When people use a mindmap, they do this (hopefully) for a reason. They need to overview and clarify (a lot of) information for themselves or others which they have in their head, books, etc. A mindmap is a good tool to use in that situation. Most people grab a piece of paper or start up their computer and begin working.
After the mindmap is created and you organized the information correctly, the map:
- helps you remember the information better,
- gives you insight in the information
That’s all wonderful of course, only I see one small problem that you need to be aware of…
The information in the mindmap usually becomes stagnant over time. And just like stagnant water goes bad, the information will become less useful over time.
Your thoughts and insights change, your maps remains to be the same.
Imagine you have to work with the information in that map over a longer period of time. Your thoughts and insights are no longer the same as before. Yet… the map shows you what you needed a long time ago.
Would you create a new mindmap for the new situation?
The problem of static maps is even bigger when you create the colorful and artistic traditional mindmaps. These are wonderful to look at, probably good to remember, yet most of the time difficult to update/change.
Most people don’t create traditional maps. They don’t draw (because they don’t know how to draw, so they tell me). They use only a few colors (’now where is my set of pens…’). They only use the basic visual tools of the mindmap technique.
The result is a map which is less attractive for your brain, but probably gives you a good overview of the information.
It is a map which can or will to be changed (in contrast with the traditional mindmap).
My Advice
My advice for you is to create maps which allow you to edit them. Here are four important pointers.
- Make sure you leave white space for more information.
- Add new information if needed.
- Remove useless or less useful information.
- UPDATE YOUR MAP!
The Results
- This is what you will like, the results of doing this:
- Your midmaps become real assistants in stead of information baskets.
- You keep your mindmaps flexible.
- You decrease the number of maps you have.
- You become more organized.
- You reduce the time you spend on managing your information.
Lots of success mind mapping your information!
Arjen
(my mindmaps work for me)
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