FreeMind is my choice of software for Mind Mapping. Its simple, Free and awesome.

How to use FreeMind

FreeMind is simple. You need to use just 4 keys.

• F2 to edit any node (a node means a branch).
• Insert to create a node.
• While staying a node, press Enter to create a node.
• Delete button deletes a node.

Here is a simple tutorial demo for FreeMind, this map was created using FreeMind. Click the image for a larger one.

9 Ways how you can make use of FreeMind

FreeMind as a Research Tool

Research of any level includes collection and organising data. Data when arranged as a map will be easier to comprehend and manipulate.

For instance, you are learning about, say, Scuba Diving. You will probably find many pages online that will help you out, but finally you have to arrange and organize all the points. FreeMind is your answer for that. Think of doing it in a text document. Much easier with FreeMind.

FreeMind treats long chunks of text differently, when you try to edit a long text, a small editor pops up.

FreeMind lets you Visualize

Didn’t your History teacher tell you to think of history as a movie. Learning it that way makes it easier to remember.

Mind maps help you visualize the topic at hand. Information is presented just the way the human brain stores it. FreeMind is just that.

Making Presentations has never been this Easy

If you are going to use FreeMind for just one thing, then this be it. FreeMind helps you organise your slides better.

Your presentation would have some major divisions, they can be the primary nodes. Each slide under a category can be a sub-node. Plus you can add notes-to-self with the points that you would like to speak of.

Related: 7 Tips to make your next Presentation Impressive. Check-out my presentations on SlideShare.

Prepare those ‘Pillar posts’ with FreeMind

Writing Pillar Posts (the posts that bring spikes in your traffic report) demands research and time. Collecting resources from the web, working on each of them and organising them can take days.

FreeMind can come handy as you can store all your collections into one singe place, organise them right there via simple drag and drop and add points then and there. This can make the Research to Post conversion easier.

Your personal Idea Vault

When an idea strikes you, the best thing you can do is to write it down, you will forget it no matter how big the idea is. FreeMind works for me as my personal idea store.

I can work on the idea whenever I get time, add on more into it, adapt and blend with better suggestions.

FreeMind helps you Plan better

Planning is crucial. A piece of paper and pencil is the best planning tools you can have, FreeMind do the same on your PC.

For instance, you are planning a party. You can have nodes like Food, Guest Invitations, Accommodation etc. and write down the tasks under each category. When you complete one, you can check it off using any of the pre-set symbols available in FreeMind.

A White-Board on your Desktop

Write down random notes, reminders and quips and quotes from emails, FreeMind can work for you ask a white board. You decide how you use it.

Browse your PC with FreeMind

FreeMind has a browse mode under Modes > File. It shows the folders on your PC as a map. This is especially useful if you have a lot of un-organised files and folders on your PC

You can open files and folders right from the map. cool huh?

Bonus: Use FreeMind for Note Taking

FreeMind comes handy at conferences and meetings to take down quick notes. I use it during BarCamps to note down pointers from the speakers. Very useful.

Do you use Mind Maps?

Do you use any mapping tools? What do you use to plan your work and stay organised?

FreeMind is a must have. You WILL love it.