You are not the only one who feels that life is getting messier by the day. The mess inside, the mess outside! How to tackle this inside-out mess? Indeed, it is challenging as it is our own doing. Many times, we notice that the mess around us is created by ourselves. We take too much on our heads and then make a mess of it. Or if we are not well-organised, the mess looms large and we do not know how to handle it. Here, besides, your own organizational skills and other capabilities, there is one thing that can help you is “mind mapping.”
So, what is mind mapping?
A mind map involves writing down a central theme and thinking of new and related ideas that radiate out from the center. By focusing on key ideas written down in your own words and looking for connections between them, you can map knowledge in a way that will help you to better understand and retain information.
So, how can you create a mind map?
Come up with three to five main ideas, then evenly space them in a circular formation around the mind map topic. Draw a line from the mind map topic to each main idea. Brainstorm supporting details such as ideas, tasks, and questions for each main idea. Draw lines connecting each main idea to its supporting details.
Does it sound a little complicated?
Let us dumb it down for all those of you who are finding it a little complicated. Mind mapping is a process of taking that entire mess of tasks and dreams swimming around in your head and capturing it in a great net. Essentially it is organizing your brainstorming sessions and using them to empower your success. Once you have the information on your net, you can organize it and get things done. To simplify it further, just organize your head and hands.
Test me on this and see how productive your life becomes.
So, what holds the key to mind mapping?
The most important step in creating a powerful mind map is to have a relevant central topic. A mind map is utilized to explore and further elaborate a certain main topic placed in the core of the mind map that later will be mapped out in several topics and subtopics.
Key steps to Mind Mapping:
- Choose a concept and come up with a central idea.
- Start by identifying the key themes of your chosen topic.
- Add branches to your mind map.
- Add additional terms to expand your search. …
- Add colours and visual signifiers (E.G., Images)
To make the concept of “mind mapping” easier for you, let us begin with:
- Take a sheet of paper and write down everything you need to do.
- Everything should include what you need or want to do in a day.
- Note down what is going on inside of your head.
- It could be a mundane household job or thoughts towards the fulfilment of your dreams.
- Consider the projects you want to accomplish around your house and the relationships you want to build with your family.
- Consider your whole person, including work, social, mental, and spiritual tasks.
Just write them all out.
Believe me, this will not take much of your time.
Now, remind yourself each day:
- Who do you want to be?
- What do you want life to be like?
You simply brainstorm these things in your head.
Do not worry if you can do all these things or not.
Simply get them all on paper.
How to create a mind map:
- Brainstorm a Central Idea.
- Come up with an impressive image.
- Colour your map.
- Create connections.
- Make your branches curved.
- Use single keywords.
- Replace words with pictures.
So, you have jotted everything on a sheet of paper. Do not rest on your laurels. Work out an action plan. Once you have your plan, get started on that plan.
This is not the time to simply sit back and enjoy the fruit of your writing on paper or your beautiful pictures.
You must fulfil the objective in the centre of the paper.
The other tasks would be nice, and if you can get them done, you should. However, do not get bogged down in the lesser important items for your week. If needed, you can always make those objectives a central objective for next week. Get started on tasks that will help you achieve your main objective.
Just try this for a few weeks and you will notice how your life gets transformed. How effective mind mapping is needed for organizing the clutter in your head and your desk. All your talents and capabilities are wasted, if you do not organize them and execute them efficiently.
Once you have learned the basics of mapping, going forward you can use it for achieving larger objectives and use mind mapping for project planning, strategic thinking, and managing meetings.
Be a person of action, Be happyHO.
