Map Your Workflow
Do you remember doing maze puzzles as a kid?
I always enjoyed the instant feeling of accomplishment when I was able to draw a line from the Start to the Finish without making any wrong turns.
While those mazes could be tricky, it certainly helped to be able to see all the paths ahead and where they would lead before moving forward.
Wouldn't it be nice if our days could be plotted out in front of us; a clear picture of where the roadblocks are and how to ultimately reach the finish line each day?
What if I told you that it's possible to create that for yourself, each and every day?
Enter: Mind Maps
If you have followed Take Control ADHD or Taking Control: The ADHD Podcast for any length of time, you have probably heard me talk about my love for mind maps.
Mind mapping is great for brainstorming or breaking down projects in a way that's non-linear and allows you to visualize the steps and flow of whatever you're mind mapping. Once you have all the information mapped, you can begin to work with that data and form it into whatever you need it to do!
Create a new workflow with a mind map
Recently, on Taking Control: The ADHD Podcast, Pete Wright and I talked about creating workflows for the things you do every day.
A workflow is simply a list of steps that help you get from Start to Finish. It's just like the maze example, but without all the twists and wrong turns.
Creating and using a workflow can be especially helpful for ADHDers.
When you can't always rely on your memory, a workflow can remember all the steps for you. When you find yourself distracted and easily pulled away, a workflow can help you easily recall where you left off so it's easier to get back to work.
While some workflows are simple and require only a few steps, there are an infinite number of projects and processes that require many steps to complete.
That's where mind maps come in handy!
When you are creating a new process or workflow, especially for something you may have never done before, mind mapping can be a fantastic way to get all your thoughts out—creating branches off of ideas for connecting or similar thoughts or steps. Then, once you have emptied your mind onto your map, it's so much easier to create a workflow when all the steps are laid out in front of you.
Below, you can see an example of a simple mind map I created about the steps that go in to an exercise routine:
Created with Mind Node
You can see how something simple like a regular exercise routine can have a lot of different steps. And I'm sure I could have gotten really detailed in all the different pieces, but the goal is to include all the steps, but keep it simple.
Now that I have a mind map created, it becomes a lot easier to create a step-by-step workflow using all the information I included in my mind map. These steps become the tasks we complete to get from Start to Finish—without having to think about what comes next!
Now it's your turn!
What are some of your regular routines or projects that could use the help of a mind map? Maybe there are some new projects you want to take on that a mind map would help break down the project into simple tasks. Whatever you decide to explore, my hope is that you will try this new technique of mind mapping with an open, and curious mindset.
The beauty of a mind map is that it's one step above those fun maze puzzles: when you're creating a mind map, there are no wrong turns or dead ends, just endless possibility.
Thank you for your time and attention,
Nikki
Want to learn more about mind mapping? Listen to a mind map deep-dive on The ADHD Podcast
