Ever since I started posting pictures of my mind maps on Instagram, I have received countless requests on how I make them and so for today’s blog I am sharing my method of making mind maps. Keep in mind that this is only one way of doing them (and it might even be wrong) so feel free to add in or delete any step.

Before we begin, what are Mind maps? According to oxford dictionary, Mind maps are basically a diagram in which information is represented, visually, usually with a central idea placed in the middle and associated ideas arranged around it.

Thus, they are excellent to relate ideas and connect different ideas and see the bigger picture. I make them for revision in exams as they condense information into one page (or three if the topic is especially huge) plus they also force the brain to work and understand the idea, separate relevant and irrelevant information as opposed to the traditional note taking system.

Now, here are the steps I follow to make mind maps.

• Gather all my material required to learn/ understand/ revise a topic
• Skim through the main points of the material to grasp what the topic is all about and also to know where the important content is. This step is very important as it helps in eliminating more than half of the reading required (which is usually irrelevant to the syllabus)
• Read through the topic and highlight while you are at it. I like to color code my reading at this point, i.e., I use pink highlighters for the main points, Orange for cases and green for sections of law.
• Note if you have any doubts and get them clarified.
• Make a very rough order of points you learnt
• Scribble! It is also my 3-in-1 power up revision technique because it while memorizing I am writing down the points, speaking them (which is why I can’t study at libraries) and also listening to it. So for the same time, you get 3x benefits! Here are the steps by the way!
  • If you are okay with the structure of the points start memorizing it right away.
  • If not, arrange the information on any given topic to your satisfaction (I recommend typing on laptop/ any other gadget of your choosing for this as it easier than writing over and over again)
  • Now memorize these points. Be sure to memorize it to the shortest way possible. Try to identify that one key word/phrase that will be the arch stone of that whole sentence.
  • One thing I like to do at this point is make sort of mathematical formulas, like I will replace ‘and’ with Plus, use hyphens or arrows to show a flow of thought etc., all these symbols that make it really easy for me to remember.
  • Now, that you are done memorizing/understanding, take out a pen and paper and start writing down whatever you remember from session.
  • Don’t open your book, just write down, you don’t even need to write the complete sentences just abbreviations to show that you remember the points will also do. You are not going to glance at it again anyway. (My scribbling looks like I have dipped some tiny unfortunate creature in ink and tortured it on my paper)
  • Continue this till you remember the material.
• Take a fresh paper, grab some color pens or highlighter or stationery of your choice. Put down the central idea in the middle and write down the information according to the hierarchy of points without looking at your notes/ books.
• Now finally! Take a red pen (any color different than the ones already used) and add in information you have skipped.

And voila! You have a mind map for reference and revision in exams! Hope this helps! And if you do use it, let me know the results!

Until the next post, HAPPY HUSTLIN’ HON!