How To Make A Vision Board

First, a confession: When I first encountered the concept of a ‘vision board,’ I thought the whole thing was a bit bogus. I mean, why place a bunch of pictures on a poster or a cork board in the first place? At best, I’d have a fun and crafty project with some pretty pictures on it; at worst, a paper cut or two.

But lately, I’ve been seriously rethinking the value of vision boards. When done right, a vision board can help you stay on track and keep you focused on your goals.

Vision Board Basics: So what exactly is a vision board? A vision board is a collection of images and affirmations that represent your goals, dreams and aspirations – essentially, your hope or ‘vision’ for the future.

The psychology behind it has to do with the raw power of visualization. Athletes, for example, use visualization to improve their performance. In fact, studies have shown that the same brain patterns kick into high gear whether an athlete imagines an action or actually does it.

So how does this relate to the subject of vision boards? Well, when it comes to achieving your goals, visualizing them is always the first step towards making them happen. Although keeping a list of your goals is extremely important, creating a vision board can help you clarify your goals even further with images that inspire and move you. And whenever you see your vision board, you will be reminded of the things that you wish to accomplish and motivated to achieve them.

Ready to make your first vision board?

Materials

framed cork board
magazine clippings (or printed images)
scissors
glue
craft paper
pins
spray paint
notepad and pencil

Step 1: Vision Casting

To create a clear and effective vision board, your vision must be very specific. Get out a notepad and begin making a list of the areas of your life that are most important to you. Examples may be: marriage, family, career, health, spirituality, finances, travel, etc. Jot down your goals and the practical steps towards achieving them.

Tip #1: Zero-in on on 5-8 goals. Any more and you may feel overwhelmed and lack the focus needed to achieve them. Be prudent and practical when casting your vision.

Tip #2: Determine a practical time frame. I like to tackle things in bite-sized pieces. My current vision has a 1-year lifespan. Some of you may wish to create a 5-year or even 10-year plan. As long as your plan has some practical steps behind it, then cast your vision as far into the future as you wish.

Step 2: Gather Magazine Pics or Pinterest Images

Now it’s time to find visual representations of your goals. For example, if your career goal is to become a personal trainer, then you may select images depicting physical activities. If your health goal is to become lean and healthy, then select inspiring images of food and fitness. The key is to choose images that are inspiring to you. Don’t overthink it. Listen to your gut. And don’t forget to cut out or print phrases or words that inspire you, too.

Step 3: Make It Crafty!

As a craft/DIY blog, you know that I couldn’t create a vision board without adding a crafty flair to it. For this vision board, I decided to:

1. Spray paint my framed cork board

2. Glue craft paper to each image (which will prevent the images from fraying)

Step 4: Create a Layout

Finally, it’s time to put it all together. Map out your images on the board.

Once you’ve created a layout you are happy with, pin each image onto the board.

Tip: If you prefer a collage or wish to glue images onto a poster board, then do what feels right. For me, I liked pinning the images on a cork board so that I can, in future, move things around.

Other vision board formats that you may prefer include:

art journals (with sketches or images glued on)
a yarn or string garland (with images hanging from your string)
inspiration wall using washi tape to add or remove images
virtual board on Pinterest

Step 5: Display & Review Daily

Now you are ready to take a moment to review your new vision board. This is how mine looks like. Each image is linked to a specific goal that I have set for myself this year.

While a couple of the images are related to my career goals and ‘craftspirations’ (pardon the pun 😉 )…

…others are as simple as getting enough sleep and exercise (consistently 😉 ).

Keeping your vision at the forefront requires the visualization of your goals, so don’t put your vision board away in a closet! Display it in your office, den, craft room or bedroom. The key is to find a place that enables you to see your vision board daily. This will remind you of your goals and motivate you to take active measures to achieve them.

Remember: The power is not in the vision board as a physical object; the power is in what we do to make it a reality.

Happy vision casting 🙂