But I Lose Details With Mind Mapping…!

During workshops I often hear people say the following: But I will lose details when I use mindmaps…!

Do you think this is true?

Usually my response is that a mindmap may give you less details than the traditional method of note taking. But that is ok. A mindmap isn’t the same as traditional note taking. When I ask people about their current method and how many details they lose… they tell me they miss out on certain things right now as well.

So the problem isn’t with details you may or may not miss in the final result/mindmap.

The problem is something much more human, we resist change. Change means getting out of your comfort zone. While everybody wants to have an exciting life and do new things, most of us don’t enjoy change too muc. When it comes to really doing new things and spending time on learning a new system or aquiring a new habit… most people stop even before they start.

Will a mindmap miss out on details?

Of course (if you use the mindmap the way most people do).

The moment you use just a couple of other methods for capturing details, the mindmap will work wonders for you.

Here’s what you do:

First thing is you don’t view your mindmap as something you create once and never touch it again. That is not the right way!

Your brain loves to learn new things, but it doesn’t want to get overwhelmed. Don’t do this by using a mindmap with lots of information then as well.

Don’t create an enormous mindmap and tell your brain to just remember it. It probably won’t!

Make it easier on yourself. Add notes to the mindmap which store details, definitions, ideas, etc. A computer mindmap does this for you without a problem. A mindmap on paper might be accompanied by flascards which show one word (the one word shown in the mindmap) and the backside showing the details.

This way you never lose details, yet you keep a very clean mindmap!

The next thing is to really think about the content of the map. Understand the relationships, topics and ideas that map shows you. When you do that, details are attached to your mind much easier.

And the final ‘secret’ ingredient is this…

HAVE FAITH, YOUNG GRASSHOPPER!

That’s right, you need to start trusting your brain again.

When you do that, you will enjoy much more confidence in learning and remembering the details.

Enjoy your detailed mind (map)!

Tags: capture details, changing your approach, details in mindmaps, human behavior, mindmap lose details