Every year I create a vision board and it works. Here are my 7 tips

The calendar has officially counted down to the final days of the year, a period many will use for celebrations, travel, but also reflection. Although I belong to the group of people who do not make New Year’s resolutions because we can start building new habits at any time of the year, I create a vision board every year. The simple reason is that the process is very enjoyable. However, if we look deeper, there are many more complex reasons behind it.

When I made my first vision board two years ago, I had no idea it would actually work. I created a collage of images I liked, ones that reflected the aesthetic I wanted to achieve that year, and set it as the wallpaper on my laptop and phone. Throughout the year I changed my wallpapers, but when I looked at the collage again in December, I realised that a large part of the things on it had actually come true. It was as if the images had settled so deeply into my subconscious that they began to reflect in my real life. Needless to say, I have been making vision boards ever since.

A vision board is not nonsense or just a bit of fun for the end of the year. Many psychologists and scientific studies claim that creating them can have a positive impact on achieving goals. A study in the Journal of Creativity in Mental Health showed that assembling a vision board helps us identify meaningful goals and our true interests. The research also found that a vision board increases confidence and encourages us to pursue our goals. When we present goals visually, we make them concrete and in a way clarify to ourselves what we are striving for. Frequent exposure to a vision board sparks thoughts that guide our attention toward our goals.

Of course, a vision board will not magically fulfil our goals if we do not believe in them and put in the work to make them a reality, but if you want to do just one thing at the start of the new year, let it be a vision board.

Camille Carr

Tips for creating a successful vision board

1. Reflect on your specific goals

The advantage of a vision board is that it allows us to be as specific as we want. We do not have to think only in general terms like wanting to exercise. We can visualise the exact workouts we plan to do and the muscle groups we want to target. Think about goals in all areas of your life, how you want your career, skin, relationships and style to look.

2. Aim high

Although we should be specific, there is no need to limit ourselves when creating a vision board because it is, after all, about our dreams. Aim high, because even if you do not reach the goal in the exact capacity you envisioned, it can still serve as perfect motivation for smaller milestones.

3. Find images that best capture the vibe you want to create

Luckily, vision boards are so widespread today that finding images made for them should not be difficult. They can be photos from Pinterest, social media or ones cut directly from magazines.

4. You can create your vision board digitally

While assembling a physical vision board is a great hands on activity you can do alone or with friends, if it feels stressful or overwhelming, I suggest choosing a digital option. First, creating a digital vision board has never been easier thanks to platforms like Pinterest and Canva. Second, this allows you to set your board as the wallpaper on your devices, which means you will be seeing it often.

5. Place your vision board somewhere visible

If you have made a physical vision board, consider placing it somewhere visible in your home. It can be on your nightstand, above your desk or in any part of your living space you spend a lot of time in. If you created a digital vision board, as mentioned earlier, the best option is to set it as the background on the devices you use daily.

6. Use affirmations

It can be helpful to include positive affirmations alongside photos on your vision board, ones that correspond to your goals. That way you will, often unconsciously, repeat positive affirmations day after day each time you see your board.

7. Be proactive

While visualisation certainly helps in achieving goals, the most important part is still up to you. Consciously work toward the goals you have set for yourself and watch how your vision board slowly becomes your reality.