I have a lot of home projects that I tend to start and then drop due to overwhelming distractions. (Often by starting another project). I was told at work that If I used some mind mapping software it can really help pinning down all of my projects and I will be come much more productive. I was recommended "Freemind" and so I gave it a shot...
Wow, what on earth is this thing?
I'm not "getting" this. I looked at some tutorials and all they do is draw bubbles and lines and how you how to move nodes around. I mean, I can move nodes and make bubbles and put on icons but I'm not seeing how this is helpful in any way for task management or even basic note taking. (and there is a guy I know who swears by this application). I asked around and heard it can be used from anything from outlining a novel to project management(!?) really? I'm also hard pressed to see any "real word" examples. I just see maps that reference other generic references.
Computers -> Microsoft -> (list of MS applications each with it's own node) goes on one branch
Computers-> Java -> (Sub-nodes into links, debugging, windows launcher, etc, etc) goes on another
Where's the "stuff"? Where are the tables and actual data? The system seems awful "rabbit hole-ish" of abstract fluffiness with no meat. Can someone explain this?
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It works for some people, doesn't work for others. I put it in the same box as brainstorming, personally. It produces occasional brilliant ideas, but mostly it's not too useful. It does create a pretty looking organizational tree, though, so it makes for great powerpoint slides.
EDIT: Oh, and it is really great for making people THINK you have a lot of great projects going on. Managers love looking at stuff like that. In some ways, this is good though... having a visual overview that conveys a big picture can tell people "Hey, see? I am actually working." It is more powerful than just text or words.
So in other words, I disagree that mind maps are useless, but I admit they're probably less helpful for non ADHD people or others who can organize their thoughts linearly more easily.
It's a hierarchical schema display tool that places nodes at X/Y points to allow you to branch nodes graphically to other X/Y locations.
Upshot, it's an outlining tool, but as opposed to it being a flat list going downward from the root node in the upper left, and branches to the right, the root node is in the middle and branches outward from the center.
I was thinking there was things like calendaring and default node definitions like tasks, and todos. When I opened the XML save file and realized it was just holding the same hierarchical data I was putting in in X/Y space, it clicked.
I then imported some source code from Final Fantasy 7 and the tool's functions became clear.
To see what that looks like click here
Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better
bit.ly/2XQM1ke
Isn't that just a lengthy description of what a map is? It's not necessarily hierarchical - you can have a number of equally-dignified nodes or processes interrelating to each other.