How mapping your mind can help you study
Your mind is busier than Grand Central Station; between 12 000 and 50 000 thoughts cross your mind every day. With so much going on, your mind doesn’t have time to trace a linear path from one thought to the next. Instead, your mind flits from one thought to another, like a hummingbird in a flower bed. If you remember this when you are studying, you can make use of your hummingbird brain to connect a number of thoughts, ideas and concepts around a central theme. And the best way of doing with is with a mind map.
What are mind maps?
Mind maps form an integral part of learning. They allow you to use both hemispheres of your brain by combining your creative and logical faculties. For visual learners, mind mapping gives you an overview of information in a visual format that will make it easier to remember. Not only do mind maps allow you memorize information more easily, they also show the connections between different ideas, and how systems work together as a whole.
How to map your mind
Think of the central concept or thought that all the information you are dealing with revolves around. Write this in the middle of your mind map.
Start writing related ideas and information around the main idea. Radiate the new concepts out from the central idea so that your mind map doesn’t become too confusing. There are many different kinds of mind maps and yours can look like a spider web, a root system or the branches of a tree. Link each new idea to the central idea and show how ideas are linked to each other. Use graphics and different colored markers to show which concepts are related. Leave lots of space between different areas so that your mind map doesn’t become over crowded.
Update your mind map as your discover more information or new connections. Place the mind map in a prominent place.
Mind maps can be used to help you to memorize new information or understand complex concepts. They also help you to brainstorm for upcoming projects or assignments.
If you are a techno junkie, there is no need to draw the mind map out on paper. You can use MS Word or cell phone apps to create mind maps. You can import clipart and symbols to represent different concepts or the relationship between different ideas.
Mind maps can be a great way to connect thoughts and see how concepts are related together. Complex ideas are simplified and you are able to memorize large amounts of information easily.
