Empty your “mind-clutter”

In the January 2007 issue of Today's Parish Minister, Jason Womack has written a terrific piece on getting rid of the stuff that clutters up our lives. Here are five additional suggestions from him:

1. Outline: Create a linear hierarchy of ideas with supporting data for each point. To create an outline in MS Word, go to the Format menu, click Bullets and Numbering, and then click the Outline Numbered tab.
   
2. Mind map: Sketch a loosely connected, non-linear association of ideas linking similar concepts in an organic method. For more on mind maps, click on the example image above that Jason created. Also see en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mindmap.
   
3. Sticky note collage: Use Post-it® notes as movable puzzle pieces to create and change the flow of information as needed.
   
4. Index cards: Use 3x5 index cards as data points that can be grouped and resorted as topics grow and change.
   
5. MindManager® (software): Use a digital version of a mind map that creates an outline at the touch of a button. This has the flexibility of easily moving data and regrouping like sticky notes and index cards (www.mindmanager.com).