Let’s help you design a vision board that actually works!
A vision board is a visual reminder of the personal and professional things you want to accomplish in life. It's an opportunity to visualize your life and bring the changes you want into the physical world. The main reason most people fail to achieve their goals is because they fail to acknowledge that there is a system involved in designing a vision board. How you design your vision board plays a role in you accomplishing those goals. It is not merely slapping images to a board, there is an entire system to it.
The next crucial thing in goal achievement is your belief system, acknowledging that it will happen! You need to manifest it. Manifestation is not magic, it works your psychology. If you don't believe it will happen, you won't work hard for it and then you're doomed before you even start. Here’s a step-by-step on how to make a vision board for manifestation.
What is a vision board?
A vision board is a tool to help you clearly visualize your goals. By arranging images or objects that represent where you want to be in the future, it keeps your aspirations at the forefront of your mind and makes them easier to focus on as you take daily actions toward getting there. This can be done both physically or digitally in a digital planner. Here are some free vision board printables and ideas for creating a physical vision board.
Are you ready to manifest your goals into becoming a reality?
Does a vision board really work?
A vision board works if you create it the right way and use it the right way. The best vision boards are made with a specific purpose in mind, and they contain images that support that purpose. If you want to attract money into your life, for instance, then you need to include pictures of cash or other symbols of wealth on your board—not just pretty pictures of flowers or happy people.
It’s not magic and it won’t work if you don’t commit to making it happen. If you want something badly enough, you will find a way to make it happen. The vision board helps focus your energy on what you want instead of focusing on what you don’t want.
Here are few of my fave people that swear by vision boards…
If you’re not sure how to make a vision board that works, keep on reading. What is the right way to design a vision board? Well, that depends on what you want to accomplish with it. Let’s get into it!
Vision boards work for me on many levels
Vision boards are a great way to visually organize your dreams and goals. Creating one helps you focus on what you want, which in turn makes it more likely for those things to come true. It is a manifestation tool for me. Here are a couple of things I once had on my vision board that is now a reality for me.
- Graduating with a first class was once on my vision board and now I have that degree
- I wanted to have my own marketing company at the beginning of 2022, now I have one.
- I wanted to start making money off this website you are currently reading this from and I’ve made $3,000+ Best believe in 2023 I will be multiplying that, It’s on my vision board.
- A skincare routine, workout routine, good diet, and just an overall great lifestyle are somethings I once aspired to have, and now I have that.
I am so committed to my vision board now more than ever. It might be because of the little bit of success I’ve had from it in the past. It gives me assurance and now I’m ready to go big, and so should you.
How to design a vision board that actually works
We know having a vision board that works is dependent on how you create one. So let’s get into all that is needed to design a vision board for manifesting your dream life. You deserve to live your dream life.
Download the free 2023 new year growth plan to get started.
First, time block a whole day
For starters, you need to time block a whole day. Mark a day on your calendar and dedicate it to planning your whole year. Spending an entire day thinking about how you're going to approach the New Year is a worthwhile investment. I find that it's easier for me to make progress on important projects when I work in different places—at home, at coffee shops, or in libraries.
Reflect on your successes, big and small
In order to look forward with hope, you need to be able to acknowledge how far you have come. Count your blessings, A bit like what I did there pointing out some of my wins, you need to do that for you. I do mine in a digital planner, I just find it is easier to keep up with. I have all my digital planners from the past years and I look back at them to see how far I’ve come. It's proof that having a plan and working a system works. Proof based on your own personal life. Nothing better to start your planning on a positive note. You can also easily do this in the 2023 new year growth plan.
Then really think and consider what matters most to you
Remember what drives you to achieve your goals and envision how they will make you feel when you accomplish them. This is the time to dream big!
Get comfortable, breathe and really think about what you would like to accomplish. A good exercise I like to give is to envision yourself at the end of the year with everything that you would like to accomplish. Write it down as if it has already happened and your future self is telling your present self about it. You can follow this exercise in the 2023 new year growth plan you can download your copy here.
Visualize your goals
You need to visualize it like you are living it.
Psychology Today reports that mental practices (such as visualization) can increase motivation, confidence, and even motor performance. In one study, athletes who visualized themselves practicing a sport performed just as well as those who physically trained for the activity. Now, this doesn’t replace actually doing the work. It just shows exactly how important doing both is; having a clear vision and doing the work to get there.
Get specific with your goals
Now that you have a clear vision of what you want, write it down on sticky notes or index cards in a few sentences each. If you are feeling overwhelmed and not quite sure where and what to focus on, then keep on reading to “Vision board for those who are not sure what they want”. Sometimes it gets like that, and you struggle to set specific goals. Read the section below and then come back to this to continue the process.
In addition to knowing exactly what you want, your goal needs to be written in a specific manner. You can’t just say I want to make more money in 2023. Give it a figure. What exactly is more money? Is that $60,000 or $300,000? Now make that even more specific by writing down the exact date you need to have that amount in your account. Write down exactly what you will do to earn that money. Then break down exactly what needs to be done to generate that amount of money.
Remember the 2023 New Year Growth Plan will also help you set crystal clear goals. Download yours here for free.
Make it personal
It’s important to make sure your goals are personal enough. That gives you the motivation to keep going. It can’t just be a random goal that looks good. Your goal needs to be what you see for yourself, it should be something that interests you, a dream life you actually look forward to. This is why envisioning is important. If you’re not interested in something, it’s going to be a lot harder to stick with it.
Start collecting images, words, and affirmations.
Place the index cards on a large piece of foam board or poster board, allowing space between each card so you can brainstorm ideas for each goal later. Decorate with photos, quotes, washi tape—anything that inspires you!
Physical vision board
You can use magazine cutouts or your own printables you’ve downloaded from the internet. Here are some vision board printables you can download for free. You can also print out some personal images of yours, remember you need your vision board to be as personal as possible. It makes it more real for you. For this project you need:
- A board or cardboard paper to stick everything to (sizes: A3 or A2 or A1 being the biggest)
- Colored papers
- Magazines
- Printouts
- Scissors
- Glue
- Double sided tape
- Colored pens
Digital vision board
For those who rather have everything digital, you can absolutely create your vision board digitally. I wouldn’t say one is better than the other, but make sure you have access to your vision board. If possible look at it daily, and definitely look at it before making any plans, for the week, month, or day. The saying goes ‘out of sight, out of mind’.
This is why a lot of people would always advise having a physical vision board, that way you can place it where you can see every day. If you choose to go with a digital vision board, make it your wallpaper. Or print it out, that way you can have both.
For this all you need is a device; phone, laptop, computer, or iPad. Here are some applications I can recommend:
- Canva
- Photoshop
- Illustrator
- Procreate
- Goodnotes 5 or other notetaking apps
Give your vision board some structure
Arrange your images and words in a way that’s pleasing to you. You can do this in sections; finances, relationships, family, health, business, career, and any part of your life you think is important to focus on.
Start working towards the goals (plan backward)
When it comes to creating a plan and executing it, I always recommend planning backwards. Especially important if this is something you have never done. It eliminates all the gaps in your plan. When you plan backwards, you have a fool-proof plan that is guaranteed to work. The only way that plan will not work is if you don’t stick to it. This is why it is essential to keep track of your process using a digital planner you can easily carry around and make input at any time of the day.
Taking the example of making more money. Once your goals a specific enough, it should look something like this; I want to make $300,000 selling hoodies and I need to make this amount by December 30th, 2023. Now, this is specific. Planning backwards allows you to break this down into bite-size. You can then divide $300,000 by 12 = $25,000. Now you can focus on making $25,000 every month. Planning backwards helps you figure out a plan to make that amount of money monthly. It’s not enough to just say you want to make that amount, now you need to make a proper plan knowing exactly what you are going to do to earn just that much. In case you missed it, you now have a new deadline and new mini goal, which is: I want to make $25,000 selling hoodies and I need to make this amount by January 30th, 2023.
Learn more about planning backwards here.
Set up an accountability structure
Accountability is very important when it comes to execution. The American Society of Training and Development (ASTD) did a study on accountability and found that you have a 65% of completing a goal if you commit to someone. And if you have a specific accountability appointment with a person you’ve committed, you will increase your chance of success by up to 95%.
You can follow our Facebook group to help with your accountability and weekly check-ins.
Accountability is not calling yourself out simply to beat yourself up. If you think about it that way it will always be a negative thing in your mind and you will always avoid it. Accountability needs to be positive in your mind. It is simply you reviewing progress and acknowledging what works so you can do more of it and acknowledging what doesn't work. Even if you don’t do the work planned, remember accountability helps you figure out the best way to encourage you to do the work. Be kind and loving to yourself. It shouldn’t have to be some harsh consequence for you not getting work done. It should be a means to figure out why the work wasn't done. Maybe it’s a task you don't like doing, or you just didn't have time this week.
Vision board for those who are not sure what they want
- Write down 10 things you would like to be doing
- Pick 2 -3 from the list, there is no wrong answer, although there are things to consider.
Doesn’t matter what you pick, everything works, you just need to put the work in. There is no wrong path, there is also no right path. It is important to remember any path you choose will just be the path you choose. What you become is dependent on what you work on today. Don’t think about the other things you are not working on. As someone who has so many interests and is surprisingly good at all, trust me when I say, I have struggled to focus on one or two things. But I also know that doing everything only spreads me thin and doesn’t allow me to succeed and climb up the ladder.
So you need to pick 2-3 items on your list, focus on that and move forward. Don’t look back. Anything can be great, you just need to put in the time and work. If you really want to accomplish other things on your list, you still can. But only after the 2-3 you have picked have succeeded. You may find that you don’t need those other things anymore, and if you still want to work on them, you should, but only after you have successfully accomplished your 2-3 goals.
Beware of the shiny object syndrome
Shiny object syndrome is a state of continual distraction brought on by an ongoing belief that there’s something new worth pursuing but at the expense of what was previously planned or underway. Avoid that at all costs, because all that does is distract you from what you are working on and it leaves you unsatisfied and with nothing to show for at the end. You continuously hop onto the next new thing you discover, nothing actually gets completed, and your dreams down the drain. Stay focused and avoid shiny object syndrome at all costs.
Takeaway on creating and manifesting your vision board
A vision board can help you stay focused on your goals and work toward achieving them. Make a vision board that is a true reflection of you, with things you love in a way that makes you feel good!
You can follow the checklist in the 2023 new year growth plan to make sure you are starting the new year strong and setting yourself up for success. You've got this!
