A product manager friend told me last week that she keeps over 20 browser tabs open at any given time—Notion, XMind, various documents... The more tabs she opens, the harder it gets to find what she needs.
I get it. I was exactly like that last year.
Then I started using mind maps to organize these scattered pieces of information. Honestly, at first I thought it was a hassle—you need to find a dedicated tool, learn how to use it. But after using it for a while, this habit has saved me quite a bit of time.
How I Got Started
I started with XMind, used it for about three months. But to be honest, while XMind is professional (Atlas's testing shows XMind's node addition latency is just 0.3 seconds, with 96% Markdown export fidelity), it's a desktop app. When I want to sync across devices, it's not very convenient.
Later, I came across boardmix's 2026 Mind Mapping Software Ultimate Guide, which mentions that online tools have actually come a long way. Especially for users like me who are on the lighter side, we don't really need such complex features.
What I use now is SmallMindMap — a completely free online mind mapping tool. No download required, just open your browser. Here's what I commonly use it for:
- Organizing book notes: Turn a book's core concepts into a mind map—everything at a glance
- Project planning: Draw out a rough framework before starting work, so you don't miss anything halfway through
- Brainstorming: Add whatever comes to mind without worrying about structure
Why I Think Mind Maps Beat Linear Notes
According to SoftDZ's 2026 AI at Work Report, knowledge workers handle massive amounts of fragmented information every week. The problem isn't too little information—it's too much, and we can't organize it fast enough.
Mind maps' radial structure is naturally suited for this situation—you can expand from a single point without being constrained by linear note formats.
Real-world mind mapping tool data shows Coggle also has 0.3-second node latency, and the free version allows unlimited public maps. For users like me who don't need heavy features, free tools are completely sufficient.
My Personal Take
A few concrete examples:
Last month I read a book about product growth. There were many concepts, and after reading, my brain felt like a mess. I spent an hour turning the core concepts into a mind map—and the next day, everything was much clearer.
Another time, during project planning, I used to write a bunch of to-do lists, only to realize mid-execution that I'd missed some parts. Using a mind map to draw out the entire framework first makes any gaps obvious.
Starting Is Actually Simple
If you want to try it, don't overcomplicate it. Here's my approach:
- Pick a small project you're currently working on
- Open SmallMindMap and create a blank map
- Put the project name in the center
- Add whatever comes to mind—no need to worry about structure
- When done, export as a PDF or image
That's it.