How to Create a Meaningful Vision Board for your Goals and Dreams

Blog, Personal Growth

Visualize your plan and purpose

I know a lot of people wonder, myself included, do vision boards even work?

Is it worth it to spend the time making a vision board when it may or may not bring you any closer to my goals and dreams?

Between the law of attraction and manifesting your dream life, the pretty simple and innocent act of creating a vision board has somehow gotten lost in the whole conversation of does it even work or not.

I can’t answer that question for everyone, but what I can say is that if you’re in a space in your life where you’re looking for an additional source of encouragement and direction, then it may be worth it to invest a little time and energy into laying out your goals and dreams for the upcoming year.

With that said, here are a few things to keep in mind if you’re considering creating a vision board:

Vision Boards Aren’t for Everyone — Vision boards aren’t for everyone, and that’s okay. Consider where you are in your life, and where you are trying to get to in the next few months, and if a vision board would be a positive source of inspiration and motivation to you on that journey. If so, then this post will help you get started.

They’re Meant to Inspire, Encourage & Motivate — Creating a vision board doesn’t mean everything you want will happen as expected, but what it can do is offer a consistent source of inspiration, encouragement, and motivation. It doesn’t replace the work you need to do in order to bring yourself closer to whatever it is you are after, rather it serves as one of the first physical representation of those future dreams and goals.

Vision Boards are Very Personal —Creating a vision board is a very personal experience. Behind all the layers of life, only you know what is truly bothering you on a deeply personal level, and some of the changes you would like to see take place in your life. Creating a vision board is a way to reflect those inner dreams and desires, and bring you that much more clarity on what it is you truly want.

A vision board is a great way to get a clear idea of what you want for yourself, and the direction you would like to see your life go in. We can’t control everything in our life, but the things that we are able to control, we want to give ourselves the greatest opportunity to influence those things positively. With that said, here are 10 things you’ll need to create a vision board for your goals and dreams.

1. Goals & Dreams

The best place to begin when creating a vision board is to start by asking yourself what are your dreams and goals?

It seems like a simple enough question, but sometimes what we truly want can be hidden, or even lost, within the life we’ve already created for ourselves.

Between our daily responsibilities, social pressures, or the influence of family and friends, it’s easy to end up being a version of what you think you’re supposed to be, instead of who you truly want to be.

Your vision board should reflect your personal goals and dreams. The things you want to take on, and things you want to let go of, are all a part of the process of creating yourself, and honoring what’s important to you.

Your goals are your guides, so spend some time thinking about the different areas of your life that you want to see grow, and start from there. If you’re still not quite clear on what exactly it is that you want, here are few areas to focus on to help you decide what to include on your vision board:

Professional & Career Goals
Financial Goals
Relationships
Emotional Well-Being
Mental Health
Spiritual Growth
Health & Fitness
Education
Travel
Self-Care/Personal Well-Being
Self-Improvement

2. Supplies & Materials

After you’ve come up with a few goals and ideas you want to include on your vision board, you’ll also need to gather a few supplies.

Keep in mind, you don’t need all of these things, really just a blank surface, tape and some pictures will do, but if haven’t created a vision board before, here is a small list of supplies and materials you’ll need:

Cork Board or Poster Board
Scissors
Page Cutter
Tape
Hot Glue Gun
Push Pins
Computer Paper, Photo Paper, or Cardstock
Craft Paper
Markers, Pens, Pencils

3. Pictures & Images

Pictures are probably the most important part of your vision board. They literally create the vision on your vision board.

The pictures and images you choose can be direct representations of what you want, or more abstract ideas that embody your goals and dreams, so feel free to be as specific or broad as you want.

Before, the best recommendation for finding pictures for your vision board was to cut out images from old magazines, but with the advent of the internet, it’s much more practical to just search online and print them out. Here are a few online, and personal, spaces you can use to find pictures for your vision board:

Pinterest or Google Image Search
Unsplash or Pixabay — Free stock photography sites are a great place to find pictures, and they function the same as any other search engine; just type in a keyword of what you’re looking for and it will populate tons of related images.
Personal Pictures – Take a scroll through your phone, or social media accounts, to see if there are a few moments and memories you want to include that would add that much encouragement and inspiration to your vision board.

5. Quotes & Affirmations (Download & Print)

It’s not easy staying committed to working on your goal’s day after day, especially when you have other stressors and responsibilities that are also impacting your life. On our toughest days, it can be hard not to give into the belief that what we want just simply isn’t achievable.

We all fall into these head spaces, and that’s why it’s so important to include powerful words and phrases on your vision board, because sometimes, all it takes is an encouraging word to give us the strength we need to keep pushing forward.

Below is a list of inspirational daily quotes and affirmations you can print out and add to your vision board. If you’re looking for more options, check out my Daily Quotes & Journal shop for additional free printables.

5. Ideas & Inspiration

Ideas, inspiration, and motivation can come in many different forms, such as people who inspire us, personal accomplishments, or are own creative work. Here are a few ideas to help add to add some extra inspiration to your board:

Inspirational Figures — Vision board are not just about what inspires you, but also who inspires you. This can include someone you look up, people who’ve always supported you, or someone who has been through similar experiences, and remind you that if they can get through it, so can you. Inspiring figures can include:
- Historical Figures
- Family members
- Friends
- Entrepreneurs
- Athletes
- Artists (Musicians, actors, writers, singers, dancers, etc.)

Personal Keepsakes — Personal keepsakes are a great source of energy, and a great complement to any vision board. Also, if you have an artistic hand, feel free to add your own personal, aesthetic charm to your board, and include elements that only you can create. Additional personal keepsakes you can include are:
- Certificates/Awards
- Personal Writings
- Personal Drawings
- Small Tokens or Gifts
- Mementos or Souvenirs

Lists — Lists are also another great way to organize your goals. It’s an easy way to keep track of your accomplishments, and something you can continue to add to as time goes on. It’s also an added source of encouragement to be able to cross something off your list that you were able to complete. Here are a few goal-specific lists you can incorporate on your vision board:
- Book List
- Bucket List
- Movie List
- Gratitude list
- Business Goals
- Fitness Tracker
- Travel List
- Hobbies
- New skills you want to learn
- Self-Care Ideas

6. Format

This post is mostly dedicated to how to create a physical vision board, but don’t limit yourself to this option if it doesn’t feel like the right fit for you. There are plenty alternatives to the traditional vision board that may align better with your personality, lifestyle, or creative preferences.

If you’re wanting to take a different approach, here are several unique formats you can try:

Phone Background
Laptop or Desktop Background
Bullet Journal Spread
Pinterest Board
Printable Workbook or Worksheets

7. Design & Layout

How your vision board looks plays a big part in how effective it will be in your life. If you don’t like the look, it’s more than likely not going to be something you’ll feel inspired by throughout the year.

While pictures and quotes are important, the overall arrangement of them can make a huge difference in transforming your board from just a bunch of images, to a personal, goal-driven representation of your future.

Before adding everything to your board, spend a little time arranging all your items to get a good idea of what you want your final look to be. Here are a few design and layout ideas to consider:

Collage —The most common, and recognizable, vision board layout is the collage. A collection of pictures and words that go wherever they fit best. Simple, fun, and easy to put together, a collage is one of the best ways to visually capture your future hopes and dreams.

Sections & Symmetry — Organizing your board into sections, or following a specific pattern, is a great way to create style and contrast. Try adding sections, headings, or borders to your board to help differentiate between the different areas of your life that you want to focus on.

Colors — We oftentimes are drawn to certain colors, so feel free to incorporate your favorite colors, tones, and shades onto your board. Colors can also be used to give your board a specific theme, draw attention to certain areas of your board, or simply as a way to include an aesthetic piece of your personality.

8. Blank Space

While it’s often the trend to cover every inch of your vision board, sometimes a more minimalist approach may be all that is needed. It’s totally okay if you prefer to fill your vision board up completely, but don’t be afraid to leave a little blank space.

As you change and grow throughout the year, so may your goals and dreams, and it may be a good idea to leave a free area on your board to add those things as they come along.

9. Location

Your vision board isn’t meant to detract from your space, but rather add to it, by being an ever-present source of encouragement, inspiration, and motivation. It’s meant to function as a subtle reminder of your goals and dreams, operating in the background as you go about your daily life.

Make looking at your vision board an effortless experience, by putting it in a room you use often, such as a home office, bedroom, or even a work out area.

10. Final Touches

Now that you’ve reached the end of your vision board journey, you may want to polish it off with a few final touches to make it that much more personal. This is by no means necessary, but if you want, here are a few extras you can add to your final vision board:

LED or Fairy Lights – A little bit of lighting can go a long way. Adding a strand of LED, or fairy lights, is an inexpensive way to enhance the look of your board, and give it a subtle, glow effect.

Calendars—Including a monthly calendar on your vision board is an easy, yet intentional way to stay committed to your goals, because it forces you to update your board at least once a month. It’s also a great way to include those seasonal reminders, special events, and milestones you want to celebrate throughout the year.

Whether it’s in a personal space like your phone, a private space like your journal, or an open space like on a board, creating a vision board is a great opportunity to spend the much-needed time with yourself to figure out what it is you truly want, and the steps you need to take to get there.

It takes a lot of courage to go after the life you want to live, and creating a vision board is one of the first steps you can to take to making the future you want a reality.