How To Create A Mind Map In Your Bullet Journal (Visual Brainstorming)
Feeling overwhelmed? Disorganized? Searching for the perfect Bullet Journal page ideas to help you out? You’re in the right place. Let’s talk about one of my favorite go-to solutions—a mind map. It’s the ultimate tool for untangling scattered thoughts and creating a sense of order.
A mind map lets you visually organize your ideas, tasks, and even feelings, all in one creative and simple layout. It’s like giving your brain a tidy little home.
Want to know more? Stick with me! I’ll walk you through what a mind map journal page is, how it works, and how to make one yourself.
We’ve all been there, haven’t we? Life piles on—problems to solve, decisions to make, responsibilities to juggle—and suddenly it feels like your brain is running on overdrive.
You’re carrying so much in your head that it’s hard to think straight. It’s exhausting, right?
That’s why sometimes the best thing you can do is hit pause, grab a pen, and pour it all out onto paper. Offloading your thoughts like this not only frees up mental space but also helps you see everything more clearly.
I’ve talked about the magic of a good brain dump before—it’s such a simple yet powerful way to declutter your mind. And there is a link at the end of this blog post if you want to know more about that.
But what if you could take it a step further? That’s where a mind map Bullet Journal pages comes in.
Think of it as a more structured, creative alternative—a way to not just spill your thoughts but also connect and organize them. It’s a bit more fun, too, like doodling your way to clarity!
What Is A Mind Map
A mind map is a super fun and surprisingly simple concept that anyone can try. At its core, it’s all about taking something you want to focus on—whether it’s a goal, a project, or even just a jumble of thoughts—and visually connecting different ideas, strategies, or steps to make sense of it all.
You start with one central thought and branch out, almost like creating a web of possibilities. It’s both creative and practical!
One of the best parts? You can take each idea or branch and break it into smaller, actionable steps. For example, check out my mind map below—it’s a perfect example of turning a big, overwhelming subject into smaller, more manageable pieces.
Plus, there’s something really satisfying about seeing your ideas neatly organized yet bursting with creativity. It helps to silence that chaotic mental chatter while sparking new inspiration at the same time.
If you’re feeling stuck or uninspired, a mind map can be a game-changer. It’s like brainstorming but way more engaging, and it keeps your imagination flowing.
Need to solve a problem? Make a mind map. Want to plan an event? Mind map it.
Seriously, it’s a fantastic tool for getting unstuck and bringing a little extra clarity to your life. But believe me, there’s so much more to it—and I can’t wait to tell you about all the amazing benefits.
Why Use A Mind Map
Mind mapping has tons of benefits, and I bet some of them might surprise you. It’s more than just a fun way to organize your thoughts—it can actually help you think more clearly, solve problems faster, and even spark fresh ideas when you least expect it.
Plus, it’s so adaptable that you can use it for anything from planning your day to tackling big life goals.
What makes mind mapping such an effective tool, and how can it really make a difference? Let’s take a look at a few of the most powerful benefits.
- Better Memory
Writing things down helps with memory, and having a mind map will definitely help you remember all your amazing ideas.
Plus, having your ideas on paper will definitely help you keep them in mind and find new solutions.
- Problem-Solving
Sometimes, when you have something on your mind, you just keep thinking and thinking, but the solution doesn’t present itself.
In these situations, it might be a good idea to offload your problems on paper and let your brain take a break and work on the solution in the background. Believe me, this is the best way to escape a block.
Plus, having a mind map, in particular, will often help you see new patterns and connections, which can definitely lead to new solutions.
- Better Organization
Of course, my favorite thing about a mind map is how easy it is to organize all your ideas.
You can definitely have a separate journal full of mind maps on different topics.
With a mind map, they are all well organized and have enough space for you to add anything new you can come up with.
As a bonus, you can also add color coding to your mind maps.
I hope all these benefits convinced you to give it a try to mind mapping, but how exactly do you create one?
Let’s look into that.
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Stationery Recommendations
Let’s have a quick talk about supplies for creating a mind map. And ye, all you really need is a piece of paper and a pen.
But it can be more fun to add some color to it and to use special pens you love.
So, if you like this idea, here are some of my recommendations:
- Writing pen, and in case you don’t have a favorite one, I have two top recommendations. Muji pen if you like thinner lines, and Pilot G2 if you like thicker lines, but both pens are fantastic and smooth.
- Fineliners – they are perfect for all your Bullet Journal pages, and for mind maps, you can use them to add extra elements like arrows and other decorations or even write your brainstorming with them. I recommend Sakura Pigma Micron or Faber Castell Pitt Artist.
- Markers – I think adding color helps to make it more visual and easy to work through. My favorites for the mind map are Zebra Click Art and Tombow Twin Tone.
I told you this will be a quick one, so now that you have all the supplies at the ready let’s dive in and create your first mind map.
How To Create A Mind Map
Well, before you start, you’ll need a piece of paper.
It can be anything – post-it notes, printer paper, or, of course – a Bullet Journal.
If you’re more technically inclined, there are also tons of apps and websites to build mind maps. But of course, here we are all about paper.
Once you have your paper and pen, let’s get started!
I know we’re used to starting every Bullet Journal spread with a header, but the mind map is different.
Step 1: Choose Your Focus
With a mind map, you start by choosing a focus or a problem you’re brainstorming.
Write it in the middle of the page and circle.
Your action plan and ideas will all be connected to this one focus; that’s why I mentioned that you might want to have several mind maps, each for a different situation.
Step 2: Brainstorm Ideas
The next step is to come up with several ideas or several different areas of your focus that you want to concentrate on.
Be sure to draw lines from the center of your page to those areas.
In this example, as you can see, I chose several creative areas that I want to work on to improve my general creativity, which is a focus of this mind map.
Step 3: Action Steps
The final step is to work through your ideas or areas.
For example, here, one of the areas I chose is lettering, so I broke it down into smaller ideas and projects I can do to really improve.
Using A Mind Map
As you can see, a mind map is a great instrument for tackling projects or improving different areas of your life.
Plus, you can definitely play around with how you want them to look. You can make it more artistic and colorful or minimalist and serious.
Whatever style you like, a mind map will work for you.
It’s also a very easy way to brainstorm, and you always have the option to go back to it and add more or maybe change up some of the ideas.
A mind map is an incredible and easy tool that, hopefully, you’re now ready to try. It also can be a good idea to use when organizing your to-do list or any big projects.
But remember that it only works if you put the plan in motion and go back and work through all the steps.
Free Printables
Even though with the mind map, you don’t really need any printables; there are still plenty of productivity and organization type of pages you can use to manage all your tasks and beat the overwhelming of everyday stress.
This is why I recommend you check out the Resources Vault for plenty of free printables that you can start using right away and see your life getting better and more organized.
If you don’t have access yet, you can always sign up in the form below.
Once you confirm your subscription, you’ll get the password to get 50+ free Bullet Journal printables, stickers, and worksheets to use right away.
If you’ve never used printables before, be sure to check my post How To Use Printables In Your Bullet Journal.
It’s pretty basic, and you can find all the supplies you need in my post Supplies For Using Bullet Journal Printables.
More Resources
Are you looking for some more ideas and inspiration on how to get organized and be productive while getting things done? I’ve got you covered.
Check out these blog posts next:
- Bullet Journaling For Productivity: Tips And Tricks
- Time Management Strategies for your Bullet Journal + 9 Spread Examples
- Bullet Journal Brain Dump To Clear Up Your Mind
>>> Have you ever used a mind map before? What’s your favorite way to brainstorm? Share with us in the comments.
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And remember: Keep Bullet Journaling, and Don’t Be A Blob!
I have been planning to start bullet journaling for years, but could not proceed. after I read your blog I made my mind thoroughly to continue. this mind map idea is great. love that.
So wonderful to hear that! Best of luck on t his new endevour =)
Love this post, Masha! The step-by-step guide was super helpful, and I can’t wait to try creating my own mind map in my bullet journal. It’s such a creative way to brainstorm ideas. Thanks for sharing!
Thank you! Glad you found it helpful =)
I have been using Bullet Journals since 2017. I am always looking for was to improve myself. I take a little here and a little there to stay focused and keep my anxiety levels low. I to creat one for my up and coming business that deal with dogs.