Success with mindmaps
// stimulate creativity
// keep the overview
// set plain goals
What is a mindmap?
Mindmaps are sketched outlines with almost magical
influence on understanding and retentivity. They
are appropriate tools to structure objectives, learning
matters and develop ideas.
How does it work?
In the center of a sheet of paper You note the topic.
Then, add branches for subtopics and details. Although
it is that simple, you gain a clear view of the
topics structure. In consequence, you can see what
is important and what is not. The process of mindmap
creation is called mindmapping.
What is the benefit of mindmapping?
Mindmaps are universally applicable:
- Learning: Structure makes learning easy. It provides an overall view and improves results significantly.
- Creativity: Mindmaps are recommendaed for the systematic search for ideas. They are often used with colors and sketches.
- Explanation: Outlines in shape of mindmaps are easier to understand than common structures.
- Structuring: Use them to design a seminar, a book or a thesis.
- Projects, goals and tasks: Best use of mindmaps is during brainstorming and creation of basic structures. For execution normal outlines are more appropriate.
Why are mindmaps so effective?
Many
thinking processes are clearly assignable to one
brain hemisphere. Logical structure and linguistic
content are tasks of the left hemisphere. Pictures
and graphical structures are tasks of the right
one. Generally both hemispheres compete for brainwork.
Left brain oriented education often lets the wrong
side of the brain solve the task. Preventing such
misassignments is one of the most effective of all
existing thinking methods!
If it were possible
to combine the abilities of both hemispheres in
one thinking process, retentivity and understanding
could be improved significantly, in some special
cases even with downright spectacular effect. And
actually, the combination is possible. Of course,
the brain is not working incorrectly everywhere.
In some applications (e.g. details of daily time
management) the advantages of mindmaps get reduced
to the mere fun factor.
Drawing mindmaps on paper or on screen?
Mindmaps on paper have their downside. The branches
of a mindmap on paper cannot be simply expanded
and collapsed. The finished mindmap gets too large,
confusing and inaccessible. Often its creation process
and not the mindmap itself is the actual benefit,
though. The creation on paper is experienced as
more intensive. Therefore, paper is the better choice
for learning and brainstorming purposes.
The screen has only limited space but the mindmap
appears more organized and clear. Therefore mindmaps
on screen are advantageous for structuring.
In most cases of objectives, tasks and projects,
only the use of mindmap software is worth considering.
But in these cases mindmaps are less appropriate
than the normal, indented arrangement. That is because
of relatively long texts as well as assigned information
like dates, budget etc. Therefore use mindmaps for
tasks and goals as a second pair of eyes only.
Which layout is the best?
Actually,
the expression "mindmap" has only been used to describe
the branched graphics. The mentioned advantages
refer to this type of mind map. It is unbeatable
for brainstorming and valuable for learning purposes.
However, the content of the diagram can be displayed
differently:
Sometimes,
the expression "mindmap" is also used for diagrams
like in the screenshot on the right. Terms like
radial diagram or sector diagram are common for
this kind of mindmap as well. It is unbeatable if
a weighting shall be included, thus adjusting the
sector size to the required budget or time.
You
get clear goals by subdividing obscure goals. Divide
large objectives in clear, small, executable tasks.
Only by structuring and subdividing it becomes clear
what you want to achieve. Unconscious obstacles
vanish. Your psyche reorganizes your forces.
When it is about objectives, tasks and projects,
the common outline is the best. However, it has
proven effective to outline tasks conventionally
and then to have a look at it as a mindmap "from
a second perspective".
Why to use meineZIELE?
meineZIELE is a system of software and knowhow.
It covers the whole field of personal work methodology
from daily time management to long-term strategy.
meineZIELE provides all three types of mindmaps
(and much more, have a look
at the function overview).
Furthermore,
we provide interfaces: meineZIELE can take on finished
mindmaps and get them into an executable form. Vice
versa, any parts of the outline can be transformed
to a mindmap and exported to Freemind or MindManager.
It is not decisive what is being created
on the screen. What is being created in your head
is decisive: Clear objectives, clear tasks and clear
priorities. By this means, mindmaps lead to visible
success.
The next step
You can download meineZIELE as a free trial. meineZIELE has a very powerful set of functions. But take Your time. Even after buying You have another 100 days of return with full refund.