Using Mind Maps for Creativity, Note-Taking and Productivity

[...] Using Mind Maps for Creativity, Note-Taking and Productivity Bookmark!: These icons link to social bookmarking sites where readers can share and discover new web pages. [...]

I liked your article, it is a very nice overview. I use mind maps every day to aid in writing, organization and information / knowledge management. One software package that wasn’t mentioned that I would recommend highly is NovaMind. It is similar to iMindMap in that it gives you the ability to easily create very natural and good-looking maps, but also has really excellent information management capabilities and is better engineered in my opinion.

I’m a big fan of mind maps too. One notable limitation is that they are difficult for someone to read if that person did not create the mind map originally. I wrote about it a couple years ago (linked to my name).

Thanks for a good article. I’ve also linked to the IHMC concept-mapping product. It is free, easy to use, and a little more powerful for my uses than other mind map products I’ve used.

There is a great list of 99 Mind Mapping resources that someone just posted.

Hope this list helps.

http://www.collegedegree.com/library/college-life/99-mind-mapping

JD

I use mindmaps mainly for quick and dirty brainstorming and seeing how ideas and concepts fit together.

I’ve really enjoyed using MindMeister, because it has just what I need, and not a lot of bloat or features I’ll never use. I also like the ability to share maps.

Wise Mapping is the web mind mapping tool that leverages the power of Mind Maps mixing new technologies like vectorial languages (SVG and VML) and the power of the whole Web 2.0 concept. No pluggin required and it’s free.
http://www.wisemapping.com/c/home.htm

Mind mapping is a great tool, and I was blown away by the maps produced by Jane Genovese and her mother. Here is a series of mind maps on the topic of global warming.

http://learningfundamentals.com.au/global-warming/

@Arthur - I will check out NovaMind, so far I have been pretty stuck on the free tools

@Scott - I think it depends who created them, for example with Seans book reviews I get a good idea of the book without reading it (though Sean doesn’t adhere to a strict methodology)

@Jonathan - Great list, thanks!

@Tony - Sharing maps is a really new and cool feature in the world of mind maps. My fave online tool linked above now has import and export, I am going to play with the xml export as I can see all sorts of future uses for that

@Satish - Ooh free, I like free!

@Glenn - Excellent, and nice find

I’ve been playing around with http://www.mindomo.com and http://www.mindmeister.com and have found them both helpful and useful.

Hi Chris, I use FreeMind a lot, here’s a post a wrote a while ago: http://smartwealthyrich.com/brainstorming-is-useless-if-you-cant-see-the-big-picture/

and recently I started using the “Blueprint” feature of 8apps.com , here’s a post I wrote on my other blog: http://freelancefolder.com/taking-task-management-brainstorming-and-social-networking-a-step-further/

Jonathan

mindomo looks pretty cool, there seem to be more of these popping up all the time!

Hi Chris,

Greetings from Mindjet. I just came across your post and noticed you’re familiar with MindManager. Are you a current user? Let me know if you’d like to chat, I can be reached at the email address I provided. Thanks!

[...] more from the Codswallop blog? Here is Chris’ most recent post on "Using Mind Maps for Creativity, Note-Taking and [...]

I have been using mindmaps as a creative thinking tool for several years. I have used both iMindmap and Mindjet software - both have trial versions, iMindmap is more intuitive and visual.

An excellent variation on mindmaps is called the Lotus Blossom:

http://creatingminds.org/tools/lotus_blossom.htm

Mindmaps are also an excellent group creative thinking tool. You can make huge mindmaps by taping easel pad sheets together and placing on a wall. As the map builds, ideas flow as people make connections.

Hi Chris
I experimented with mindmapping to help me think through the process for choosing another blog topic. I did a mindmap to illustrate this, including a mini review of Mindomo.
http://www.growyourwritingbusiness.com/?p=256

Hi Chris,

Here’s some links on articles I’ve done on mind mapping:

http://cuberules.com/2007/05/02/mindmanager-70-release-announced/
On the release of Mind Manager 7.0

http://tenkeyboards.com/2007/07/09/5-reasons-a-writer-should-use-mind-maps/
A writer’s use of mind maps

http://tenkeyboards.com/2007/04/03/mindmanager-can-aid-your-writing/
How Mind Manager can aid in your writing

Not that I’m a fan of mind maps or anything…

@Gaelen - I have tried it on the advice of Sean D’Souza who recommends it while doing his own with a pen on the back of paper bags (you can see his book reviews linked above) but have stuck to free tools for now

@Innovation - Lotus blossom, a new one on me but I love the name, looks a bit more rigid than mind maps?

@Yvonne - Nice stuff, your mind map is a great example

Our team launched a new collaborative web-based mind mapping tool called Comapping. It is worth checking it out at comapping.com.

[...] Using Mind Mapping for Creativity, Note Taking and Productivity, by Chris Garrett, is the post that prompted me to write this. It gives a good description of the many uses of Mind Mapping. [...]

@Omar - Interesting, I will take a look

Hi Chris

A great summary of the uses of mind maps. I’m a group facilitator and have used MindManager with groups by projecting the screen on the wall. It’s a great way to collaborate. It’s especially useful for sorting, sifting and summarising the output from traditional brainstorms. It also has the wow! factor for group project planning when combined with MS Project.

You can see examples and thoughts at my blog: hhtp://www.vismap.blogspot.com/

Yeah I have found Mind Maps go down well in groups, especially if you use lots of graphics/drawings rather than all text

[...] I posted about Mind Mapping I asked for you to provide any links you had on using Mind Maps. Here are 11 of the best resources [...]

Great article and lots of comments and energy around mindmapping. I am a creative right brain and have used mindmapping in previous jobs as a training manager. Your article and all of the comments make me want to take out a piece of paper and do one. I have lots of ideas and projects that I need clarity about and I know that a mindmap would help me get my thoughts organized. Thanks for sharing this article! I am on my way to Digg!!

Darlene
Interview Guru
http://www.interviewchatter.com

[...] Using Mind Maps for Creativity, Note-Taking and Productivity [...]

[...] using the task information feature, when things change. Want more from the Codswallop blog? Here is Chris’ most recent post on “Using Mind Maps for Creativity, Note-Taking and [...]

Hey Chris, thanks for this link. I’ve been intrigued by the idea of mind maps, and I’ve done a few on paper. But for one reason and another I’ve never used and mind mapping software that i liked at all. But this thing is cool. It’s easy, simple, flexible and best of all the mind maps look like what mind maps look like in my mind for the most part.

I think I’ll be producing mind maps for a number of things in the coming days.

[...] Garrett posted about using mind maps for creativity, note taking and productivity and mentioned a cool new website called Bubbl.us where they offer a free, flash based, online mind [...]

[...] 3rd, 2007 by senescal07 Leo vía Chris Garrett una recomendación sobre un artículo “Using Mind Maps for Creativity, Note-Taking and Productivity” para aumentar la productividad en toma de decisiones y procesos de generación de ideas usando lo [...]

@Dane - It was a bit weird at first using software but now the editing, reordering, import/export, etc advantages have won me over. I am just trying out a Mac package that looks good, review to come soon

Can one keep the mind maps that one makes on the sites viewable only for selected persons?

[...] Using Mind Maps for Creativity, Note-Taking and Productivity [...]

Mind Maps are very useful tools for solving any complex probelms, very good site.

For visual project planning, nothing beats GoalEnforcer. In my opinion, it is ahead of the pack. It uses a better visualization concept than traditional mindmaps (no clutter).
http://www.goalenforcer.com

[...] future work as you have them, even if you can’t get to them immediately. I like to use mind mapping software if I need to show hierarchy of ideas and outlines. Other times, I just make a flat list. [...]

I appreciate the cross-functionality I have with Mindmanager. I love the fact I can type an entry one time and move it across a multitude of platforms. I build, create and maintain activities, current topics, future topics, personal/business goals, music/book shopping lists and work flows (just to name a few) in Mindmanager. If something pops into my brain while I’m working, I put it in GyroQ once, then import to Mindmanager and then move it appropriately at the end of the day. My iPaq syncs with Outlook, so I send over my ToDo Lists, shopping lists and reminders to book appointments from Mindmanager. Type once - send to the correct spot. Love it!

[...] Try it out and see how it works for you. I think it could be a fun way to create tutorials and creating live Mind Maps. [...]

Hi Chris:

I enjoyed your overview. I have been writing about mind mapping on my blog for several months and will be hosting a session for Mindjet on how educators can use mind mapping in and out of the classroom on November 8th. Take a look at my blog and let me know what you think. Brian

Try this… it’s not quite mind mapping, but I swear by this.

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[...] Codswallop - Using Mind Maps for Creativity, Note-Taking and Productivity [...]

There’s a search engine focused specifically on mind mapping at http://www.mindmapsearch.org and it has all the authority sites on mind mapping organized into category pages as well - might be useful.

Regards
Vic
http://www.mind-mapping.org
The master list of mind mapping &
information management software

[...] planning. Mindmaps are ideal for any sort of general planning you need to do, either for business or personal [...]

[...] MindMaps, prima o poi devo imparare Inserito Ottobre 18, 2007 di luiginter Ogni volta che incrocio il MindMapping Mind Maps are a visual diagram with lines and bubbles representing ideas and relationships between them. The core idea sits in the middle with related topics branching out from it. Ideas are further broken down and extended until your page looks like an impressionist painting of a spider colony. (Cogniview) [...]

[...] Information Business. 10. Planning quotidien. Les Mindmaps sont idéales pour toute sorte de planification générale que vous avez à faire, que ce soit pour le business ou les questions plus [...]

[...] Using Mind Maps for Creativity, Note-Taking and Productivity: Mind maps are useful for a lot of different things, and this article gives some guidance and suggestions on the best ways to use them. [...]

[...] Wozu Mindmaps nützlich sind [...]

I saw an article about this in one of my writing magazines. I ended up buying the full version of SuperNotecard by Mindola. It’s really good. They have a free version on their website. It’s made it really easy to write snippets of what I need and shuffle them around like notecards, only I can tag them in a variety of ways and add extra notes to the cards for those specific tags.

[...] Using Mind Maps for Creativity, Note-Taking and Productivity: Mind maps are useful for a lot of different things, and this article gives some guidance and suggestions on the best ways to use them. [...]

http://www.dekstrus.com has a tool called the DNE that doesn’t quite do mind mapping, but that also lets you map information. It is not as good for quick & dirty brainstorming, but is better for organizing access to the information in your computer, since every object on your map is also like a folder, so you can get all of your files directly from any map.

There’s a video example at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TXN_wJemXTI

[...] Source: CogniView [...]

[...] Using Mind Maps for Creativity, Note-Taking and Productivity: Mind maps are useful for a lot of different things, and this article gives some guidance and suggestions on the best ways to use them. [...]

Thought I would add details of my Hand-drawn (& painted) Mind Maps…I have a website at - http://www.mindmaps.moonfruit.com It could help spark ideas for you and your readers. Everything is FREE to download including example Mind Maps.
Regards
Paul

I find mind mapping the most useful tool for developing my business strategy/

[...] and important tool, that helps you to develop ideas, is to draw a quick mindmap. See how this works here. After that, different ideas and new correlations will appear. These new correlations are [...]