What are the mind map laws?

Rule nr. 1: get a piece of paper

It's very important that the paper has no lines on them. I want the paper to be blank and as big as possible. I also like to use thick paper which has an 'icy' feel. I want the paper to be slippery. On paper like that my pens and pencils will glide over the paper; I like that and it also shows that I am a bit spoiled as well. Take size A4 or even better A3 (European sizes). 

Rule nr. 2: Turn it 90 degrees 
  

Normally we use the paper in portrait. But with mind mapping we turn the paper 90 degrees; landscape. By doing that, we have more room on the left and right hand side of the paper. This is comfy as we are writing from the left to the right and therefore we create more space for ourselves. 

 Rule nr. 3: Start in the centre of the page 
  

Look where the centre of the page is and start there.
This has a reason: When drawing this mind map, later, when the map is done, you want your eyes to be draw to the centre of the page. This makes it even more important to make the center of the page something flashy. It has to pull your eyes to the centre immediately. 

Rule 4: Make it colorful 
  

Make it colorful. Make sure there is a catchy title as well.
The title should be a very well representation of the subject.
Use at least 3 colors for the image. 

Rule nr. 5: Add main branches
  

Start adding main branches. What are main branches? Basically every subject has its main topics.
Think of a book. You always find an index. In this index they show you the chapters of the book.
Now think of your topic and how you can apply the same principle of the book to this topic.
These are the topics you first think of when thinking of this topic. 

A good mind map consists out of:
Paper
Lines
Words
Images
Colors
Structure 

While building the mind map it is important to remember to:
Put as much as possible only one word on one branch
Use block-system characters
Try to give everything a natural or organic appearance
Branches are connected to the previous topic
The closer you come to the centre topic, the thicker the branches; just like a tree. It's branches are exactly alike in a mind map.
     
Rule 6: Continue doing that! 
 

Keep on doing that. Go to the sublevels and apply the same rules.
Try to integrate as much as possible:
* keywords
* symbols
* 3D
* Arrows for connections between subjects
* codes 

When branches come too close to each other, it can be useful to 'embrace' the subject with a color. 

Make the mind map as beautiful as possible. The more beautiful you make the mind map, the better it will help you to remember. 

And last but not least: Have fun doing it!  

In order to download the mind map rules , click this link
Another version of the same rules and a handmade mind map made by me: mind map rules 2

Now you will see a big difference between the two. That's why I advocate hand drawn mind maps. 

Why you should obey the mind map rules and why you shouldn't forget the mind map rules