Vision Board Guide: 7 steps Creating Inspiring and Effective Vision Boards

What are vision boards?

Vision boards are collages of images, inspirational quotes and affirmations that help with goal setting and  manifestation .They’re visual tools that are designed to affirm your intentions and dreams into reality using the power of visualization. Vision boards can be made  in a variety of ways like using magazine cutouts on paper, collecting images on sites like Pinterest, or using vision board kits like the one in my own shop. Regardless of its medium, the main idea of a vision board is to capture the essence of your goals, intentions and new endeavors so you can stay reminded and motivated as you manifest them into reality.

How Do Vision Boards Work?

Creating vision boards may seem like just an arts and crafts project but they are beneficial in many ways. Vision boards can help you achieve goals and cross things off your bucket list. This is possible through the power of visualization. Visualization is a form of meditation that involves concentrating on mental images.While making your vision board you should visualize what you’d like your future to look like. During visualization meditation you should try to experience the emotions and vibes that you get from achieving your goals. The contents of your actual visual board is a reflection of the type of life you see yourself living in your dreams. Visualization is important when setting goals because it helps your brain see, feel and respond to success. 

How to Make a Vision Board:

Physical vs Digital Vision Boards 

Vision boards collages can be made digitally and physically. There is no wrong way it is up to you to decide what works best for you. 

Digital vision boards can be made using softwares like photoshop, Canva or even a simple collage phone app. A pro to digital vision boards is that they can easily be made in wallpapers and screensavers. (Click here for my guide on making vision boards in Canva)

Physical vision boards can be made using magazine cut outs or printed images from online. Collage them together using glue sticks and washi tape. A pro to physical vision boards is that they can be hung on  the  wall and famed.

Each method has endless potential for creativity and manifestion.

What Should a Vision Board Include:

A good annual vision board should give you an overview of your goals in all areas of life. There are 7 topics that I like to address when making my yearly vision board. 

These are common topics that are important in most people’s lives. Outside of your yearly vision boards it is useful to make individual, specific vision boards about other areas of life that are important to you. 

7 Steps to Making a Vision Board That Works:

1.Goal planning

The first step to making an effective vision board is to know what your goals are.

Vision boards are typically made at the beginning of a new year or month so spend some time focusing on what you’d like to achieve in that span of time.  You can use the smart goals system or a goal setting worksheet if you need help with this step. 

2. Visualization 

The next step is to visualize what your goals look like for you. This is important for connecting with the most authentic version of your intentions. Spend some time visualizing meditation and concentrate on each of your goals. Focus on the mental image that you see and  pay attention to the details. Everyone has a different idea of how different goals will be manifested into reality . For example, you and another person can both have a goal of visiting Paris but the details of the trip will be very different for each person. These small details are what goes on to your vision board and is what makes each person’s path unique.

3. Gather photos 

After getting clear on your intentions, this is the time to gather photos that represent your goals and inspire you. The images you pick should be reminiscence of everything you saw and felt during goal visualization. Don’t worry about exact details too much, if you see a photo that evokes the feeling of your desires feel free to use it.“ A picture is worth a thousand words” because they connect to our emotions in a way that words can not.

My favorite place to source images is  Pinterest  because you can use the boards feature to stay organized with different topics. I also have a vision board kit with a diverse array of photos and quotes available on etsy.

After I’ve gathered all my images I download them to be used for my collage. 

4.Gather or write affirmations

Next gather positive affirmations and motivationals words. Not all goals are physical and affirmations are perfect for expressing more abstract goals that you couldn’t find photos for. Motivational words like “believe”, “abundant”, “happy” also make a great addition to your boards. These words help fill the gaps and are simple reminders for our most fundamental beliefs. 

There are plenty of affirmation graphics on the internet and my own pinterest and you can also write your own that are custom to your needs. 

To learn to write your own affirmations check out my guide: Guide to designing powerful personal affirmations that work

5. Collage and create your vision boards 

Now that all of the important tasks are done this is the fun part! Create a collage of all of the images and graphics you collected. How this is done is completely up to you, feel free to get as creative as you want. If you are creating a digital vision board I recommend using canva, a free design program. The site has tons of stock images and graphics so you can embellish your vision board or add a photo you may have forgotten.  

6. Make it accessible  

Congratulations, You created an effective vision board for manifesting your goals into reality! The last thing to do is to make it easily accessible for viewing. This can be as simple as printing your completed vision board and keeping it close by. 

Here are some ideas for making your vision board accessible:

• Create a phone wallpaper
• Create a computer background
• Print, frame and hang it as art 
• Print and glue into planner/journal 

You can do one of these methods of these methods are all of them. Choose what resonate with you the most.

7. Use it as a resource

The most important thing to remember when working with vision boards is to actually use it as a resource! Your vision board should be looked at every time you set goals throughout the year to make sure they align with your bigger picture. All of the time and intention you put into making your vision board is powerful so you should put it to use. Your own vision board is the best source of inspiration and motivation when you’re stuck or feeling down.

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By gathering images and phrases that represent your goals and dreams, you can created a powerful tool to help you stay focused and motivated. Remember to review your vision board regularly, and make any changes as needed to keep it up-to-date. Don’t be afraid to dream big, and trust in your ability to make your goals a reality. With , you can make your vision a reality. Good luck on your journey!

What is one goal that you will included on your vision board? Do you have any tips or tricks for staying motivated while working towards your goals? Let us know in the comments below!