What is Mind Mapping?
Mind mapping is a visual tool for the brain that captures the thinking that goes on in your mind, representing ideas and concepts in a graphical way.
Mind mapping helps you structure information allowing you to better collect knowledge to remember and create ideas and analyze, comprehend and synthesize thoughts to become an overall better thinker.
Mind mapping allows you to structure information in a way that resembles how your brain actually works using these 7 key pieces:
Central Theme
Associations
Curved Lines
Keywords
Proximity
7 Associations
Color and Images
Click the button below to check out our Mind Mapping Journal, complete with blank templates to get you started on your mind mapping journey.
Exploring the Parts of Mind Mapping
Central Theme
The central theme is the title, subject, problem or thought that you want to focus on.
Associations
Associations radiate out from the central theme. There are first level associations, second level associations, third level and so on. When you create these associations connections are made that are essential for remembering and thinking.
Curved Lines
Associations are drawn and connected with curved lines. The human mind likes curves more than straight lines, as they are typically perceived as gentle and harmonious. With straight lines being associated with sharpness, rigidity and feelings of agitation.
Keywords
Mind maps use keywords to summarize information rather than using complete sentences. Keywords allow for more creative freedom and clarity.
Proximity
The length of the curved line should be the same length as the word it is underlining. This allows words that are associated with one another to appear closer in proximity, thereby creating order and flow.
7 Associations
A mind map can have an unlimited number of first level associations, but the mind can best comprehend 7 associations stemming from the central theme.
Color and Images
The use of color and imagery in
mind mapping makes a significant difference in retaining information. Mind mapping is a creative process and including visual clues and colorful drawings helps engage your imagination. You’ll be surprised where your mind can take you when you encourage your creative freedom.
How to Use Mind Mapping
Here are a few basic steps to get started.
1. Begin by placing your central theme at the middle of a blank page.
(Tip: Use a colorful image to represent the central theme.)
2. Develop associations or sub topics around your central theme. These should be single words, use imagery and color. Aim for 3-7 first level associations.
3. Connect the associations with a curvilinear line to the central theme.
(Tip: The length of the word should match the length of the line to keep associated words in close proximity.)
4. Repeat with second level associations, third level and so on.
(Tip: Vary font, size and color to provide visual cues to emphasize important ideas.)
5. Connect your associations and see where your mind takes you.
Check out our Journal below!
Benefits of Mind Mapping
Mind Mapping has many uses and can be extremely helpful in a magnitude of ways.
You can use mind mapping to to take notes in business meetings as a way to organize the information you are receiving. You can use the technique to brainstorm for solutions and come up with creative and insightful ways to solve problems.
In your personal life you can use mind mapping to plan vacations, manage outings and events that require multiple steps. This type of visual organization allows your mind to creatively approach complex situations.
Mind mapping is a great tool to help you remember and recall the important transitions in your life, such as graduation, marriage, your first job, buying a home, having children and significant celebrations.