How to Mind Map

Explore
this Site's
Recurrent
Themes

The Brain Book

Peter Russell's highly acclaimed book on memory and learning, with many examples of mind maps, how to make them and use them.

Use just key words, or wherever possible images.
Start from the center of the page and work out.
Make the center a clear and strong visual image that depicts the general theme of the map.
Create sub-centers for sub-themes.
Put key words on lines. This reinforces structure of notes.
Print rather than write in script. It makes them more readable and memorable. Lower case is more visually distinctive (and better remembered) than upper case.
Use color to depict themes, associations and to make things stand out.
Anything that stands out on the page will stand out in your mind.
Think three-dimensionally.
Use arrows, icons or other visual aids to show links between different elements.
Don't get stuck in one area. If you dry up in one area go to another branch.
Put ideas down as they occur, wherever they fit. Don't judge or hold back.
Break boundaries. If you run out of space, don't start a new sheet; paste more paper onto the map. (Break the 8x11 mentality.)
Be creative. Creativity aids memory.
Get involved. Have fun.

Clickable Mind Map of earlier version of this site's home page

More information and examples can be found in The Brain Book and Tony Buzan's The Mind Map Book