This year I'm going to be using mind mapping for only four specific types of mind maps.

My aim is to focus on these and hone my mind mapping techniques for each one so that by the end of the year I will have hopefully mastered the techniques required for each type of mind map.

These are the types of mind maps that I will be focusing on:

1. Note taking - I'm always taking notes and this is where I spend most of my mind mapping time. Whether it's going through my Google Reader, reading a book, or checking out some documentation, I've always got a mind map going.
2. Problem Solving - As a software developer, I'm continually trying to solve problems. It's part of my job. Mind mapping helps me solve problems with programming by allowing me mind map components of a software application and visualise the problem. This gives me better clarity of the problem and allows me to create solutions to the problem.
3. Writing - I would love to be a writer and have started using mind mapping to outline articles and works of fiction.
4. Idea Generating - I'm always thinking about new ideas whether it's for a new web application or a work of fiction. This pretty much goes hand in hand with using mind mapping for writing. First all my ideas go into a mind map and then these ideas are fleshed out further in a new mind map before I start writing.

So why am I limiting myself to these types of mind maps?

Last year I tried mind mapping for all different kinds of things. What I found was that some of the places where I tried to use mind mapping didn't fit into my work flow or wasn't productive. This isn't to say that mind mapping won't work for these kinds of mind maps with other people. It just didn't work for me.

Mind mapping is a personal thing and the benefits you get from it depend on how you use it. In order to maximise my time and effort, I'm focusing on working with four different types of mind map. I'll still create mind maps for other purposes, but mostly I'll be focusing on these four.

Do you have a specific type of mind map that you're focused on? Has there been a time where you tried to use mind mapping and it just didn't work for you? Let me know in the comments.