This is the power of mind mapping: plotting out a framework on which to hang your thoughts. Just like the power of tidying and decluttering your house, mind mapping feels incredibly satisfying and freeing.
When I first learned more about my personality type (INFP) and how my brain receives and processes information, my mind was officially blown.
Seeing the big picture has always been one of my biggest strengths, so mind mapping is something that I’ve been doing for years without realizing that it had a name.
I doodled out mind maps in old diaries and notebooks, and eventually even used it for planning a college essay or two. I’ve always mind mapped on paper but have recently been experimenting with some free online mind mapping tools as well, and while I enjoy both methods, paper wins out for me.
What is Mind Mapping?
I define it as a tool for decluttering your brain. Some people would describe its function as more of a brainstorming or organizing tool. Really though, it’s both. It’s a highly effective method for getting thoughts onto paper in a way that makes sense for you.
Because the fine details of your mind mapping process and results are always unique, it’s pretty much universally helpful, whatever your personality type.
The amazing thing about mind mapping is that it uses both the creative and the logical sides of your brain, and brings them into harmony!
- When my brain starts to feel frenetic and I’m feeling overloaded with bits and pieces of information, I mind map so that I don’t forget things.
- When the copious conglomerate of things in my head feels like a dish of marbles that is overflowing and spilling everywhere, I mind map to organize my thoughts.
- When I feel that indicative tug of discontent in a particular area of my life (like parenting, wellness, or my writing), I mind map to make a plan.
(Note: I later re-wrote this mind map to have “wellness” as the center topic. This is an example of how I saw connections after the fact, like I mention below, and then scratched out the title at the top.)
How do you mind map?
Let’s assume we’re starting on paper. I think it’s best to start there to get a feel for the flow of mind mapping without having to mess around with (or get distracted by!) technology.
- Start in the middle of your paper and write your topic, and circle it.
- Then, without thinking too hard or deeply – start branching out.
- Add categories and sub-categories as you go, mapping everything out.
- Use the page freely – it doesn’t have to be perfectly neat and tidy!
- Don’t worry too much about putting things in the exact correct position – as you go on, patterns will begin to emerge and sequential thoughts will become apparent.
- You can erase and adjust lines and bubbles as you go. (I recommend using pencil, or just being okay with scribble marks.)
- I will sometimes even do a mind map as a rough draft, then re-draw it when I have my thoughts collected. These are the ones that I keep referring back to for months as I work on certain things. (Like my “wellness” mind map.)
Here’s a close-up of one of the branches in the wellness map that I made months ago in my bullet journal, and keep referring back to. (I highlight what I’m currently working on, then check it off when it’s done. You can see which item I’ve left until very last, ha!)
The most important thing is that if you have a thought in your mind related to your topic, be sure to write it down somewhere in the map so that it’s not crowding your mind anymore.
Every mind map is unique, but each one starts in the center, and radiates out like the branches of a tree. If you feel like you have more than one central topic on your mind, feel free to do more than one map!
Oftentimes, though, I find that when I get everything down on paper, I see things connecting that I hadn’t realized before.
For example: I mind mapped on the topic of “diet” and then I mind mapped on the topic of “home organization + routine”.
I subsequently realized that both of those topics, for me, fall under the umbrella of “overall wellness” because they contribute to a calm/peaceful mind, and a strong body – both of which are major components of my overall sense of wellness. And, there are other topics that I’d place under “wellness” too, so a new mind map with “wellness” at the centre was super helpful to me.
What Happens in Your Brain When You Do Mind Mapping?
As you create your mind map, the left and the right hemispheres of your brain are working in tandem. A 20th century scientific researcher named Roger Sperry (who later won a nobel prize for his neuroscience work) became famous for his research on the “left brain” and “right brain” concept.
Mind mapping uses a wide spectrum of brain functions, from both the left and right sides, including emotion management, imagination, lines and color, logic, memory, listing and numbers, words/expression, big picture thinking, and future planning.
Because of this, mind mapping is excellent exercise for the brain – a great bonus to an already helpful activity.
To amp up the effectiveness of your mind map, you can add illustrations. You don’t have to be an artist – any rudimentary sketch will do to assist your brain in mapping and in re-reading, later.
A coffee cup next to your “quit caffeine” bubble, or a stick figure next to the “yoga” bubble? Maybe a TV next to the “limit television” bubble. No need to go crazy with these if it ends up being more of a distraction than a help.
Whatever your style, getting your thoughts out onto paper in a non-linear free-style fashion will help declutter your brain so you can think more clearly.
Feeling Anxious at Night? Mind mapping is one tool that might help settle your thoughts.
This is the power of mind mapping: plotting out a framework on which to hang your thoughts. Just like the power of tidying and decluttering your house, mind mapping feels incredibly satisfying and freeing.
Have you ever tried mind mapping?
Marj
Robbie Fanning wrote a book many years ago about “Get It Done” or something like that and included directions on mind mapping. It worked then and it will now. It is helpful. — Especially in major art projects like entering quilts in shows.
Susan
I love mind mapping to get my brain to calm down. Thanks for reminding me of how good it feels to get everything out of your mind and on paper.
Susan
Thank you! I really am interested in the mind mapping concept!
Diane
I guess I had heard the term mind mapping before, but never really paid attention. Right now, I am feeling overwhelmed with several projects and doing my usual lists just seems inadequate. Thanks for mentioning this topic. I think it will be helpful. I just tried it this morning about one of my projects and it seems helpful. I like the branching out idea and putting things down even if they seem unrelated at first. My mind has been going in a thousand directions and perhaps this will give some clarity and help me get things done.
Beth
That’s exactly when I find it most helpful! When my mind is going a thousand directions. I’m actually about to do a mind map session today, actually!
Marisol
Wow, to be honest I grabbed a peice of paper and started and honestly my brain instantly felt clear light I cant beleive that this actually works, I’m INFJ and so I am starting to learn myself in this aspect. this was a great and helpful article thank you!
Miriam
Lovely post! It reminded me of just how good mind mapping should feel. I’ve been getting caught up on getting it right on the first try, which severly hampers its effectiveness. It should just be a place to get it all out!
I just made a mind map called “Everything” and scribbled down, well, everything. I feel so much lighter.
Thanks again 🙂
Cathy
Miriam this sounds very much like the brain dumps I do where I write whatever comes to mind.
Choubey R K.
Thanks for giving so much information about MM. Now I use it frequently.
Amy Kephart
What a great post! Thank you so much for the information on how to mind map. Im begining to write an ebook and this is going to help me so much. Thank you for sharing!
R&H Assistant
Wonderful! Good luck on your book!
Abby Smas
Each person needs to find what works best for them. A list? No. Multiple lists? No. “Mind mapping?” Well, maybe, but not as it’s described here.
I start with a pad of post-its and a felt-tip pen, along with a few (like 5) blank sheets of paper; card stock in multiple colors is nice, too. I start writing down things that are on my mind, one per post-it, and smacking them on the pieces of paper. Eventually I can see the groupings. Groupings can be days of the week, or events coming up, or things to do at home or clustering errands – whatever works. Once you have that done, then you can prioritize within the page. I like to use a different color felt-tip pen to then label the pages and if I am really overwhelmed, I put them in clear view sleeves and tack them to my board from one corner so that they hang at an angle. There is enough space that I can see the titles of the pages at the visible edge so that at a glance I am able to see all the projects I’ve got going.
Funny. I’ve been employing this method for 30+ years for everything I did, from running a state-wide training program, to fundraising, to editing a magazine, to my school volunteer work, to planning weddings…. and I don’t remember seeing it anywhere else. It’s just what I do.
Maybe this will help someone. That would be nice!
R&H Assistant
That sounds like a great system! Thanks for sharing!
Lois
I’ve never heard of this either, but it sounds like something that would help me with actual tasks. I’m gonna try it! And I’ve utilized mind-mapping for things that were clogging my thinking. For example, when my mother was very ill with cancer, we had many scenarios to consider. Mind-mapping helped me sort out each one with it’s various components and outcomes.
Marsha
When my mind is cluttered the best thing for me to get my head clear and thoughts onto the paper is just a notepad or journal and a ballpoint pen.
I have spent years trying to decorate and color coordinate my lists only to agonize over everything matching.
I thoroughly appreciate the simpleness of Reds. “Center” thought bubble branching out to the other catagories.
Beth
So glad you like it. It works so well for me too!! 🙂
PJ
I use mindmapping for the exact same reasons and started again yesterday.
I have my own destination wedding business, have a development project I want to start, a couple of ideas I want to investigate, help my daughter’s spa on the business side of things, same for my husband’s photography business + I do email support, admin, invoicing & customer care for my friend’s business (need a guarunteed income) + I should be doing more for my aged Mother, albeit remotely, as I live on the other side of the world. There is more personal stuff, but can’t be bothered to put that into this as it’s standard stuff.
Needless to say that the overwhelm is intense and I end up achieving nothing + I’m forgetful.
I started using SimpleMinds app as I just can’t grasp paper mapping.
I started again yesterday and am feeling sooooooo much better. It’s like spring cleaning your brain and you feel so much lighter….mentally and emotionally.
Love it! ???
Kimberly
I’ve been mind mapping before I knew it was mind mapping! This is how I brain dump (or brainstorm) my blog post. I used this technique in college when I had to write essays! It works great! It’s like dumping all my thoughts out on paper, then I go back & start to organize. I didn’t have a name for it back then.
R&H Assistant
You got there intuitively! That’s fantastic!
Yessenia
Thanks a lot, your post was awesome! I has was read the concept behind mind mapping and certainly decluttering my crazy head.
Please continue writing..
God Bless you
R&H Assistant
Let us know how it goes! 🙂
Blessings to you!
Maren
This is a great idea!! Found your article just at the right time too 🙂 I have so many ideas in my head on what to focus on next and currently have countless to-do lists in several places. I will give this a go later today!
Brett Farmiloe
Personal favorite of personality tests is https://MBTIonline.com
Sylvia
Stumbled here after reading a life planning pin. I love this blog, I’ve been doing this for years and didn’t realise this even had a name! Reading this article is like reading about myself and exactly what I do when I mind map. It’s soo satisfying and an even better feeling when u come across old books you have drawn in with old to-do list and they’ve all been done, it definitely puts a big smile on my face.
R&H Assistant
Welcome to Red & Honey, Sylvia!
Angela @ Setting My Intention
I love this idea of decluttering your mind this way. I’ve been decluttering my physical surroundings and find it so helpful to feel clarity in an uncluttered space! Thanks for sharing your process. I’ve done a couple of mindmaps but need to do it (and use it more regularly)!
tom
Thanks for the article. I see lots of programs advertised, including some here, for mm. But are there any programs that are easy to use, where you don’t have to spend lots of time & energy on the idiosyncracies of the program itself, so you can focus primarily on your actual thoughts, as advocated in the article.
Is there something, probably on the freeware end of the cost spectrum and not laden with a bunch of frivolous “features,” that people find actually works well and easily?
K
I’m liking SimpleMind for Android. This brain dump mind mapping is a great idea. I’m trying it now right before bed, to help me wind down. Thank you, R&H!
Bonnie
Years ago we were in a business group studying with a psychologist to take our business to a higher level. Two people had sleeping problems. One of the exercises they did was to have a pad of paper with them from about 7 pm until the went to bed, then put it on their night stand. They’d write down all those thoughts that jumped in their heads especially things they needed to do or remember. Then they’d tell their brain that they had it and not to worry about that any more. Sounds simple but it really helps to slow down an anxious mind and help it relax. I do it when things get crazy and deadlines are adding pressure.
Sarah
I’ve used mind mapping before but never as away of keeping track of goals. That’s definitely something I’m going to try!
Xoxo, Sarah
Lifestartzhere.com
Helena
Hi,
this is absolutely awesome. I am an INTJ and this suits me perfect. Thanks a lot.
Beth
Glad it’s helpful!! 🙂
Megan
Well… I think I’ve been doing this without ever realizing it. I just noticed recently how I’ll feel the intense urge to grab a notebook and write out my thoughts. I personally use bullet points and lists, kind of like an outline. It truly does help me get my thoughts in order, especially when there’s so much I’m thinking about (projects around the house, my blog, house chores, family, etc). My husband actually recently commented on how many little notebooks we have scattered around the house! Nice to know I’m not alone in my thought processes!
Beth
It’s so helpful, eh? I also have a ton of little notebooks with random scratch notes lying around. 🙂
Jack Bulkley
I like using a mindmap instead of an outline for medium sized writing. I do transition it to online where it is easier to move things around. But starting on paper engages my brain more. I like to use larger pieces of paper, an A4 journal or even a tabloid sized piece of paper.