Mindmap – mind map is certainly a term that is not too unfamiliar to us. This is an effective thinking method, helping you to synthesize and systemize knowledge through vivid and intuitive drawings.
With just a pen and a blank sheet of paper, we can create our own mind map to remember and grasp the essence of all problems. However, do we really understand what mind mapping is? What tools to draw effective mind maps? Is the way we draw ordinary mind maps really correct?
Let’s learn about mindmap with Malu Design and effective mind mapping method
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1. What is Mindmap?
Mindmap , also known as mind map , is a method of using diagrams and drawings to express a certain system of knowledge, work, content, and ideas. Richard Felder, in his research on how and how to absorb knowledge, pointed out that: “We absorb knowledge in the form of pictures, visual diagrams 60,000 times faster than knowledge. in word form”. That shows just how powerful the visual effects are on our brains.
In mindmap there are two elements including:
+ Center point : This is the big idea that we are studying, located at the center of the mind map. This is the nodal point, where the “branches” radiate everywhere.
+ ” Branches “: These are the lines connecting the central point to the smaller ideas. From the large branches, the mind map maker can point out smaller “branches”, clarifying the content of the major branch lines.
In addition to using text and connecting lines in mindmaps, you can completely use illustrations for branch lines and central nodes. The more intuitive you are, the more effective and powerful your mind map becomes.
2. Steps to draw effective mind maps
Step 1: Establish a central idea
The central idea, also known as the central node, is the starting point of all mindmaps. It represents the central topic you are looking to explore and learn about.
In mindmaps, the central node is usually represented by a circle, or square, with text representing the content of that idea.
Step 2: Create sub-branches
From the central node, we create small branch lines, showing small ideas that complement the central node.
For example, since the central node is Marketing, there are many aspects related to it, such as Social Networking, Email Marketing, Marketing Inbound, Marketing Outbound , etc. Each aspect, we draw a sub-branch from the middle point. The focus is on Marketing.
Step 3: Expand the mind map
In each sub-branch, we extend more sub-branches from the big branch above.
For example, from the social network sub-branch of the Marketing hub, we can develop other sub-branches, such as Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn or Twitter, etc.
“Coloring” for mind maps
To make your mindmap more intuitive, vivid and receptive, you should color the branches of the mind map separately.
For example, in the Marketing mindmap, the social network branch and its sub-branches are highlighted in orange, the Email branch is highlighted in red, and so on for all the remaining branches.
3. Applying mind maps
Applying mind maps at work
In the process of working, you face many difficulties in forming and ideas at work. In addition, the amount of work is much, but you do not know where to start, arrange the task order so that it is scientific and effective.
With a mindmap, you can first form a unique idea from a common big idea. The work order will also be arranged in a scientific and simple way, when the work heads are linked together sequentially and in detail through the nodes and branch lines in the mind map.
Using mind maps to solve problems
First, mindmap helps people find the cause of problems through visual images. Then people use smaller “branches” of thinking to dig out the root of the problem. A thorough and profound understanding of the nature of problems helps people to deal with them properly.
Using mind maps in time management
We only have 24 hours a day, 8 hours to work, but the first jobs often have a lot of time people have on hand. How to divide and solve these tasks in the same day? That’s the job of mind maps.
With mindmaps, you can link tasks together, arrange them in a fixed and scientific time period.
Application of mind maps in learning
Just receiving a huge amount of knowledge every day through words is “impossible” for anyone. Mind maps will be an effective support tool for us in the acquisition of learning knowledge.
Many studies have shown that acquiring knowledge through visual images is often easier than absorbing knowledge through mere words.
4. 4 benefits of applying mind maps in life and work
Using mind maps in your daily life and work can bring you unexpected benefits
Find out the essence of the problem
With mindmap, you can find the cause of the problem that you could not find with the normal way of thinking. In essence, all issues are closely linked. As you visualize it, the core problems will gradually emerge.
Improve work efficiency
When you group tasks together, you can do them in the most scientific order possible. This not only helps your work become neat and orderly, but also helps your work performance to be significantly improved.
Good absorption of a huge amount of knowledge
When you see a large amount of knowledge, which is arranged in a messy way, you often tend to be discouraged from learning. When they are grouped, they become extraordinarily simple. Mindmaping the knowledge system makes it easier for you to absorb them.
Develop creative thinking
Through intuitive drawings, we are no longer constrained by dry letters and numbers. Things seem to be out of bounds. Now, you can easily find new ideas for yourself, explore new horizons through the association of big ideas.
Currently, on the market, there are many easy-to-use, cross-platform mindmap drawing tools that are completely free for all users. You don’t have to spend time pulling out a pen and paper to draw a mind map manually. Everything was taken care of by the computer. Explore these useful tools with Malu.
5. Master Mindmap with 8 free drawing software
Coggle
After logging into Coggle , you realize that mind mapping has never been so simple and easy. Coggle’s template already contains a center point and “plus” buttons for you to add “branches” around. Your job is to just press the plus button, Coggle will automatically place the branch line to make it as easy to see and intuitive as possible.
Moreover, you can completely use shortcut buttons to make mindmap creation faster and more convenient. To set the shortcut button, you just need to click on the blue question mark icon in the right corner of the same screen.
For those who are knowledgeable about Markdown font formatting, you can completely emphasize the content of text in Coggle by bolding, italicizing, hypertext links for paragraphs, depending on the intended use and your memo.
Currently, Coggle provides its products completely free on the Web platform, for mindmaps to use for personal purposes. Alternatively, you can use the premium version of Coogle, for only $5/month.
Mindly
Because of the limitation of mobile screens, drawing mindmaps on this platform is a big challenge. You will have to zoom the images, drag and drop continuously, but the effect may not be what you want. There is a tool to support mind mapping on the phone that is completely free, which is Mindly .
Like most mindmap tools, you’ll start a map file with a central node. The rest of you is to add branches, icons, change colors as you like.
But it doesn’t stop there, every time you want to customize in a branch of the map, Mindly will automatically zoom the screen to that branch of the idea that is within your reach. You will not have to worry about zooming and zooming the image, or fear that the font size is not suitable during the mindmap reading process.
Of course, Mindly also has a desktop version. You can completely sync mindmap content on your phone directly to your laptop screen. Unfortunately, Mindly now only supports macOS, there is no app for the Windows platform.
Draw.io
Draw.io is a tool that helps you draw anything, including mindmaps. The drag-and-drop functionality allows you to add custom shapes, links, text and images. In addition, you can change colors, connect center points together, and much more.
This is a tool to help you freely create mindmaps at will. It doesn’t even require you to log-in to an account and can be used directly through a web browser.
With its online power, draw.io allows you to share mindmaps with the world, allowing them to view, comment on, and edit your maps.
MindMup
MindMup is easy to use, just a few simple steps with an intuitive interface to draw mind maps. But the function of sharing and editing mindmaps to the community is the most outstanding feature of MindMup.
Instead of requiring you to enter your email address to create a mindmap, MindMup allows you to customize your mind map without having to go through the step of declaring an account. Each generated map will only last for a period of 6 months, so MindMup is suitable for short term conceptual projects.
MindMup is currently free for mindmaps up to 100KB in size. With a larger map capacity, MindMup only collects $2.99/month from users.
MindMeister
MindMeister is a very interesting mindmap drawing tool. In addition to the function of “embedding” videos directly into the map, MindMeister also allows you to add members to the project to draw mindmaps, upvote/downvote ideas, or leave comments.
Currently, MindMeister is free for users to draw up to 3 maps. The premium version of MindMeister allows users to draw unlimited mindmaps, with the right to export the map to a PDF file.
Stormboard
Stormboard is one of the best mindmap drawing tools on the market. It allows you to link ideas in the form of sticky notes, instead of traditional “node-branch” ideas. This makes your mind mapping work easier, less hassle with complicated node-branch options.
You can even invite your team members to participate in map modification, without worrying about them destroying 100% of the map you have created before.
You are free to draw up to 5 mindmaps in Stormboard. The extended version allows you to use additional features, such as linking maps to Microsoft Office Online, exporting to popular file formats, etc. The price for the extended version is $5/month.
SimpleMind
SimpleMind is an interesting mindmap software that allows you to do a variety of customizations. You can even format your mindmap with different shapes, like vertical, horizontal, or freeform diagrams.
If you use the SimpleMind app on your phone, you can completely add voice and video to the map, convenient for memorizing and presenting ideas. To use cross-platform maps, you can also add mindmap files on the cloud system.
The function that only SimpleMind has, is the ability to convert PDF file data into mind maps. You can save hours of map editing with just 1 click.
Currently, SimpleMind is allowing users to use the software for free with limited features. To use the unlimited version, you only have to spend from $6.99/user (mobile version) to $24.99/user (desktop version).
LucidChart
LucidChart is well known as an application to set up data tables. But, it is also a good mindmap drawing software. Allows to convert maps into data management files, CSV format is one of the unique features of LucidChart.
More specifically, it allows you to link existing data from Google Sheets to mind maps. This is extremely convenient for you to input, or export data from mindmap to other office tools.
LucidChart is completely free for users to set up up to 3 mind maps. The extended version for only $4.95/month gives you unlimited use of features.
Mindmaps play a very important role in idea generation, understanding complex theoretical terms, as well as in teamwork and decision making. On the Internet there are many different mindmap drawing tools with many interesting features that are completely free. You can unleash your creativity without worrying about spending too much time and effort on drawing ordinary mind maps.
Now, you can completely master mindmap with 8 simple drawing software that are completely free.
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