How to create mind maps?
At this point, we will look at how mind maps are created and how they can be used.
Creating mind maps is not difficult in principle, as it is commonly used today by pupils in the first year of primary school. The procedure can be divided into the following steps:
- Start in the centre of the paper, which will be laid out widthwise. This will expand the boundaries of your thinking, and you won't feel so cramped. Write the word you want to focus on in the centre, or you can add a picture.
- Using as many pictures, symbols or other markers as possible is recommended to help you understand and use the map. Establish a system that you are most comfortable with. Pictures help find other associations you may not always have tied to a given word.
- Use a different colour for each branch. Again, this is about stimulating thinking. When you have an idea, stick to it. The map doesn't have to be a balanced tree; instead, it should represent your ideas.
- Do not draw straight lines or words in bubbles. Each word should have its part of the branch that should look organic. It can meander differently, taper from the middle to the end, etc. Our brains don't think in a straight line.
- Each word can be the basis for further branching; don't be afraid to use it. Emotionally laden concepts, memories,... however much you may not use them in a professional text, they can help you move your thinking forward at certain stages of the creative process. A common problem, especially in academia, is that people try to use purely technical terminology that is not inherent enough to allow people to think creatively with it. In this case, you can avoid it or give it a marginal role in the map.
- Give yourself some time on the map, especially at the beginning. Newcomers have the problem of either making the map too large in one direction and not getting to the next (not being able to abandon linear thinking) or, on the contrary, not giving the map enough time. Five to ten minutes is a good steppingstone if you've never made a map.
- When you're done writing, take a break. You can take five minutes to rest, get some air, or eat something good to eat. Then come back to the map nd look for essential things and connections. You can mark these with symbols, arrows or circles. Don't be afraid to interfere with the map or to break things down further. The map is a working tool, not a psychoanalytic method. It is meant to be helpful to you, and you can work with it accordingly.
- Find a style that suits you. Don't be bound by convention or the requirements of the manuals. It's good to start with a guide, but that doesn't mean you must always stick to it. Try looking at websites or blogs that write. About mind maps or share interesting practices or ideas.
- Try experimenting - draw in silence or to music, at home, in the office, in the café or the library. Try out what works for you and what environment is most stimulating for your brain.
As you can see, anyone can start creating mind maps anytime. What is useful is regularity. It is similar to physical exercise. Beginnings can be painful and joyless, and results may not come as quickly as you would like. But you won't progress with one map a month or a year. If you decide to map, try to be regular and active and do it in a way you enjoy. Then, the mind map will become a powerful and effective tool.
In general, the same applies to almost all activities - it is beneficial to start by following all the rules and recommendations. But at the same time, remember that once you've tried the whole process and gained experience in making and designing them appropriately, you can modify the rules to suit your needs.
At this point, we will try to offer tips on creating good mind maps to develop your creativity. Although you don't have to use all the information, we recommend you at least think about them, as they will allow you to move forward in your working with maps.
Work with pictures. Connecting words and pictures activates synapses that are usually not as busy in the brain. As a result, you get new ideas, associations and connections you can't think of in everyday thinking.
Choose the appropriate instrument. Do you create maps on a tablet, on your computer or draw them on paper? Each approach has its undeniable pros and cons to work with. Of course, we choose the laptop for complex mind maps, but for open-ended thinking or when we want to open the door to creativity, most people reach for paper. Always choose the tool that best suits your particular ideas. You can use iMindmap or even the free Coggle or XMind.
Choose a suitable environment. Something different suits everyone when working and thinking. Some people need silence, others want to be around people, and others listen to music while they work. The two principles are opposed to each other. The first emphasises the quiet that is important when working. People who have difficulty reading or concentrating are susceptible to silence. On the other hand, a stimulating environment is inspiring and can lead to finding new connections that may not have existed in our brains before. Trying out what works for you or eliminating reading and concentration problems with training is a good idea.
Draw "organic" branches. Several computer programs draw mind maps that are almost rectangular and not pretty. Aesthetic, organic-looking, uneven units are essential for promoting creative thinking. Paper or iMindMap on the computer can be recommended, which handles this area well.
Everyone can draw. Many people feel that mind maps are not for them because they can't draw. But this is not true because it is a skill that everyone has. Try (especially in the beginning) to work with simple shapes, and gradually, you can add to the difficulty. You may not be a Picasso, but practice and confidence work wonders.
Use colour. Colours are crucial for clarity and aesthetic perception and allow you to draw emotions into the decision-making and thinking process, which can be especially important for finding new and surprising solutions that don't follow conventional concepts or patterns.
Pay attention to the central concept. Consider whether it is well chosen or a picture or graphic symbol could be added. The main idea defines what the map will deal with, so it should be given special attention.
Read and be inspired. It is useless to reinvent the wheel. If you want to get into mind maps, it's a good idea to read about them regularly and possibly visit websites dedicated to the topic. Well-designed mind maps can be the inspiration that takes your work further. This is not about copying or plagiarism but simply learning what can be done with mind maps. Look not only at the form but also at the content of the maps, as this can also be beneficial.
Don't be afraid to take a break. Have you done intensive mind map work, and nothing comes to mind? Try taking a short break. Stepping back, stopping or changing the context of your thinking will usually help unblock your review and open the door to more ideas. Thus, a short break is not procrastination or an escape from work but a chance to relax and find other association structures.
There are several ways to use mind maps; we will focus on just a few in this module. In general, however, the following areas are of particular interest:
- Working with ideas - the mind map can define a topic, find the optimal solution, or act as a springboard for writing a thesis. Similarly, mind maps can also be used for brainstorming or problem-solving.
- Note-taking - mind maps allow you to take notes not in a linear way but in a way that reflects the logical structure of the interpretation. This is not an ideal method for all situations, but it is a perfect option, especially when scripts are also available or a linear progression is not essential.
- Task management - many people use mind maps for task management, time management, etc. They can see the whole day or even a more extended period in one glance, which allows them to understand the connections between activities and know the meaning of what they are doing more easily.
- Book excerpts - one of the ways to create book excerpts is to work with a mind map. It will better reflect the topics that are important to you, but also the connections between units or information.
- Mind maps as an analytical tool - you don't always have to use them in a "creative way", but you can use them to decompose a problem. For example, this approach is often used in the 5W technique, where each question is part of the map.
