Mind Mapping can be defined as a breakdown of an important topic or subject, personal or profession on which you want a detailed step by step clarification.
According to Wikipedia, “A mind map is a diagram used to visually organize information. A mind map is hierarchical and shows relationships among pieces of the whole.[1] It is often created around a single concept, drawn as an image in the center of a blank page, to which associated representations of ideas such as images, words and parts of words are added. Major ideas are connected directly to the central concept, and other ideas branch out from those major ideas.”
In short, mind mapping is an activity of dividing the main topic, in as much possible as subtopics with the help of drawings and diagrams.
Mind mapping was formalized by Tony Buzan. According to him” The Mind Map® is an expression of Radiant Thinking and is, therefore, a natural function of the human mind. It is a powerful graphic technique which provides a universal key to unlocking the potential of the brain. The Mind Map can be applied to every aspect of life where improved learning and clearer thinking will enhance human performance.
The mind map can consist of words, images, and colour to represent information, starting from the center and branching outside with related information.
Mind mapping is the combination of art and science, logic and emotion, words and images, boring and fun. Mind mapping combines all these things to make the result, the mind map, something that your brain really likes.
It is a very known fact that our left brain loves words, while the right brain loves images, and minimap is the combination of both images and words. so while mind mapping we are working with both our brains. So it’s a great exercise for your brain.
But it is important to remember that mind mapping is a tool, to make you more efficient but it is not worthwhile if you are wasting a lot of your time to create a mindmap.
In a traditional way, you draw a mindmap on a paper with hands using colors, and most of the times it is a personal mindmap.
A digital mindmap can be very easy and quick to map out, store and save.
Mindmaps can be drawn for any purpose, it is not restricted to any one topic, you can literally create mind map for whatever you think of.
It can be as simple as mapping out your daily activity, plan a certain event or your exercise routine, etc.
How can Mind Mapping help you?
Mind mapping help you get more organized and that helps to structure 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.
The importance of colours in Mind Mapping
It is suggested that every main branch and sub-branch should have a different colour, that way it looks more attractive than just a black and while mind map.
The use of colors stimulates the right part of your brain, thus making it a good exercise for your brain when you make mind mapping.
When you subdivide your topic with different colours, it gets relatively easy to differentiate between individual topic themes.
Colours can help you in the recall of information. We all are visual, and when we draw a concept and use colours in it, our brain easily interprets that information and makes it easy to recall it.
- It makes your mind maps far more interesting
- It stimulates more of your brain thus engaging more of your thinking resources
- Color allows you to differentiate between different themes in your topic
- You can use color to classify
- Colored Mind Maps stimulate memory and are easier to recall.
Benefits of Mind Mapping
- Mind mapping helps to segregate different ideas and apply to different tasks.
- Mind mapping is a simple method that you can apply to any of your tasks – personal & Professional!
- People of all ages can use them to create different plans & strategies.
- It is relatively quick to create your own mind map using traditional as well as digital mind maps.
- Mind Maps help put things in perspective. It makes it easier to deal with associated problems regarding a certain project or task.
- Mind maps can help prevent mistakes in the operational stage, it is advisable to draw mind maps on a daily basis to get hold of it.
A simple example of the mindmap, it can be as simple as this.
Read more: Another Great Tool For You – Create – Blog & Editorial Planner
There are many free and paid sources available for mind mapping. The above mindmap is made with the help of Venngage. It’s a great tool to mind map, and quite easy to use.
Conclusion
Mind mapping is an easy way to map out your ideas into subcategories and make a connection within themselves. You can either map out your ideas with the traditional way on paper or can use digital software and online service to map out your ideas.
It makes the picture very clear to you, and also easy to break down your ideas so you can get a detailed preview of your concept.
Also if you get used to mind mapping, it will help you to reduce make mistakes at the operational level, thus saves your time and energy.
Mind mapping is helpful for your brain, as it involves color, text, and images. So while creating mind map both the parts of your brain get activated.
Coloured mind maps help you to easily remember the details of your project.
It is not necessary to create mindmaps for a particular event or topic, you can create a mind map for every single task at hand. It makes easier to divide the task in small chunks.
So friends,
have you used mind maps for any projects? I find it very useful, pls let me know your experience with mindmaps and do you use any specific tool for it? Which is your favorite tolls to create mindmaps, pl let me know in the comments section below. If you have any question let me know and I will be more than happy to answer you.