How to Use Mind Maps

Just a few months ago, Gerber told me about mind mapping. Immediately I read a book on mind mapping. I thought it might be helpful for me to make mind maps while I’m studying. Maybe mind maps can make me study more efficiently, which means I will have more time left for other things.

What are mind maps?

Mind maps are diagrams of words. They are a visualization of thoughts or ideas. Tony Buzan claims to have invented mind mapping and has written several books about it.

Why mind mapping?

You can use mind mapping to visualize or structure your thoughts and ideas. It helps you when you’re brainstorming or if you have to recall things from your memory. Mind maps can be applied in learning, writing, organizing and decision making.
I have used mind maps for learning by making a mind map of each chapter I studied, but I also use them to structure my ideas before I write an article for this blog.

How to make a mind map?

Mind maps are made easily. First, write down a single word in the center. Connect other words, ideas or concepts by branches. You can also use arrows, colors and small drawings. Tony Buzan says you should use curved lines. I doubt if this is necessary since the most important thing is to structure your thoughts.

Examples

Here are a few examples of mind maps that I recently made.

I made this mind map before writing this article:

This is a mind map I made while I was learning for a course in psychology of didactics:

Results of mind mapping

I have discovered that mind maps can help me to structure things I study or to structure my thoughts. It makes me feel more comfortable about the things I’m doing. As I’m making a mind map, I can discover relations between things more easily. This makes me understand and remember things better.

I will definitely go on making mind maps. I think structuring thoughts is important because it gives a good overview of what I’m doing and it gives better results. There are several ways to get this structure and mind mapping is one of them. Besides, mind mapping is fun too!

Read more about mind maps on Wikipedia or read one of Tony Buzan’s books, like The Mind Map Book or Use Both Sides Of Your Brain.

Enjoy mind mapping and please share your experiences in the comments.

Laura

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