Looking for vision board ideas and inspiration? Then keep reading! This post is jam-packed with tips on how to create a vision board, why you should make one in 2024, and 3 great ideas for inspiration.
The Problem:
- You want to make a vision board, but don’t know where to start
- You want to make a vision board, but aren’t sure how to use it once you make it
What is a Vision Board?
Simply put, a vision board is a representation of your goals, dreams, and/or aspirations that you can see and access easily. Some vision boards also have an audio or tactile component. They are powerful tools designed to help individuals clarify their desires and manifest their ideal future. The whole idea is rooted in the concept that creating a tangible collage of images, words, and symbols related to your goals can significantly impact whether or not you achieve those goals by boosting your mindset and focus and ultimately helping you bring those aspirations to fruition.
What Components Actually Make Up a Vision Board?
Key components of a vision board include: visual elements, textual elements, goals, creativity and personalization, visualization and manifestation, and frequent updates.
Visual elements in a vision board typically include images or symbols that you personally associate with your goals or find representative of your goals. These can be pictures cut out from magazines, screenshots, pins on Pinterest, posts on Instagram, printed images, or even your own doodles, sketches, and drawings.
Textual elements is just a fancy way of saying that most people include words, affirmations, or quotes on their vision board. The goal here is to use written language that resonates with your aspirations because it can enhance the clarity and intention behind your goals. This reinforces the positive messages and emotions you associate with your vision.
Vision boards are great because they can be used for basically any goal. They’re a solid choice in terms of manifesting career objectives, personal development, health and wellness, relationships, travel, and more. The idea is to create representations of your ideal life to make it easier to take steps toward that life.
Fortunately for those of us who feel self-conscious or a little artistically challenged, there are no strict rules for creating a vision board. They are highly personal and making one is a creative process. No one is going to look at your vision board and judge whether or not it’s “good enough.” It’s not a graded art project.
In fact, no one else even needs to see it. They can be small or electronic. You have the freedom to arrange and design it in a way that feels authentic and inspiring to you. Now if that sounds like way too much leeway and you’re panicking a bit because you feel like you don’t have a foundation to stand on, don’t worry. The rest of this post will explain some top tips and tricks to making a killer vision board that matches your life goals.
Honestly, just the act of creating a vision board involves visualizing and focusing on what you want to achieve. Regularly engaging with your vision board is believed to reinforce positive thinking, align your mindset with your goals, and attract opportunities that move you closer to your aspirations.
Finally, frequent updates to your vision board mean that you’re keeping your goals and vision in line as they evolve and change. Try to update your vision board every so often to reflect your current desires, remind yourself of your goals, and to ensure that the vision board itself continues to motivate and inspire you.
So, what is a vision board? Ultimately, a vision board is a dynamic and personal tool that goes beyond being a collection of images and words. They serve as daily reminders of your aspirations, fostering a positive mindset and encouraging you to take actions that align with your goals. It is easy to find value in this tool and in incorporating vision boards into your goal-setting and self-improvement practices.
Why is Making a Vision Board So Popular?
Now that we know what a vision board is, let’s dive into why they’re so popular. The growing popularity of vision boards can be attributed to several factors, each building on the appeal and effectiveness of visualization as a tool.
The Law of Attraction and the Manifestation Trend
I’ll be honest, I’m new to the whole “manifestation” thing, but there is some solid science behind it and making a vision board is a great method of manifestation. Manifestation is basically the idea that positive thinking and visualization can attract positive outcomes.
Olympic athletes, like Michael Phelps, have used and use this technique all the time. In fact, this was an essential aspect behind why Phelps won the 200m Butterfly at the 2008 Beijing Olympics in spite of his glasses filling with water. He’d prepared for the moment by anticipating that particular difficulty and imagining himself winning anyone. He would lay in bed and had a mental routine where he visualized himself being successful. You can read all about it in The Power of Habit by Charles Duhigg.
And it’s a technique you can use, too. Manifestation has gained more and more traction recently, making vision boards a practical tool that anyone can use to implement manifestation in their everyday lives. It’s also an idea closely connected to meditation.
Visual Learning Preferences
As a teacher, I can tell you with absolute certainty that the more forms of input you have for new knowledge and goals, the easier it is to learn. The more way you experience something, the easier it is for your brain to hold onto it. This is why it’s so hard to learn new material when you’re bored. Many individuals benefit from visual learning in particular, meaning we comprehend and retain information when it’s presented in a visual format.
This is why pictures and videos are so powerful and why your brain shuts off when you look at a list of vocabulary words to memorize for a language you’re trying to learn. Vision boards cater to this visual preference by offering tangible and visually stimulating representation of one’s goals and aspirations, making them immensely popular.
The Influence of Social Media
The rise of social media platforms has also enabled people to share their success stories and experiences with a vision board. Posts showcasing individuals achieving their goals and dreams after creating vision boards have contributed to the tool’s popularity, creating a ripple effect of inspiration. Arguably, Pinterest is one giant vision board. In other words, it’s a format we’re used to and we can see direct, successful results from its use by others.
Stress Relief and Well-Being
Vision boards also serve as a creative and therapeutic outlet, kind of like visual journaling. Engaging in the process of creating a vision board can be a stress-relieving activity, promoting a sense of well-being. As mindfulness practices gain recognition, vision boards align with this trend of incorporating positive habits into daily life.
Goal-Oriented Culture
On top of all of this, modern western society places a strong emphasis on goal-setting, personal development, and the end product. Whether this is a good thing or bad thing is up for debate, but it’s definitely a trend that exists. Vision boards provide a structured and visually appealing way for individuals to articulate and pursue their goals, contributing to the prevailing culture of self-improvement.
Empowerment and Motivation
The act of creating a vision board empowers individuals to take control of their goals and aspirations and to actively work towards them. The visual representation of goals serves as a constant source of motivation, reminding individuals of their objectives and keeping us focused on our path to success.
Accessibility of Materials and Resources
Making a vision board is also an accessible method of goal-setting. Most, if not all, of us have access to diverse materials like magazines, the Internet, and craft supplies. This means that making a vision board is more accessible now than ever before. This inclusivity means people from many backgrounds can engage in this manifestation practice.
Let’s Sum Up
Why are vision boards suddenly so popular? The growing popularity of making a vision board can be attributed to a combination of cultural shifts, social media influence, accessibility, and the desire for personalized, goal-oriented tools that align with modern approaches to self-improvement and well-being. In other words, a lot of factors came together at once and were bolstered by the Internet.
Why You Should Make a Vision Board in 2024
Creating a vision board in 2024 can offer various benefits that align with personal growth, motivation, and building the life you want.
Vision boards help with clarity. They can help you define your goals for the year and be realistic about what you an achieve. You can literally see what you want to achieve and create a roadmap for your actions.
They help kick you into a positive mindset and therefore create sustained motivation. Not only does this help you achieve your goal, it helps you be happier in general (which is usually a big part of what all of us want from life). You can learn more about happiness in general and tools for improving happiness here.
Just by creating a visual representation of what you want, you’ll make it easier for yourself to spot opportunities that will take you closer and closer to that reality.
Vision boards also help you adapt your goals over time. Most women in their 30s live pretty dynamic lives. Vision boards are really malleable resources that can be updated and modified easily as your goals or circumstances change or as new opportunities arise throughout the year.
They’re also a great way to relieve stress by being creative and focusing on the positive. Adding to your board or even just looking at it, adds a positive moment of reflection to your day.
They also help you stay accountable to yourself, which will improve your internal motivation by focusing on what you want and love rather than on pressure and stress. Motivation from a vision board is totally different than motivation from your boss about finishing a project.
Finally, you can do them digitally or physically, making them great for all sorts of women. No matter your preference, you can make a vision board.
In short, making a vision board in 2024 is a proactive step toward personal growth, motivation, and building the life you want, and I totally recommend it. My boards tend to be pretty word heavy because I’m a word person, but the images add emotional weight that gives me a quick pick-me-up when I’m struggling. 2024 will pass one way or another, you might as well enjoy it and take a few steps toward your dream life.
Tips for Making a Great Vision Board
Creating a vision board is pretty personal, which allows for a lot of freedom. This is great for some of us! On the other hand, many high-powered women struggle with the creative process if there aren’t enough boundaries (not shocking, given the restrictions of the public school system and most American work environments). So here’s a step-by-step guide on how to make a vision board:
First Step: Set your Intentions
This is akin to brainstorming before you write an essay. It’s a period of reflection where you think about your goals and aspirations for a set time period. A lot of people choose the next year or the next six months. Try answer questions like: What do you want to achieve in various areas of your life? What do you want from your career? Relationships? Health? Personal development? What do you love about your life? What about not so much?
Second Step: Gather Materials
You’ll have to make a choice at this point about whether you want to do a physical board or a digital one. They’re both great options. Once you choose, you’ll need to get materials together. I normally start with images and quotes. If you’re doing a physical board, you’ll want colored paper, markers, scissors, glue, and any other supplies you find inspiring. Some people like to make vision boards in beautiful journals (this is one of my favorites).
Some people like presentation boards. Go with whatever brings you joy. If you’re doing an electronic board, do some research into vision board apps. There’s a bunch of them out there. If you’re stuck, you can always use Microsoft Publisher, PowerPoint, or even Word.
Step Three: Create a Positive Environment
Find a quiet and comfortable space where you can focus on your vision board even if it’s only for ten minutes at a time. Try to eliminate distractions. If you like working with music, choose something uplifting or light candles or open the drapes for better light. Try to bring a bit of nature into the room if possible. The big thing here is to make sure you have some uninterrupted time.
Step Four: Find Images and Words
Find words that represent your goals either by scrolling through inspirational quotes online or flipping through magazines. Look for a variety of visuals that resonate with different aspects of your life. Add pictures and textures that are related to your aspirations.
Step 5: Organize and Arrange
Sort your materials into categories based on your goals. This will help you maintain a sense of organization, which helps to remove any panic about not having enough structure for an art project. Then begin arranging your images and words on the board. There’s no right or wrong way to do this, so feel free to trust your instincts. Try to group related items together, and experiment with different layouts until you find one that makes you happy and helps you feel inspired.
A great part of this is using personal touches that reflect your unique style and preferences. I’m a huge fan of yellow and green so those colors make an appearance in almost all of my vision boards. I’m also way into the ocean and coastal vibes, so pictures of water are particularly motivating to me. Feel free to include your own drawings, photographs, or handwritten affirmations. This helps you take ownership of your board and your goals.
It might help to place the most important and impactful aspects of your board in prominent positions because it will help draw your attention to key goals.
Finally, take some time to think about where you want to display your board and how often you will reflect on it. Visualize yourself achieving your goals every time you look at your board to connect your emotions to your aspirations, which helps with maintaining motivation long term. And don’t forget to update as needed!
3 Great Ideas for Vision Board Inspiration
Need a little more inspiration? Check out these three ideas for creating unique and themed vision boards:
Career and Professional Growth Board:
Try focusing on your professional goals and career development with a board dedicated to your work life. Often we think of our work life as good or bad. Americans in particular tend to have strong feelings about work and how much value to place in it. No matter your feelings, work is a part of reality that most of us can’t escape so it’s worth embracing to some extent. Most of us will spend decades working and we should enjoy that time as much as possible.
Allowing yourself to have goals and dreams about work is a great way to do this. Include images and words that represent your career goals, skills you want to develop, and the type of environment you want to be in. Consider including symbols of success, mentorship, and any specific achievements you aim to reach in your career. Use vibrant colors and dynamic visuals to evoke a sense of ambition and forward momentum. This will also help you prepare for performance reviews and maintain motivation at work when days are hard.
Wellness and Self-Care Board:
This is an area of our lives that many of us are struggling to figure out. If you’re a woman in your thirties, self-care wasn’t really part of our narrative growing up unless you came from a somewhat unusual family. Try prioritizing your health and well-being by creating a vision board centered around self-care. Include images and affirmations related to physical health, mental well-being, and activities that bring you joy and relaxation and encourage you to challenge yourself a bit. This could include pictures of delicious and nutritious meals, yoga poses, nature scenes, or quotes that inspire mindfulness. This is a great board for calming colors like blues and greens to create a sense of serenity and rejuvenation.
Travel and Adventure Board:
Fuel your wanderlust and manifest your travel dreams with a vision board dedicated to your exploration and adventure. Often travel can feel overwhelming and impossible, but if you visualize it, often you’ll start looking for practical ways to make it happen. Include images of dream destinations, activities you’d like to experience, and any specific landmarks or cultures you want to immerse yourself in.
Try using a bunch of different colors and textures and patterns to capture the joy and excitement of new horizons. You can even create multiple boards for multiple goals, like a National Parks board, a foreign travel board, and US cities board. Whether you’re interested in beaches, bustling cities, mountain landscapes, or all three (or something else), vision boards are a great way to transport you to the place you want to visit before you have all the details worked out.
Conclusion
Vision boards are powerful allies when it comes to self-discovery, long-term motivation, and personal growth. They can help us transform our dreams into tangible realities and help us untangle complex lives. The act of creating the board has as much value as the act of reviewing and updating it, so you know you’ll get a lot of value for time spent on this particular self-care/personal growth project.
Try to keep in mind that vision boards are more than just collages. They are declarations of your commitment to yourself. Each one is a celebration of your dreams, a testament to your resilience, and a roadmap to a future where your aspirations become the reality you live. In short, they are a great compass for finding your way toward the life you want.
Cheers to the journey ahead!
Have you ever created a vision board? How did it go? What will be the focus of your next board?