Mental map - examples of compilation. How to Set Goals Using Mind Maps

Is it so?

What is this?

A memory map is an easy-to-understand information flow diagram.

For example, I made a mental map for spring car repairs:

Examples of mental maps

Why is that?

Tony Buzan says this is how our brains think. Such bundles (he calls it a radial scheme) and associations. This means that this format of presenting information is the most understandable for our brain.

To truly “get into” any information, our brain needs it:

See
Hear
Smell
Touch
Lick
Draw
Pronounce
AND SO ON

In other words, the more senses, skills, and connections we use when thinking, the better ideas our brain will produce.

Basic rules for drawing a map

Come up with central image and position it in the center future map. For example, thinking about holiday ideas? Plop the hat design into the center and label it with the word “RELAX!!!”
Use short words instead of long sentences. If you are considering options to go to the sea, then keyword it will be “SEA”, not “TRIP TO THE SEA”.
Only PRINTED LETTERS on the map!
Draw! The more colorful your card, the better it will serve you.

Why is a Mind Map better than a Note?

Since childhood, we have been taught to take notes...

But mental maps put them on both shoulder blades!

Look, mental maps:

More clearly (due to drawings, arrows and colors)
Faster (you move your eyes across the map faster)
More structured (connections and hierarchy are visible)
More enjoyable (Believe me, drawing a map is much more fun than writing a tedious outline!)

Where to apply?

While reading
During reports
To remember
For teaching (both students and teachers) - oh, I would like a mind map method for university!
To choose from multiple options
To come up with unconventional ideas

In fact, the uses of mind maps are endless. Buzan writes in detail about all these points in his book, a link to which I will provide at the end of the article.

Mind Mapping Software

Today, the most convenient and advanced program is MindJet. It's fantastic to work with her, but she costs a lot. However, when has this stopped a Russian person?))

Program for working with mental maps

The most popular program for working with mental maps - MindJet (formerly Mind Manager). It costs a fortune - 349 euros.

Many people stop their search here and go to download the cracked MindJet. But in vain. There is a good alternative - the free XMind program. Here her official website.

And this is what the program’s working window looks like (click to enlarge):

Everything is in English, but you can also enable the Russian interface in the settings.

XMind also has paid versions. They cost 69 and 89 Euros (as of 10/10/16). Still much cheaper than MindJet, but still, what are we paying for?

Here's a sign that explains a lot:

By the way, for non-profit organizations XMind gives a 50% discount.

But I personally use free version and I have enough of it. Often they send me a map in MindJet format, but XMind “digests” it perfectly.

Summary

Buzan himself sings like a nightingale, of course... Mental maps according to Buzan are a miracle, a panacea for all ills and the path of humanity to a bright future. Such “thick chocolate” smeared across the pages of a book is a little off-putting. But this is the style of ABSOLUTELY all books on self-development from American authors.

For me personally, mental maps have become a good alternative, a kind of “upgrade” to the usual linear recording of projects, plans and notes.

Indeed, these bunches, these drawings are not just cool and fun, they also work better. I started planning better bright ideas began to appear more often. It’s more pleasant to read mental maps after a couple of weeks - everything remains clear.

In short, mind maps are another tool effective person! This is the only way I plan now))

Drawing a mental map - VIDEO!

Update from 09/01/2016:

Years later, I can say that... I practically DO NOT use mental maps. They never took root with me.

I only use it when I need to sketch out the architecture of a small project. Or if we conduct a quick brainstorm on a magnetic board. In other cases, I use regular notes, but not boring ones, but with drawings, arrows, highlights and drawings. IMHO such a summary is more convenient than a mental map.

That is, I took some from mental maps, and some from ordinary notes. It turned out to be a kind of hybrid)) This is if you write by hand. And if not, then mental maps become completely inconvenient. Well, it probably depends on the individual. I know people who are simply addicted to programs like MindJet or XMind.

What inconveniences I found with the mental map method:

You need to think through the entire architecture in advance. If you just need to quickly jot down something, you can make a mistake with the structure and the map will come out ugly. On one side it is empty, and on the other there is barely room in small print.
If you take notes in Word or Evernote, you can easily copy the content even into a chat. But with a mind map based on MindJet, everything is not so simple...

“Mental map... Esoteric again?” - I thought when I first read this title more than six months ago. Then I got into it and tried to draw my plans for the week in this format. It turned out surprisingly easy and interesting.
Here I could write that since then I began to use cards constantly, but this is not so. I forgot about them. And I remembered only in August, when I was planning a vacation trip. That's what came out of it.

What are mind maps

Several months passed after the first meeting with the cards. I planned my time: the Pomodoro timer was ringing, the Eisenhower Matrix was working, the calendar was replenished with tasks and painted in different colors. But I had the feeling that there was some other cool method, but I couldn’t remember it.

And suddenly, having accidentally stumbled upon a review of services for mind maps, I realized what tool I was missing. The puzzle came together and away we go - a map for going to the store, for planning life goals, for work. Maps, maps, maps...They were blue and multi-colored, in mindmaps and on album sheets. Now the euphoria has subsided, and I use them more soberly. I'll tell you how and when.

Mind maps and me

These gizmos are effective where you need to sketch out a general vision of the situation and detail it step by step. With the help of maps, my colleagues create semantic cores, design a site map, conduct marketing research, generate ideas, prepare for presentations, organize events, plan a budget and simply make a to-do list for the week.

Where can I use the cards?

1. Working with information (presentations, speeches)

What am I doing
Using cards, I collect information and sort it. What I know about the subject: properties, disadvantages, features, use - all this easily fits into the mind map scheme.

What should you do
Replace a boring lecture with a simple presentation and you will capture the audience's attention. Replace interesting presentation– you will also gain the respect of your listeners.

2. Learning and remembering

What am I doing
The same as in the previous paragraph: I highlight the main issue, put it into sections. A huge plus of cards is that you can add branches if a new thought suddenly comes to mind. That's why I always draw with reserve. I’m not very friendly with services yet; I prefer a snow-white sheet of paper and colored markers.

What should you do
Create notes for lectures or books, write various texts (coursework, dissertations, articles), analyze the text. You can use detailed maps (1 map - 1 question), you can write down basic schemes.
By the way, most of you have seen something like mind maps in textbooks - these are flowcharts of the main questions of the course.

3. Brainstorming.

What am I doing
I come up with ideas (what to give for a holiday), solve problems (where to find time to study) - this is how cards help with brainstorming. I can draw cards alone or with colleagues, in any case it is effective.

What should you do
Maps for brainstorming are drawn as usual. In the center is the problem, large branches are solutions, small branches are features or consequences. If you need to generate ideas, then there will be a topic in the center, and the ideas themselves are large branches.

4. Decision making.

What am I doing
I am a logician to the core. Intuitive decisions are not my strong point. And here I have differences with Tony Buzan, the founder of the mind mapping method. It is believed that drawing and the use of symbols stimulate creative thinking, which means that the brain is tuned to search for an effective and non-standard way out of the situation (I don’t argue with that). And at such moments, intuition kicks in and we make a decision based on it (here’s the catch).
Therefore, I simply write the problem in the center of the sheet, with branches of the 2nd level I designate everything possible solutions, and the 3rd level branches are the consequences of these decisions.

What should you do
Write down the problem and turn it around from all sides, at the same time writing down everything that comes to mind. We organized our thoughts and saw the solution. Those who find it easier to handle facts and figures write them on branches. And whoever relies on intuition will bet on the associativity of the cards.

5. Planning.

Plan work and personal projects, budget or time.

What am I doing
First, I wrote down on the map all the books I want to read. Then I singled out from the book the form in which I would learn the material (synopsis, summary). And I created a similar goal on SmartProgress.
And then a big drawback of the cards emerged - it is difficult to tie them to deadlines. On a Gantt chart, for example, it is clearly visible which event should take place and when, and the temporal relationship of events is visible. And on the mind map you can only sign the deadline by which the task must be completed. In SmartProgress you can set intermediate deadlines, there are deadline reminders. So these two tools work well together.

What should you do
In the center of the sheet, indicate a goal, for example, “to celebrate a wedding anniversary.” And then write down the associations. Choosing a venue, list of guests, menu, budget, program - these are the key lines of your mind map. From each large beam, several more small beams extend, specifying who and in what way you will invite, what elements of the program will be, and who is responsible for them.

Why is this particular form advantageous?

Any incoming information must first be formed into an image. Then it will be remembered much easier and for a longer period. The role of cards is to organize, systematize, and visually present information. It doesn’t matter whether you are planning an anniversary or organizing team work on a project, all the main data can be contained in one large sheet.

The larger the volume of the cerebral cortex is connected to the perception of information, the better it is remembered. The brain does not think linearly, but associatively, so for most people, mind maps are a suitable tool for planning or working with large amounts of data.

Pros and cons of mind maps

I have already written about the shortcomings - there is no interconnection with deadlines.

And now about the advantages.

The brain first focuses on the key areas of the project. This helps you prioritize.
All main and auxiliary stages of the project are clearly visible. Contradictions, interference, and overlaps are also noticeable.
It is convenient to mark the paths already taken.
It’s easy to expand the project by adding new branches.
You can place heterogeneous elements on maps: megabytes coexist with the number of people.

What if you use mind mapping to plan goals? In combination with SmartProgress It turns out quite effectively. The main directions are determined on the map, and discipline occurs using the service.

How to build maps

Principles of drawing maps

In the center of the sheet or a little higher, draw a central image (idea, goal, problem). Draw from it first-level branches (sub-ideas), with associations or key concepts that slightly reveal the central image. From the branches of the 1st level, take the branches of the 2nd level. If necessary, add 3rd level branches.

12 Tips for Drawing Maps

1. Include imaginative, creative thinking and associative skills. It helps the brain with different sides approach a problem and look for an unusual but effective solution.
2. Use different colors of branches to separate directions of work. If this is a map with tasks for employees, mark the branches with a specific color for each project participant. There should be no more than 8 colors so as not to get confused. The most high speed perception of red, yellow and orange colors. The lowest is in brown, blue and green.
3. The number of branches of 2 and subsequent levels should not be more than 5-7.
4. The map reflects the style of thinking, so do not try to standardize it.
5. Exaggerated examples are better remembered. Therefore, feel free to draw unusual pictures.
6. Freehand drawing stimulates thinking. Despite the various convenient services, do not neglect white paper and markers.
7. Make images vivid and memorable so that they evoke emotions. This will help the brain work in the right direction.
8. Build the structure according to hierarchy: important concepts are closer to the center, details are further away. You can number the branches if necessary.
9. Less words, more drawings. If there are several words, then write them down in one line so that the eye does not make unnecessary movements.
10. Come up with your own symbols. Lightning is fast, eye is control, light bulb is important.
11. Draw the first level lines thicker to see the importance of actions. The length of the line is equal to the length of the word. Vary the size of the letters to emphasize the importance of the branch.
12. Delimit branches by drawing them into blocks, connecting them with arrows to show the relationship.

Services for mind maps

If you don’t like to draw by hand (and in vain!), then choose paid or free programs for drawing maps on a computer. They differ in design, methods of exporting images, the ability to connect To-do List, and compatibility with platforms.
I use the online service MindMeister. It is combined with Meistertask (scheduler). Plus, you can connect paid PRO packages. The data is stored on the cloud, so I can load maps from any laptop. Bright, lots of possibilities for creativity, intuitive to use. There are templates, I don’t know who cares, but that’s enough for me for now.

Psychologists believe that it is best to draw by hand, activating creative thinking as much as possible, then you will think and solve problems much more effectively. And the modern rhythm of life suggests using any service you like. Well, it's up to you. But mind maps are a really cool tool, I recommend them.

“If you don’t rack your brains, you’ll rack your brains”

There are dozens, and maybe hundreds of methods for “pumping up” your brain, because it is fraught with many possibilities, access to which is often limited to us. “Eat dark chocolate”, “Hang stickers throughout the house”, “Start with the most important things” and many other tips can be found on the Internet, the essence of which boils down to one thing - to push our brain to work quickly, to launch it at full blast or even “deceive”. And everything to get maximum benefit - do a lot of things, remember more information, defeat laziness and so on. Man has always tried to squeeze out the maximum of his capabilities.

In the 80s of the twentieth century, another such method was invented - Mind Mapping technology or the use of mental maps. And as practice shows, the method is far from the worst, and deserves attention.

In this article we will consider the following questions:

For those who like to listen more than read - my interesting (I hope) report on GetDev:

What is a mind map?

What kind of technology is this?

“In this world, to stand still, you have to run.”

The use of mental maps is a technique for visualizing thinking, with the help of which you can process certain information better and more efficiently. Mind maps have many different names:

The technology is widely used for many purposes:

Fixation information. Mental maps are a convenient form of recording data that allows you to present it in a succinct form even with a large volume.
Memorization information. When you write something down in a convenient, easy form, it automatically sticks in your head.
Easy access to information. Data recorded in the form of mental maps can be easily recalled even after just one glance.
Analysis information. The mental map is built in such a way that it allows you to see previously unnoticed connections between its parts, small unaccounted for details, which can be very valuable when making decisions. Also, with its help, you can look at all the information as a whole, comprehensively, which generally helps to understand the topic and better understand this data.

Mental maps help you easily process information, which makes them very useful in many areas of our lives:

Why use it?

“A thought repeated twice is remembered well.
A thought repeated twice is remembered well.”

Mental maps help when working with any data, improve the brain’s ability to perceive information, but why?

The first reason lies in the construction of the map itself - it is depicted in a radial form, the key image is in the center, and further branches diverge from it. This simplifies the flow of information to the brain- after all, we also see the world around us as a whole - the central image and the details around it.

The second reason also lies in the processing of information by our brain - visualization generally improves perception. We remember words with pictures 6 times better than just words.

When constructing a mental map various abilities of our thinking are activated. When compiling branches and keywords, we use hierarchies, for pictures - visualization and associative thinking, in general, spatial-figurative thinking is used. All this activates memory and allows you to remember both the structure of the data and its important aspects, so the use of mental maps improves the retention of information by about 32%.

Since we use various thinking abilities to build mental maps, such as creativity, logic, imagination, All of them develop and improve in the process.

Because mind maps show the big picture, it allows establish all connections between objects, even if they were not so obvious initially. In turn, this leads to the appearance new point vision for information, as well as new ideas and thoughts. The structure and logic of data become more “transparent”, easier to understand and remember.

Another compelling argument in favor of using mental maps is that This technique is very easy to learn, and with its help you can remember information immediately, in large quantities and very effectively. In this case, there is little to write, which saves a lot of time.

How are they different from regular entries?

“Clarity gives focus”

Linear recording is the main form of recording information that we use at school, university, work, and in many institutions. It is used in instructions, books, posters and everything else. Therefore, using this form seems logical, convenient and correct.

But maybe it's just a matter of habit? There are some differences between line notes and mind maps that may make it worthwhile to change your habits.

All structure vertical text information is entirely sufficient hard to see, and to view everything may require additional actions, such as turning or scrolling the page. And the maps are built on a circular principle, and with one glance you can take in everything that is depicted.
Linear list"psychologically" not finished, it can be continued, which prevents us from perceiving it holistically. The finished map has all the elements in place, it is thought out, composed and cohesive.
Our brain is not in the best possible way remembers monotonous notes, in contrast to a variety of pictures, colorful branches and colorfully designed keywords.

In ordinary records there is enough difficult to highlight the most main idea , it gets lost in numerous lists, highlighted and underlined words. On a mental map, the main object of study is always in the center, and it is from this that secondary branches and additional information diverge.

Since when constructing a mental map we use visualizations, we use right hemisphere brain, responsible for aesthetics and thinking about the problem in general. It is because of this that we can think about what is shown on the map from different angles. For linear recordings this is minimal use of the right hemisphere of the brain.

Linear records time consuming, because a person does not write by hand very quickly. We have to shorten the words; they are not always written clearly, and this is to the detriment of the quality of the recordings.

Are mind maps popular?

Who invented mental maps?

Analogues of various connection diagrams have been used since quite early times, but the creator of the modern method of mental maps, such as we know it now, is Tony Buzan - an English psychologist, author and co-author of more than 80 books, the most famous of which are “Superthinking” and “Teach think about yourself." The first book describing the technique of mental maps was published in 1974 - “Work with your head.”

“When I was in my second year at university, I once went into the library and asked if they had any books on the theory of the brain and its practical possibilities. The librarian, without hesitation, directed me to the medical literature department!
When I explained that I was not going to perform operations on the brain, but only to use it correctly, they politely answered that they apparently did not have such books in their library.
I came out in complete amazement.
Like the rest of my classmates, I was in a state familiar to the average student: the growing awareness that as your academic workload increases, your brain increasingly succumbs to the high demands on thinking, creativity, memory, problem-solving, analysis, and “ compose” during written work. Like others, I have increasingly encountered the phenomenon where the return on academic work falls, despite the efforts made, and at times it seems to be zero. The paradox was that, as it seemed to me, the more I took notes and studied, the worse the result was!
The logical consequence of both possible strategies of action in that situation was, as it seemed to me, a dead end. If I put in less effort, the mass will fall into the category of unassimilated important information, and, as a result, failure in the exam. Had I continued with even greater persistence - taking notes in more detail and spending more and more time on it - the result would have been the same downward spiral of success.
The key to true success, I finally reasoned, should be sought in the answer to the question of how rationally I use my intellect in general and my thinking abilities in particular - this realization led me to the library.
When I got out of it that day, it suddenly occurred to me that the problem I was having with not finding necessary literature, perhaps it came in handy. Since such books have not yet been written, I set foot on protected area, where there is genuine scope for an inquisitive mind.”

Are they used in the world?

Over time, the feasibility of a particular technique is always determined by the number of people who use it. More than 40 years have passed since the publication of the first description of the technique, but nevertheless, the technique of mental maps lives, develops, and, most importantly, is used. Let's turn to Google Trends:

Overall, mind mapping is a consistently used query over the past 11 years. Countries with the largest number Such requests suddenly turned out to be Indonesia and Thailand. The statistics in Russia are completely different. Only in 2011 did this technique begin to gain interest in our country:

Why don't people use them everywhere?

Like everything in our world, the mental mapping technique also has disadvantages:

Complex, complex states of affairs are simplified, and many details are extremely generalized. Created appearance of order where there is none. Sometimes this is useful, but sometimes it only creates the illusion of control over the situation, the illusion of a common understanding of the problem and the absence of complex hidden relationships.

Since pictures are used when constructing maps, associative thinking is activated. But associations- dynamic things change and transform over time, and what evoked one association in us six months ago does not evoke exactly the same one now. Such pictures direct the flow of thoughts when reading the card in a completely different direction than originally planned. “False” associations ultimately slow down the understanding of the data on the map.

A mental map is a reflection of someone's thinking, either one person or a group of such people, so cards most often purely individual. If the card is given to another person to read, it may happen that he either does not understand some of the details, or, even worse, perceives them incorrectly.
When processing large or complex data when building a map, it may work out complex picture, with multiple divisions, with a huge number of connections, branches and keywords. The effectiveness of such a mental map decreases significantly.

These are some of the reasons why the technique of mental maps has not yet supplanted linear recordings. But there are also imaginary disadvantages that lie in the way of using this technique:

Ignorance about technology. The popularity of mental maps has not yet reached such a scale that everyone knows about them.
Opinion "I can not draw". Many people think that this is a serious obstacle to mapping, but in fact such a skill is not required. Moreover, there is a simple exercise that helps prove that everyone can draw a minimum set of characters. Try:

The belief that this is child's play and a true professional has no use for it. In fact, every self-respecting professional has his own set of different tools to achieve goals: visualization, planning, time management and others. And the fact that many people around the world use mental maps is an indicator of the effectiveness of this tool.
Mind maps take longer than linear recordings. At first, during the first stages of using this technique, this will indeed be the case - as when learning any new task. But in the future, the cards will click like nuts, much faster than regular notes.
Belief “I think linearly” and “I’ve been using linear notes all my life, and it’s fine.” Yes, linear notes have become an integral part of our lives since the age of seven, and then it is much more convenient and habitual to use them, even in our reflections. But isn't this just a habit? And if other methods are more effective, then why not try them?
Opinion “Mental maps cannot be used for everyday tasks" On the contrary, this technique is used for all areas of life where decision-making, any lists, or analysis of something are required. This includes almost any area of our daily life.

How to create a mind map?

“Every artist was at first an amateur”

To build mental maps, it is enough to follow certain simple principles. Let’s try, as an example, to create a mental map for this entire article.

To start, you need a clean, horizontally rotated area, such as a sheet of paper, a board, a tablet, a phone, or a workspace in graphic editors. The more data you process, the larger the workspace you will need. I will be making my example using an online mind map editor.

In the center of the workspace, describe an image of a problem, task, or area of knowledge. In our case, this is an article about mental maps.

Remember to use pictures and symbols wherever possible. This will make the card brighter and more colorful, and as a result, more memorable.

From the central image we will draw thick structural branches, the main subsections of our article. It is recommended to use different colors for key branches and words, and also to design them colorfully. Since I love minimalism, I’ll deviate a little from the rules.

But nothing prevents me from decorating the main subsections with appropriate pictures. We will also add branches of the next level. It must be remembered that there should only be one word on one branch. This allows us not to overload the map, and in the process of coming up with this one word, we can highlight the essence of the material.

The size and thickness of the letters on the branches vary depending on the distance from the central image. The further you go, the less. If there is a relationship between the details on the map, do not forget to show it. Let's supplement our example with other branches and connections.

So we have a finished mental map. Not the most colorful due to my love of minimalism, but very informative.

What is a mental map or mind map? How to create it and what problems can be solved using of this instrument? A selection of free online services in stock.

Draw and everything will become clear, draw and the secret will be revealed to you, the main thing is to draw... I hope I managed to zombie you and you want to draw something? But something doesn’t suit us, and we draw for some purpose, right?

Projects, tasks, ideas, they all consist of some details and parts. To keep this variety in one head, you need to at least order a couple more heads on ebay, just kidding. What if you try to just draw it all?

Mental map: what is it

A mental map (or mind map) is a simple and efficient technique visualization of thinking. Used to create, develop and analyze ideas. A very convenient thought management tool.

Just above is an example of a mental map for a cat. A cat is a certain entity that is interested in mice, milk, gives you and me love and lies on a chair. This map is very easy to understand, there is a certain center or idea, and then it is divided into components.

Mind map appeared back in the 70s of the last century, it was invented by Tony Buzan. A psychologist who devoted his life to the problems of perception and memory of information. He understood that ordinary textual information is much harder to retain in our memory, so he proposed his own way of organizing it.

What problems do mental maps solve?

In fact, it’s difficult to even imagine the full potential of a mental map; it’s easier to draw it. Mind map for mind map, what a twist!

As you can see from the picture above, using a mind map, maps can be closed a large number of tasks. It took me 3-5 minutes to sketch the map above; in fact, I’m sure you can find at least as many more options for using this tool.

Well, I forgot to add the most important thing to the tasks, this is brainstorming! This card is perfect for this.

By the way, if you have ideas on how to use mental maps, write in the comments, it will be useful for all readers.

How to create a mind map

Let's take a step-by-step look at creating a mind map. As we said earlier, a mental map is created for a purpose and solves a specific problem. Let's try together to create a card for such a tricky item as a chair. Our task is to understand what he is.

Place the key idea of your map in the center of the workspace and highlight it with color.

Start drawing the branches away from the center. Typically these are the components of your idea. What is a chair made of? Use different colors to highlight the components. The goal is to create contrast so that the information is easier to read.

Go to the next level, draw branches for the already added parts of the map.

And so on until you stop and understand that the resulting detail is enough to solve your problem.

We always start from the center of the map. We highlight the main idea with color and large letters.
We build connections (branches) from the main idea to its component parts. We highlight them with different colors. To enhance the contrast, use a smaller font (optional).
You can use pictures and images for individual parts if this improves the perception of the map.
Don’t overplay the colors, many people write that the more the better, but you are not playing with coloring, you are solving a problem. My recommendation is no more than 4 colors per card.
Record on the map everything that comes to mind and is related to the received parts of the map. It’s better to cut off what you don’t need later than to miss something.

Mail, this is the last century, subscribe to our telegram channel! Let's continue reading...

How to build a mental map

First of all, with your hands. No, I'm serious, I wish I could. This is how they were originally built. In the 70s, there were no special programs other than colored pencils.

And there is nothing better than pencil and paper, especially if you are storming with a team. Feel free to draw on a flipchart or whiteboard, use colorful markers, and keep your thoughts flowing.

Special software for mind map

Today there are a lot of online tools for creating mental maps. There are both free and paid solutions. I’ll list a few that I’ve worked with, they all work online.

Free:

Realtimeboard is my favorite (I made the cards in the examples above there). Nice interface and export in different formats.

Mindmeister – several maps available for free and limited export. I just screenshotted the map from the screen so as not to be fooled, but you can’t build a large map like this, the quality will suffer when printing, for example.

Draw is a fairly simple interface, without any visual tricks. Free, fast integration with Google Docs, no problems with export.

Paid:

Mindmeister – the paid version has a wide range of functionality and exports in various formats. The best file compatibility of all, that is, you can unload maps from this software and upload them to others for modification.

iMindMap best tool visualization and presentation of mental maps. A huge selection of card designs (lengthwise and crosswise), a bunch of styles and more.

The capabilities of this tool are truly impressive, but you will have to fork out for it all.

In fact, the list goes on; if you google a little, you will find dozens or even hundreds of more applications. The list above is the most popular solutions for mental maps, I think they will be more than enough for you.

Not special software for mind map

If you really don’t want to go to all these sites and get acquainted with the application interface, then here is a list of alternative tools for you:

Power point - why not, can you draw squares? What about the arrows? All this can be done right on the slide.
Google Docs Presentations - in the cloud, and even with working together, well, not a fairy tale.
Any graphic editor - if you are comfortable drawing in figma or photoshop, draw. Yes, even in paint, just to start drawing.

Total

A mind map is a great tool that covers a lot of ground. Choose a tool that is convenient for you and start simply from the center of the map. Draw branches from one part to another. I assure you, even complex problems will become much easier when you draw them.

Mind maps. What do mind maps look like? What it is. Areas of application of mind maps. How to make a mind map. Rules for compiling mind maps.

What are mind maps?

This amazing and fascinating instrument came into fashion and into mass use not so long ago. The author and inventor of mind maps is Tony Buzan. famous figure in the field of psychology of learning and development of intelligence

What are they?

Mind map is special kind recording materials in the form radiant structure, that is, a structure emanating from the center to the edges, gradually branching into smaller parts. Mind maps can replace traditional text, tables, graphs and diagrams.

Why is writing in the form of a mind map more convenient and useful?

It's all about the peculiarities of our thinking. Our thinking is NOT organized like text, linearly. It has exactly this structure: branching, each concept in our head is connected to other concepts, these other concepts are connected to third ones, and so on ad infinitum.

This organization of material is called multidimensional, radiant. It is this structure that most organically reflects our real thinking.

Exactly the same on physical level Neurons in our brain connect: each neuron entangles a network of dendrites of other neurons, from one neuron along chains of connections we can move to another neuron.
On the contrary, one has to wonder how a person can work and think linearly? After all, our brain is not designed for this at all.

Mind maps- most adequately reflects our real multidimensional radiant thinking. That is why it is more convenient to use compared to plain text. Mind maps allow you to better display the structure of the material, semantic and hierarchical connections, and show what relationships exist between the component parts.

Thanks to their structure, mind maps allow you to reveal your intellectual potential. And this is achieved through proper organization and through the work of both hemispheres of the brain. Indeed, in such a branching structure, both the right and left hemispheres of the brain work.

A short video about how the mind map is connected to our thinking

Mind maps have one more wonderful effect. Due to its extensibility and adaptability to radiant thinking, the creation of mind maps contributes to the development flow of associations, thoughts, ideas.

As a rule, those who switch to using mind maps begin to notice how many ideas are formed in the course of their depiction; often there is not even enough space initially allocated for all the ideas.

That is why in our information age the use of mind maps in various areas of life becomes so relevant.

Brief video: benefits of mind maps

How can you use mind maps?

They can be used almost everywhere, in different areas of life. Namely:

Mind maps at work
- create a common vision for the project
- create work plans
- plan events, budget
- prepare a plan for a speech or presentation
- decisions
- brainstorm
- generate ideas
- create motivation
- write goals
- prepare a negotiation plan
- organize thoughts and ideas

Mind maps in educational activities
- write down from books and by ear
- create plans for writing articles, books, abstracts, diplomas
- pass exams
- structure any material, which allows you to understand the essence, the author’s thought, and sort difficult material into shelves
- remember the meaning of the material. Mind maps are remembered many times easier than any text material
- write a series of interrelated hypotheses

Mind maps in everyday life
- use in structuring everyday tasks, household chores
- describe the advantages and disadvantages of planned purchases and acquisitions
- create your personal family tree
- describe the structure of a holiday or other event
- plan a vacation

Mind map from T. Buzan’s book “Super Thinking”

Creation: how to create a mind map?

Unfortunately, not everyone understands how to make a mind map correctly. After all, it is often precisely because of errors in its preparation and lack of understanding of the principles of its construction that we make only a rough sketch. But it turns out that the admitted inaccuracies affect the perception of this mind map so much that it seems ineffective and meaningless to us.

Therefore, let's look at the basic rules. Algorithm for creating a mind map:

1. Take an unlined sheet of paper and place it landscape, that is, horizontally. It is this arrangement that is most convenient for depicting the radiant structure when compiling mind maps.
2. Take several colored pencils, felt-tip pens, at least three or four colors. Using colors allows you to divide information into blocks or rank it by importance. All this facilitates the perception of information, improves the quality of memorization by preserving the visual image and actively connecting the right hemisphere.
3. Write large and voluminous in the very center of the main topic. It is advisable to use large letters, as well as depict schematically or with a drawing the main idea of the map. Drawings and graphics further connect the resources of the right hemisphere, which promotes quick memorization of the compiled mind map
4. From the center make several branches, designate each of them with a keyword. The branches located around the central theme will be the largest, then as they branch, the branches will become smaller. This division will visually indicate the hierarchy and relationships in the mind map.
5. Continue branching large ideas into smaller ones as long as you need to. Each concept has associative connections with other concepts. Turn on the process associative thinking. Then your card will begin to grow quickly.