Mind mapping is something you use in school to study, but it’s more than that. It’s a creative way to declutter your brain. All you need is a piece of paper and different colored pens. Start in the center of a blank paged turned sideways, in the middle add a photo or a cloud with your theme or word and use colors to create branches with keywords.
So how can you use them?
1. Make long-term goals happen!
When I need to sort out both my working and personal life and I think about long-term projects and commitments, here is when mind mapping comes in the picture. Indeed, a mind map is the only thing that helps me seeing the bigger picture.
I usually put that huge goal in the middle and then each branch contains a step I need to take to reach it, it’s a really visual way to get your life together and a great alternative to a vision board.
2. Free up some space in your brain
When I feel confused or like I have too many thoughts stuck in my brain, I just take a pen and paper and start mind mapping, putting down all my ideas and concerns. It helps me relax while I let my creative flux flows, and most importantly it helps me to clear up my mind.
3. Make decisions
I’m a very indecisive person, I find it hard to make spontaneous decisions and I tend to overthink. To avoid being torn by doubts all the time, I use a mind map to make tough decisions. Kind of like Rory Gilmore’s lists, it helps you see your pros and cons in a visual way. There’s something really therapeutic about getting all your colored pens out and drawing branches from the center. The bigger the paper, the better!
How do you use mind mapping to declutter your brain? Let me know in the comments below!
On Sunday 29, January 2017, Career Girl Daily will come to life with inspiring talks and masterclasses at the coolest spot in London. Reserve a guaranteed place when you book your tickets to this event here.
Sign up for our newsletter
Really great tips! I love mind maps, I should use them more. ?
Cristina | *janded
Mind mapping is the only way to clear my mind and thoughts, thank you for the insight and happy new year :p xx
A Girl’s Journal
https://girlsjournal95.blogspot.co.uk/
I’m SO indecisive! This is goldddd✨✨❤️
x Mila
❄️ http://www.topknotkindaday.com ❄️
I love mind mapping. Perfect thing to do at the beginning of the year. Your article is so timely as I was just telling my daughters and my sister and even my husband about this tool this past week. I use it for different areas of my life and because I’m a homeschool mother I also use it to help achieve the goals I have for my younger children (they each have a mind map I made for and with them ( i.e their schooling, personal activities and goals.) I also definitely recommend this to friends and show them how easy it is to do if I see they are temporarily overwhelmed by many things coming at them from many directions. Mostly I turn to this tool at the beginning of the year, like now, and then again mid year before school start, or anytime I find myself juggling a lot of balls and projects and I get over overwhelmed. It helps me to sort out priorities and then break those down into monthly and weekly goals to make progress in each area. You’re so right there is definitely something therapeutic about colored pens and a piece of blank paper. I use a set of erasable colored pens ….that way if I change my mind midstream doing my mind map I can just erase it and move it.
Interesting! I’d never considered using a mind map like that. I think I work best with lists, but the principle is the same – the power of writing things down!
Definitely going to make 2017 count!
http://www.upyourvlog.com
I am intrigued by the idea but would love to see an example to get a better feel of the process. Any suggestions?
There are lots of places you can search for mind maps. Michael Gelb devotes a whole chapter to them in “How to Think Like Leonardo daVinci. You kind find examples at Mappio and Mid Map Art. There’s a blog for mind mapping called “MindMappingStrategies.” Learning Fundamentals devotes space to mind mapping, too. If you’re interested in mind-mapping software, go to Mind-Mapping.org. You could probably find lots of examples on Pinterest, as well.
Thank you so much, Janet. I will check these out.
Great post!
http://www.upyourvlog.com