Mind Mapping – A Quick How To Guide For Beginners

Recently I discovered a post by Darren where he advised bloggers to use mind mapping techniques for new blog post ideas. I had read about mind mapping before but never thought about trying it.

But now that I am blogging regularly, sometimes it is difficult to come up with a good blog post idea. The ideas are there somewhere in my mind, but the problem is bringing them from the locked portions of my brain and working on them.

This is where mind mapping came to rescue me.

What is Mind Mapping?

There is a wonderful article on Mind Mapping on Wikipedia. But I liked this definition:

“A knowledge organization tool used to elicit ideas from one or more users by placing a topic in the center of a black space and branching out with related ideas.”

Who can use Mind Mapping?

Any one can use mind mapping technique for their own purposes. For example I am using this technique to come up with post ideas for my blogs and for my other writings. Teachers, students, businesses, professionals, software developers, writers, soccer moms and even grand mothers can benefit from mind mapping techniques.

How to do Mind Mapping?

It is straightforward. Take a piece of paper and write down something in the center, like the goal and purpose of the mind map.

Now start branching out new points from the central location. Mind mapping is a tool to use both parts of your brain during the thinking process. A mind map allows you to let your mind do the thinking instead of you forcing yourself to think.

With a mind map you draw a diagram of ideas coming to your mind and building on these ideas you add new ones. Click on the mind map below to see a mind map drawn by Danny Stevens illustrating the idea of mind maps:

Many people use many different techniques to do create mind maps. I feel that it is totally up to the person to decide how he wants to draw his mind map.

Some people use software to create mind maps. Some people prefer a plain sheet of paper and pencil. Some use colors and pictures, some use curved branches, and some use straight lines.

Since the idea is to think freely so it is understandable why there are no strictly defined approaches to drawing a mind map.

Sample Mind Maps:

The web is full of example mind maps. A good place to look for sample mind maps is “NovaMind’s mind mapping examples“. Below is a sample mind map I draw for a story I am working on:

Best Mind Mapping Software

You can try mind mapping by simply using a piece of paper and pencil.

However, there are some really good mind mapping software out there that can help you organize mind maps more efficiently.

1. Freeplane – Free and open-source mind mapping software written in Java.
2. Coogle – Online mind mapping tool.
3. MindMeister – Free online mind mapping tool, with comments, styles, embeds, and more.
4. Xmind – A cross platform and simple mind mapping software for personal use.
5. MindMup – Another simple online mind-mapping app.

Some people who have used Mind Mapping:
Ava Vampira, is a medical student who uses mind maps to take notes.
Raj Dash, a freelancer who uses Mind Mapping, tells why freelancers should use mind mapping.

Noumaan Yaqoob

I am a full-time WordPress blogger, I write tutorials about using WordPress, WordPress themes and plugins. Need help with your website? Feel free to contact me.

See Full Bio