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Beginner's Guide to Mind Map - Concepts, Drawing Methods, Examples

Skye
2025-03-17
25

Mind mapping is a visual way of expression that not only helps improve memory and comprehension, but also stimulates creativity and associative ability. It is an indispensable thinking aid tool in various scenarios such as learning, work, and meetings. This article will comprehensively introduce the visualization tool of mind mapping from the aspects of the concept of mind mapping, mind mapping examples, mind mapping production methods, and mind mapping templates.

Ⅰ. What is a mind map ?

Mind mapping is a graphical tool for organizing and expressing thinking processes. It uses nodes, branches, and connecting lines to show the relationship between information. The core idea is to place a central theme at the center of the map, and then extend various related branches from this central theme. Each branch is further refined to form a radial, hierarchical structure.

Ⅱ. How to apply mind mapping ?

Mind mapping has a wide range of application scenarios whether in work, study or life.

Study and reading notes

Mind maps can be used to organize course outlines, record reading notes, and review knowledge points to form a systematic learning system . When reviewing again, you can fold up the nodes of the mind map and recall them according to key keywords to facilitate understanding and memory.

Deliberately practice reading notes

project management

Project managers use mind maps to develop project plans, plan project processes, assign tasks, and track progress to ensure the smooth progress of the project.

Project Planning Framework

Meeting Minutes

During the meeting, team members can use mind maps to quickly capture discussion points and decision results to improve meeting efficiency.

Meeting Management

Personal Planning

Mind maps can also be used in personal life to set goals, make plans, and manage time, helping individuals achieve efficient self-management.

Weight loss plan

Brainstorm

Teams can use mind maps to brainstorm, guide team members to freely associate and discuss, stimulate inspiration, and sort out creative points .

New Product Brainstorming

III. Recommended mind mapping software

When making mind maps online, it is important to choose the right tool. Here are some popular mind mapping tools recommended:

ProcessOn : Simple and easy to use, suitable for beginners to get started quickly, and supports cloud storage.

Microsoft Visio: Although not limited to mind mapping, it is powerful and suitable for complex diagramming.

MindNode: Elegant design, user experience-focused, suitable for Mac users.

IV. How to create a mind map online ?

Select Tools

It is recommended to use ProcessOn to make mind maps. ProcessOn is an online mind mapping tool with a simple page and a user-friendly process. It supports inserting pictures, links, LaTeX mathematical formulas, code blocks, etc. to meet the personalized needs of users. It supports multiple people to view and edit files online at the same time, and is suitable for team collaboration. It also supports the import and export of software formats such as freemind and mindmanager. It has strong compatibility and a large number of mind mapping templates and examples that can be used as reference.

Create a mind map

entering the ProcessOn personal file page , click the New button to create a mind map .

Create a mind map →

Set a central theme

Enter your central topic in the center of the canvas, which is usually the core of the entire mind map.

Add a branch

Starting from the central topic, add a first-level branch to represent concepts or ideas directly related to the central topic . Continue to add sub-branches to each branch, gradually refining the content of each section. Press the "Enter" key to add a branch at the same level, and press the "Tab" key to add a sub-branch.

Adjust layout and style

Expand the toolbar on the right and adjust the branch color, line, font, etc. as needed to make the mind map more beautiful and easy to read. At the same time, you can insert pictures, links, notes and other elements into the nodes according to your own needs to increase the visibility of the mind map.

Save and share

After finishing editing, save your mind map and choose to export it as an image, PDF, or generate an online sharing link to share it with others.

Ⅴ. Mind map template

To help you get started faster, here are some practical mind map templates shared by the ProcessOn template community that you can use directly.

Things DeepSeek & ChatGPT can do in a mindmap

The American Dream - Mind Map

Competitor and Market Analysis

1984 - George Orwell Mind Map

By using these templates, you can quickly create a mind map that meets your needs, whether it is study, work or life, you can find suitable application scenarios.

Mind mapping is not only a tool, but also a way of thinking. It can help you better organize information, stimulate your potential, and achieve more efficient work and life.

Create a mind map →

Related reading:

14 common structures of mind maps , draw simple and beautiful mind maps

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