STRUCTURING IDEAS ISN'T ALWAYS THE EASIEST THING TO DO.
THE AVERAGE BRAIN HAS AROUND 60,000 THOUGHTS PER DAY.
— Laboratory of NeuroImaging at UCLA
Especially if your mind is constantly being bombarded with different thoughts. Next thing you know, you’re lost in your thoughts, not being able to find a structure to it; it all seems like untangled Christmas lights. There is a solution to this mumbo-jumbo: mind maps. Mind maps create an actual map of your thoughts and untangles them from the root and branches them out to other related thoughts. This easy to use technique - so simple even a grade-schooler could use it - helps you visualize exactly what structure your thoughts have taken and allows you to see the bigger picture. You might be surprised by what pops up.
The Power of Mind Maps
THE SKY IS THE LIMIT
There are no limitations when using mind maps. They are designed so you can be as creative as possible. Creating one is like painting your thoughts on a canvas which will allow you to analyze your thought process.
THE CALM AFTER THE STORM
This form of planning helps to calm the mind and organize its storm of thoughts with the help of creativity.
CONTROL YOUR MIND WITH CREATIVITY
All you really need is color pens or markers and paper and you’re set to go! What might have taken hours to work out the traditional way, now only takes minutes.
WHEN TO USE MIND MAPS
Mind mapping is useful for everyone!
IN BUSINESS, MANY ENTREPRENEURS USE MIND MAPS FOR:
Event planning: With so much precision involved in event planning, mind mapping can paint the bigger picture and allow for a cohesive flow of ideas.
Documenting procedures: This is how I get my clients to extract all their “savoir-faire” of how they do what they do. Once it’s mapped, we can document their procedures; then, it’s easy to delegate.
Weekly agenda & to-do lists: Heaps of tasks with no action plan will not motivate you to get them done. Mapping out your day or week to move from one task to the other will make your tasks more manageable and less stressful.
FOR STUDENTS, MIND MAPS CAN HELP AT 3 LEVELS:
Study tool: Making mind maps is an excellent way to study for exams!
Project planning: Brainstorm project ideas through your mind map and watch them come to life!
Essay outlines: Mapping out the different parts of your essay can help the flow of your ideas.
HOW TO CREATE A MIND MAP
The do's and don'ts of mapping your brain
ADD A SPLASH OF COLOURS
When creating mind maps there is a golden rule: use of colors. Not only does this make it fun and enables creativity but it also stimulates your brain visually. Imagine looking at a map of a public transit system in black and white. Now, imagine the same map in color. Which one would you be more likely to use? So, go ahead, don’t be shy to add life to your thoughts.
DRAW IMAGES
No worries; one does not have to be Da Vinci to draw the images on a mind map. It requires only simple doodling to make things fun and easier to remember. Remember when you draw, you create an image and an idea on the subject. The wackier the image,the easier it is to register for the brain. Many creative people think in images and heck, isn’t a picture worth a thousand words?
BRANCH OUT YOUR IDEAS
Using curved branches loosens those creative juices. Straight lines can be boring and quite repetitive. Stimulate your brain by creating interesting thick to thin curved lines.
GO WIDE WITH A LANDSCAPE ORIENTATION
When creating a mind map use your paper horizontally. A panoramic view creates more space to branch out your thoughts and creativity. Avoid using small or lined paper for mind maps because it will simply cramp your style.
USE PAPER FOR BETTER FLOW
For mind maps you want as much freedom as possible. Computers will not do the trick. Most people write faster than they can type. Instead, use paper. This old tech makes it easier for you to create images and allows the flow of thoughts to develop without restrictions.
Mind maps are great for studying planning and organizing. They have no limitations. In fact, the only limit is your imagination. Go ahead! Have fun organizing your mind with the art of mind maps!
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