As an old social animal who has worked for many years, the indispensable tool for improving efficiency in the workplace must be mind mapping. In the specific practice of mind mapping, I also have a lot of experience. There are many mind mapping software on the market. What should we do? Choose the best and find the creative platform that suits you best? Don't worry, after reading this sharing, you will have an idea.
Why use mind mapping software?
Before officially entering the topic, I want to talk about the necessity of using mind maps. Successful people often like to think. As a powerful auxiliary tool for thinking, mind maps can help us realize visualization of thinking. With the help of text, graphics, branches and other parts to form a logical thinking route, it can help us clarify our thinking, exercise our minds, and strengthen memory.
Based on this, I summarized the two main reasons why I cannot do without mind mapping in my work:
- Vertical thinking strengthens logical skills.
A very important point of mind mapping is information integration. In the process of making a mind map, on the one hand, it is necessary to remove the chaotic information from many messy information, extract important information keywords, derive multiple logics from a central map or central word, turn passive into active absorption, and strengthen logical thinking ability .
- Horizontal thinking adds weight to creativity
If vertical thinking is the main vein of a tree, then horizontal thinking is the branching branches and leaves. It can help us divergent thinking, exert creativity and imagination, transform from one-way thinking to networked thinking, by analogy, exercise our problem-solving ability.
Based on this, I think it is necessary for me to define the needs of most people for mind mapping:
Use tools to sort out the fragmented inspiration in the brain, find ideas for analyzing and solving problems, and improve work efficiency.
Mind mapping tools should focus on practicality and logic, rather than the aesthetics of the layout.
Why did I give up using Xmind?
I have tried almost all the mind mapping software on the market, such as MindMaster, MarginNote and Xmind.
Among them, the app I have used the longest is Xmind. Compared with other software, Xmind has obvious advantages. Its appearance and interface are beautiful. Both tools and templates are exquisite, and because it is developed in Java, the compatibility is very good. Applies to Windows, Mac and Linux.
But in the actual operation experience, I couldn't do anything about it. I didn't use it easily. What's more desperate was that I found that instead of helping me improve efficiency, it restricted my thinking and became a burden to work.
I reviewed the problems in the process of using Xmind and found the crux of the problem.
- The page is fancy and messy, which affects thinking, and the focus is wrong
Anyone who has used Xmind knows that as soon as he enters the app, his templates are colorful templates and become fascinating. The page is not concise and generous. For a minimalist person, it will have a fatal blow to thinking. of.
- Apply exquisite templates to limit thinking
Continuing, on top of the colorful interface, there are beautifully crafted templates. To be honest, I have never used these templates, because I think that Xmind is just a software for training and building thinking, not a design software, let alone Drawing software, he nakedly put the complete way of thinking of others in front of me. This is a kind of deprivation of my own thinking and a kind of doctrine.
First of all, I think that mind maps are private. No matter how beautiful and exquisite the map is, it will be futile if it is not helpful to thinking.
Secondly, I believe that the existence of tools is controlled by humans, not humans. Using complex mind map templates to make complex mind maps does not help us memorize or sort out information, and it is a waste of water.
- Does not support scattered information
When we study a certain problem, we often use multi-dimensional breadth of knowledge at the same time. These knowledges exist independently of each other. In a short period of time, it is often difficult to connect one by one in a hierarchical manner.
These scattered information needs to be recorded. The only way for Xmind to deal with it is to forcibly connect them without any logical relationship. Is this helpful for us to deal with information discovery problems? We need to hit a big question mark...
- Can't carry a lot of text content
This question needs to be specific to the individual. Some people like to create mind maps separately from large-scale content production, but when I work, I have always been "single-mindedly" when working, and I do not like to switch software frequently.
While combing the mind map while creating content, this requirement is simply impossible for Xmind, which has only note-taking and labeling functions.
Why did I choose Effie?
After being stuck for a long time, I accidentally planted a writing software called Effie at Zhihu Station. I downloaded the trial version in seconds. After trying it for a week, I found that it has grown to my needs and fits me perfectly. All creative needs of the company.
- The style is minimal, the page is clean and fresh, and the produced maps are mature and atmospheric
I have always been a person with a clear direction, decisive attitude, and resolute behavior. In the process of performing tasks, I always think about the results, plan an efficient and orderly solution path, so when I open it for the first time Effie's interface, I can almost conclude that the developers of Effie, like me, are minimalist thinkers.
Effie's logo is a mature woman with a pair of sharp eyes that seem to be able to penetrate the world. I think this may be the muse of inspiration in the legend.
Open the Effie interface, and the simple and atmospheric black, white and gray colors come into view. The functional area, the list area and the creation area are arranged in three rows, and the top horizontal banner can be hidden at any time.
No need to leave the keyboard with both hands, enter-or + and then space in the manuscript to enter the list mode. After typing the text information, you can add sub-columns, and the upper right corner can be converted into a mind map with one click, edit, drag, expand, and shrink A series of operations are smooth and silky.
There are also a variety of minimalist modes that can be switched, occupying a small space, and can be customized with a high degree of editing, the page is clean and fresh, and the produced mind map is mature and atmospheric. I really love it.
- Multi-format storage, can be stored in Docx, JPG, PDF and other formats
When exporting files with Xmind before, there are indeed many formats to choose from, but there is a fatal flaw-the format of the exported pictures is not clear, which leads me to use screenshot tools or install other auxiliary software to get a clearer mind map. Picture, I believe this issue of Xmind has also been criticized many times by users.
After using Effie, wow! I was stunned. Various commonly used formats are available, and the pictures exported under the picture format are very exquisite, with a textured light yellow texture background + bold text, concise and clear, very beautiful and beautiful.
- Support scattered information, can carry a large amount of text content
I finally talked about this point that I value most. As I mentioned earlier, Xmind does not support scattered information and cannot carry a large amount of text content, and Effie really breaks this shackle.
Effie's mind map and text creation can coexist and coexist. You can add the mind map you need anywhere in this white creative area. There is no inspiration in the middle of writing. One-click to enter the list area to write a mind outline Rational thinking, scattered information can not be added to the mind map for a while? It's okay, type the following first, save it for processing, and wait for it to start before creating.
This kind of creative experience is something I haven't experienced before, I have to say, it's great!
Of course, Effie is not without room for improvement, but at present, for me, who has extremely strict requirements for creation, she can score 80 points. I hope that in the future, Effie can be bigger and bigger. Be strong, create more glories, and provide more and better services for our codeword social animals!