A way to present yourself with a to-do list that might be more suited to your natural way of thinking would be to create a daily or weekly mind map. Mind maps are diagrams that connect thoughts and concepts together into a framework that can be more useful than listing the thoughts linearly on paper, or keeping the unconnected thoughts floating in your mind. An example of how one starts off is pictured here, and a larger example of how to use it for the activities of a day or week is shown next.
Usage Plan
A mind map is able to be created in 10 minutes early in the day, or before sleeping the previous day, and then it could be used to keep track of items in various categories that you would like to see completed during the day. Having a section for the events that are fixed in place will remind you of time that is not available for use, and then the other sections will represent how you use available time around those events. Some display options that might work well for you include that of printing out a copy of the mind map, so that you have a physical image to look at wherever you go, or keeping it as an image on your computer that you check on at times or use as a desktop wallpaper.
Continuing with the to-do list mentality of using a mind map would be the idea that you could remove items from a digital mind map as they were finished. 10 items for the day might be listed in the morning, and at intervals, you could remove items that you completed. This would leave your list empty by the end of the day, as long as you took care of the plans you had set before yourself. This is a refreshing way to end the day, and would motivate you to work towards an empty mapping diagram each time.
Resources
XMind was used to the make the mind maps in this article. Free programs to use for this purpose include XMind and FreeMind, and there are services online, like MindMeister, that can be used to make them as well. MindMeister allows for collaborative mind mapping, so a highly-useful map could be created rather quickly by multiple people concurrently working together on different parts of a large map.
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{ 15 comments… read them below or add one }
Great tips Armen. I love using mindmaps in this way and didn’t yet know about xminds. Will check it out, thanks!
Twitter: mike_king
I’d still prefer to write my TO DO list every morning because switching on the PC just means more distractions, LOL.
Moreover, I like the feeling of crossing out items on my TO DO list, and I won’t be able to to that with computer programs because I don’t sit in front of my computer all the time at work. I run around too
I used FreeMind some time ago, and found it quite useful.
Mike: I must say that XMind is a simple and effective application to use for this purpose, and there are a few quick-change templates it provides for mind maps.
pelf: If you are accustomed to working with a TO-DO list, and it has been working for you, I would agree that you shouldn’t change anything about your habit. Also, crossing off completed items sure is gratifying in most contexts that come to mind.
Solomon: FreeMind sure does present the process in a slightly different way, and trying out a couple of these programs would be the way to find out which one looks better in your eyes.
Wow this is just an awesome post. I am actually a cluttered man because I never have something planned.
It will be useful to me…
Melvin: Thanks for the compliment. Giving it a try, or even thinking about your day in a way where items link outwards, might have some benefits for you.
I never knew I could use mindmap this way. It’s also great to read useful posts online. Thanks.
Monica: I am glad to have presented an alternate usage of them to you. Mindmaps in generals appear to be smoothly gaining in usage.
Thanks Armen for visiting Abundance Highway great you like the idea of SAB,
Great post on Mindmapping, I have gone back to paper planning- but might implement this technique with paper and pens
Suzie: It was enjoyable to see the start of your new creation. Regarding mind-mapping, I think it will be just as fulfilling to cross off items that you have written yourself, and so running this procedure in a hand-written fashion might be as useful for you.
Decided I like the look of xmind, so joined, but I cannot download it- just loops
So back to paper
Suzie: You sure are right about that, as it appears that they added in an e-mail activation process now. I have removed the link from the article, and will send you a message with a direct link to the install file.
Thank you- I did activate the email and still got the loop
I enjoy using mindmapping whenever I brainstorm on things. The best way for me to do this is to sit down with a notebook, away from ALL distractions, and devote 15 – 30 minutes to it.
I like your idea about doing it at bedtime for the next day. I never thought about brainstorming for to do lists. Very interesting.
Trey: That sounds like the prime way to do it, as distractions are the only items that can stop your progress. Distance from distractions, and then time becomes the only external item that you might be concerned with. Thanks about the nighttime usage idea. It assists in getting the mind jumping to start the day.