How to Create a Vision Board

Thinking ahead to the upcoming year is a restorative break from everyday hustle and a prime time to identify your aspirations for the future. In many people’s books, January is a symbolic time to reset mindsets, institute a lifestyle change, and map out what they’d like to accomplish. However, you don’t have to wait for a new year to get started. Whether you’re aiming for a promotion, training for a race, or hoping to build long-lasting healthy habits, creating a vision board is the perfect, family-friendly activity to zero in on those goals. 

A vision board, also known as a manifestation or dream board, is essentially a collage of images, pictures, drawings, phrases, and affirmations representing your goals and dreams. There’s no right or wrong way to do it, but the goal is to physically or digitally gather inspiration to keep you motivated. Regularly viewing and engaging with your manifestation board will give you a frequent visual reminder of those goals to keep you inspired and committed.

How to Create a Vision Board 

Vision boards are intended to be fun, creative, and engaging, so run with any and all ideas. There’s no need to overthink or follow an exact template, but the following steps can get you started. 

Step 1

Identify your goals and visualize the aspirations and intentions you hope to work toward. Some ideas could include:

• Your dream job or promotion 
• Places you’d like to travel
• Financial goals 
• Hobbies you’d like to learn 
• Passions you’d like to foster 
• Lifestyle changes 
• Personal style, interior design, and fashion inspiration
• Home improvements 
• Mindfulness mantras and positive affirmations 
• Community involvement and projects 
• Relationships you’d like to grow 

Step 2

If you prefer a physical manifestation board, gather materials such as magazine clippings, newspapers, old photos, stickers, markers, stamps, glitter, ribbons, and a poster board (cardboard, canvas, or a cork board also work well). You’ll also need scissors, tape, glue sticks, magnets, and/or adhesive. For a digital board, save online images, quotes, and headlines that represent your vision. 

Step 3

Create a layout and place your materials onto a poster board or into a blank online canvas such as PowerPoint, Canva, or Pinterest. Consider placing the most important or special images and quotes in the center and supplement them with additional cutouts, stickers, clippings, and informative text or writing. The board can be as large or as small as you’d like, so play with texture, layers, colors, and patterns. 

Step 4

Once complete, display your manifestation board where you’ll regularly see it, such as on your desk, refrigerator, or bathroom mirror. If you’ve created a digital vision board, consider making it the home screen background on your phone or computer. 

Step 5

Enjoy! Let your vision board serve as a fun, physical reminder of the dreams you want to work toward.

Bullet journaling is another engaging and effective way to stay on track with your goals and aspirations.