time. According to a survey by the Mind Mapping Software Blog,  mind mapping software can increase productivity by an average of 23%.

3) There are two things that make mind maps the best brainstorming tool out there. One: The act of  developing a mind map stimulates our brain like no other technique and fosters a creative flow of ideas.  Two: Mind maps allow you to transcribe those ideas with incredible speed, making for a virtually  frictionless thought organization.

During a study1 done in 2004 about the effectiveness of mind mapping for students’ writing  assignments, 10 out of 12 people found that mind mapping improved their writing. Not only is it a great  technique for students to prepare their essays and papers, it’s also a fantastic method for bloggers to  outline articles and for authors to overcome writer’s block.

4) Mind maps present information visually. They feature a number of powerful mental triggers such as  images, colors, shapes and connections which help our brain process and memorize large amounts of  information. Studies have found that mind maps can improve memory by 10-15%, others go even higher  and estimate improvements of up to 32%.2 Especially students with learning difficulties such as dyslexia  or high-functioning autism have reported that they find mind maps to be invaluable study aids.

You need to know the various advantages of mind mapping. If you don’t know it yet… this simple,  practical tool enhances your creative thinking and enables you to become more productive and  efficient.

Mind mapping increases your creativity and productivity because it’s an excellent tool to let you  generate more ideas, identify relationships among the different data and information, and effectively  improve your memory and retention.

Making a mind map is an excellent way for you to be able to sort through your thoughts and ideas.  This activity allows you to quickly generate creative and even unique ideas in less time. It gives you the

freedom you need when brainstorming so that the flow of ideas is not blocked or hampered like linear  thinking does.

This method is a great way for you to categorize and organize the ideas you brainstormed and  identify their relationships. By using a single page or space you can already place a huge amount of  information and check its connections. Making connections is easier to do because you have all the  information about a particular topic in a single glance. It can even help you discover new relationships  among seemingly unrelated ideas and information.

The use of colours, images, and keywords in mind mapping aids in enhancing your memory and  retention. Isn’t it easier to remember information this way rather than reading long sentences? The use  of colours, images, and keywords also help make learning more interesting and fun so you become more  motivated to remember important details.

Mind mapping also has its share of disadvantages. Although the following disadvantages doesn’t take  away the benefits that mind mapping undoubtedly provides it’s still useful to know some of its  downside.

Mind mapping may be difficult for those people who are very logical in the way they think. In  brainstorming for example mind mapping encourages you to let the flow of ideas go freely. You even  need to let your intuition work. For logical people it will be hard to trust their intuitive side because logic  is telling them that this way of thinking is not possible.

To be able to fully understand the meaning of a mind map active participation is important. You have  to know that mind maps provide a self explanatory information and structure that can be understood  best by the person or people who took part in making it. So it might be a little difficult for other people  who did not witness the activity to make complete sense out of the mind map.


Mind maps are graphical representations of information . In contrast to the traditional , linear notes you make in a text document , mind maps let you capture thoughts , ideas and keywords on a blank canvas where you can organize them in a two - dimensional structure . The title / main idea is always located in the center of the map and thus always clearly visible . Related ideas branch off from the center in all directions , creating a radiant structure . There are many reasons why mind mapping is used by millions of professionals , creatives and students all over the world . Here are the top 4 : 1 ) Mind maps can store and structure vast amounts of information . They display hierarchy , show relationships between individual ideas and enable you to see the “ big picture ” at a glance . These features also make mind maps an ideal tool to present information to others , create knowledge pools and solve complex problems . 2 ) Mind mapping enables you to learn faster , communicate more efficiently and brainstorm more effectively . Whether you ’re planning a project at work or writing a scientific paper — mind mapping will help you save tremendous amounts of time . According to a survey by the Mind Mapping Software Blog , mind mapping software can increase productivity by an average of 23 % . 3 ) There are two things that make mind maps the best brainstorming tool out there . One : The act of developing a mind map stimulates our brain like no other technique and fosters a creative flow of ideas . Two : Mind maps allow you to transcribe those ideas with incredible speed , making for a virtually frictionless thought organization . During a study1 done in 2004 about the effectiveness of mind mapping for students ’ writing assignments , 10 out of 12 people found that mind mapping improved their writing . Not only is it a great technique for students to prepare their essays and papers , it ’s also a fantastic method for bloggers to outline articles and for authors to overcome writer ’s block . 4 ) Mind maps present information visually . They feature a number of powerful mental triggers such as images , colors , shapes and connections which help our brain process and memorize large amounts of information . Studies have found that mind maps can improve memory by 10 - 15 % , others go even higher and estimate improvements of up to 32%.2 Especially students with learning difficulties such as dyslexia or high - functioning autism have reported that they find mind maps to be invaluable study aids . You need to know the various advantages of mind mapping . If you do n’t know it yet … this simple , practical tool enhances your creative thinking and enables you to become more productive and efficient . Mind mapping increases your creativity and productivity because it ’s an excellent tool to let you generate more ideas , identify relationships among the different data and information , and effectively improve your memory and retention . Making a mind map is an excellent way for you to be able to sort through your thoughts and ideas . This activity allows you to quickly generate creative and even unique ideas in less time . It gives you the freedom you need when brainstorming so that the flow of ideas is not blocked or hampered like linear thinking does . This method is a great way for you to categorize and organize the ideas you brainstormed and identify their relationships . By using a single page or space you can already place a huge amount of information and check its connections . Making connections is easier to do because you have all the information about a particular topic in a single glance . It can even help you discover new relationships among seemingly unrelated ideas and information . The use of colours , images , and keywords in mind mapping aids in enhancing your memory and retention . Is n’t it easier to remember information this way rather than reading long sentences ? The use of colours , images , and keywords also help make learning more interesting and fun so you become more motivated to remember important details . Mind mapping also has its share of disadvantages . Although the following disadvantages does n’t take away the benefits that mind mapping undoubtedly provides it ’s still useful to know some of its downside . Mind mapping may be difficult for those people who are very logical in the way they think . In brainstorming for example mind mapping encourages you to let the flow of ideas go freely . You even need to let your intuition work . For logical people it will be hard to trust their intuitive side because logic is telling them that this way of thinking is not possible . To be able to fully understand the meaning of a mind map active participation is important . You have to know that mind maps provide a self explanatory information and structure that can be understood best by the person or people who took part in making it . So it might be a little difficult for other people who did not witness the activity to make complete sense out of the mind map .