Mind Maps, in the form we now know them, were first invented in the late 1960s by Tony Buzan. Today they are used by millions of people around the world, from child to adult.

“A Mind Map is the tool that can help our children to learn how to learn anything – the thinking tool, or the ‘Swiss army knife’ for the brain,” said Tony Buzan.

So how do you create a Mind Map? First things first, it is crucial that your Mind Map has colour, symbols and drawings, as from birth, the brain associates ideas with images and colours, and remembers concepts better when these elements are incorporated. Secondly, anyone can create a Mind Map - whether you consider yourself artistic or not!

Here are seven steps to creating your own Mind Map successfully:

1.    Start in the centre of a blank piece of paper turned sideways. Starting at the centre gives your brain the freedom to spread out in all directions and to express itself more freely and naturally.

2.    Use a picture or image for your central idea. An image is worth a thousand words and helps you to use your imagination. A central image is more interesting, keeps you focused, helps you concentrate and gives your brain more of a buzz!

3.    Use colours throughout as this is just as exciting to your brain as images. Colour adds vibrancy and life to your Mind Map, and adds creative energy to your thinking.

4.    Connect your main branches to the central image and connect your second and third level branches to the first and second levels, etc. The reason for doing this is because your brain works by association, it likes to link two, or three, or four things together. If you connect the branches, you will understand and remember a lot more easily.

5.    Make your branches curved rather than straight-lined. This is because having nothing but straight lines is boring to your brain.

6.    Use one key word per line, as single key words give your Mind Map more power and flexibility.

7.    Use images throughout. The reason for doing this is because each image, like the central image, is also worth a thousand words. So if you only have 10 images in your Mind Map, you already have the equivalent of 10,000 words of notes!