Creating Your First Mind Map
In this article I am going to help guide you through the simple instructions on creating your first Mind Map.
Firstly you need to decide on the topic in question, it is important to remember
that there is no limit to what you can Mind Map, ranging from university lecture
notes, preparing a speech / presentation or simply in organizing a party. In this
case we are going to Mind Map going on holiday. The process of Mind Mapping can
be split into three levels.
1. Getting Started…
Take a sheet of plain paper and some colored pens. Turn the page so it is in landscape
position. In the centre of the page draw an image that personally represents being
on holiday for you. Now label this image, for example, the destination of your holiday
or simply ‘My holiday’. Always start in the middle of the page as this gives your
thoughts freedom to spread out in all directions and for your brain to express itself
more naturally and without being maintained in the boundaries found in linear
note making.
2. Expanding Your Thinking
The next step entails thick colorful branches radiating out from the central holiday
image. These branches will represent your main stream of thoughts. There is no limit
to the number of main branches but the recommendation is approximately five or six.
On each branch clearly state in bold colorful capitals your main thoughts using
a single keyword. Use your imagination.
It is important to use colors as they are exciting to your brain; they add energy
to your Mind Map and enhance your creative thinking. To get your thoughts flowing
you may need to ask yourself a few questions. For example, using our current Mind Map of holidays you may ask ‘where will
I be going?’, therefore you may decide that ‘WHERE’ is an appropriate key
word label for your first branch. We have also created other branches with the key terms ‘When’, ‘Transport’, ‘Friends’, and ‘Accomodation’.
The two main principles that make Mind Mapping so effective are imagination
and association. The brain’s thinking
processes are naturally image-filled so in order
to incorporate this natural process it is important to include images and pictures
on your Mind Map. As the saying goes
‘a picture is worth a thousand words’. Not only will images save you time in comparison
to note taking but it is also easier to remember as they are interesting and help
to keep your mind focused on the task.
3. Ideas, Thoughts & Associations
Finally, you can use association to expand your Mind Map to the final stage. Look
at the keywords on the main branches to achieve this. These keywords should spark
of further ideas. Draw smaller branches that stem from the keywords to accommodate
the associations you make. The number of sub-branches is limitless, it is dependent
upon the number of ideas that you can think of. For example, the sub-branches of
‘Where’ may be ‘Countryside’, ‘Mountains’ and ‘Sea’. The sub-branch may then trigger
more thoughts and ideas associated with the keyword of that branch leading to the
development of the next level of sub-branches. Continue this process until all your
thoughts and ideas are on your Mind Map.
File the map safely so you can return to it in the future, adding more thoughts
and ideas to it as they come to you or simply so you can use it as a revision or
study tool.
At the end of the task you should have successfully produced
a map that represents your thoughts in an organized, creative and effective way.
Mind Mapping Laws:
iMindMap File
Jpeg Image
PDF Document
My Holiday:
iMindMap File
Jpeg Image
PDF Document
Please Note: All the example Mind Maps were created using Buzan's iMindMap™ - The
offical software from Tony Buzan, inventor of Mind Mapping.
To open and edit these files you will need to have iMindMap™ installed. If you do not
have iMindMap™ you can easily download and try the software for FREE by clicking
HERE.
About iMindMap™
Tony Buzan is the world’s leading expert on the brain and is the inventor of Mind Mapping®, the thinking
technique used by over 250 million people worldwide. Whilst many products have claimed to allow you to Mind Map on a
computer, none have managed to fully duplicate Tony’s world renowned process. Until now that is… iMindMap™ gives you
the infinite visual variety, portability, freedom, brain friendliness and effectiveness of traditional, highly proven
Mind Mapping® techniques. iMindMap™ is the ultimate thinking tool which allows you to work, learn and think smarter
so you can excel in any area of your life.
For more information on mind mapping, free videos, additional articles and to download a free trial of iMindMap™ visit www.iMindMap.com.
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