[ratings]
Visualmaps are really good tools when you need to get a grip on your information. Especially nowadays, when we receive so much information and have more to do than ever.

In times of prosperity, there is not really a need to manage your information effectively. Right now, we are in a time where many people have to be more effective just in order to keep their jobs!

A visualmap, mindmap, flowchart, summap or concept map can really help you in getting more overview and order in your information. To people only making nice stand-alone mindmaps, this may be strange or even hard to understand.

We will focus right now on mindmaps. Let’s have a look at the way most people use them.

 

The ‘old’ way of mind mapping

You begin the day and make a mindmap of what you want, need and have to do. This map lists all your tasks, project and appointments.

Is this a good way of starting your day? I think so. This activity creates FOCUS and helps you to stay on top and creates overview in what you should do.

Is this a good usage of your mindmap? I don’t think so… Here’s why:

1. You could also create a to-do list or add your tasks and appointments to your schedule. I can imagine that most of them are there in your schedule. You can also use your daily planner to show you what to do.

Why use a mindmap then? Only because you heard/read that you could? BE PRACTICAL!

2. Why use all kinds of images and colors to create a planning for the day using a mindmap? You will probably use the mindmap only to cross out tasks you did. No need for the mindmap this way.

3. Why spend so much time creating a map you use only at the beginning of the day? After all… when you create a nice looking overview… uh I mean mindmap, it would be a shame to start editing it and striking through the nice map!

 

Another important point regarding stress

What will give you more stress…

A: a (short) list of things to-do or

B: a (huge) mindmap on a large sheet of paper

Hmmm… Looking at a page filled with information I would become stressed myself opposed to looking at a short list of things to do. I’d recon you share this, right?

So how are we going to make PRACTICAL and PRODUCTIVE use of a mindmap?

The ‘new’ way of mind mapping

To lower stress, you have to reduce the amount of information you receive/perceive. Still, you need to have all the important information in your overview.

The first thing you need to do (especially when creating a planning), is create one planning for the entire week in one mindmap (1 for 1). Don’t start mind mapping your day, every day, on a fresh sheet. You don’t start all over again every day with your work? I would think you continue and make progress!

Second, remove images and pretty pictures representing tasks. Great to use lovely images, not that practical. You don’t need to get inspiration to think about what you do. You just need to do what you have to do. Besides… creating images in your schedule map is only taking time away from the real tasks.

The mindmap you create is a guide for the day, nothing more, nothing less

Third, you use only three additional colors (max):

Green: Things you want to do

Orange: Things you have to do

Red: Things you must do

Your job is to finish the Red and Orange tasks. Green is something you can do later as well. You may even reduce the number of colors to two (only Green and Red).

The result of using these 3 simple steps?

 More overview, less map stress and a more productive you.

Continue reading to learn how you can use the map during the day.

 

How to use this map during the week

You add new tasks to the map and projects you are working on during the day. Of course you can also create a schedule for the next week or the entire month. Just add new tasks at the map for the next week/month. It’s all up to you.

Each hour, you spend a few MINUTES (max 1 to 2) on updating and editing your map. Remember, the map is not the goal, it is just a means to bringing you where you need to go.

Do you know what I personally like about this simplified mindmap or visual map?

It creates a roadmap to success for me. I don’t have to spend too much time creating a map and I get things done!

By using the map during the day, I keep track of what I did and what I have to do. Updating the map has one more added benefit as well. By doing that, I create a log of what I did and when I did it. A short note added to my map shows my results & experiences gained.

The combination of focused chunks of time for your activities and your new mindmap will sky rocket your productivity and accomplishments.

Let your mindmaps work for you!

 

Arjen

 

 

UPDATE

Here’s a small part of my own May 2009 planning. I left out most of the lower levels.

You should know that I NEVER create a map which is just a single map. They are always in one way or the other connected to my Mastermap (hence the link to the mastermap at the bottom of the image).

I also add links to previous and following months.

Furthermore, since this is a map for an entire month, I added numbers (red ‘dots’) for each week this is something to work on.

There are relationship lines between the different topics in the map to show that tasks and projects relate.

At first, for some people this may seem to be hard to read. During my training courses, people learn exactly how to make this and how to effectively use them (cause that’s the most important thing ).

Once you are used to it, the system works like the map of the Underground System. You see what is related and what should be done in an instant.

Tags: getting things done, map stress, mindmaps, productivity, stress, visualmap