A vision board is a picture of the year you want, kept where you will see it. These 10 vision board ideas come with examples to copy, a simple way to build one, and an honest look at what research says about daydreaming and effort.
How do you make a vision board?
You need less than you think. A cork board, a poster board or a private folder on your phone all work, and an evening is enough.
- Pick the format: a paper board, a cork board or a digital folder.
- Choose three areas of life to focus on, not ten.
- Collect pictures and words from magazines, printed photos or your own camera roll.
- Arrange them so the biggest picture sits in the middle.
- Add one dated goal to each area, such as "Book the trip by March".
- Hang the board where you see it every morning.
The scissors and the magazines are the fun part, so make an evening of it with a friend and some music.
Once the pictures are on the board, give each area a next step. The card below shows the whole path in four lines.
Ten vision board ideas to copy.
Each idea below has a picture to pin and a first step to write beside it. Pick the three that fit your year.
1. Travel.
Pin one place, not twenty. Add a postcard-style photo, a note with the month you want to go and the first step, such as "Check passport dates".
2. Movement.
Choose a picture that shows how you want to feel, like a trail, a pool or a morning walk. Write the plan under it: "Walk 20 minutes after lunch, three days a week".
3. Money.
Pin the thing you are saving for, whether that is an emergency fund, a trip or a down payment. Put the monthly amount on the board, and move a little to savings on payday.
4. Work and skills.
Add the course, the certificate or the project you want to finish. Next to it, write the first step, like "Sign up by February".
5. Home.
Pin a room you would like to change, plus three small tasks. One corner a month is more realistic than a whole house.
6. Friends and family.
Add a photo of people you want to see more of, and write a standing plan beside it, such as "Call Mom every Sunday". A small habit beats a big promise.
7. Reading and learning.
Pin the covers of five books you want to read this year and one topic you want to learn. Keep the list short enough to finish.
8. Creativity.
Choose a hobby you have put off, like painting, baking or sewing, and give it a time slot. Even one hour a week counts.
9. Calm and rest.
Add a picture of what rest looks like to you, and a small rule to protect it, like "No screens after 10". If food is part of your plan, see these light recipes for January.
10. Confidence.
Pin a few words that describe the person you want to be, such as "calm", "direct" or "kind". If you are curious about the traits people often call strong, read about the traits of an alpha female and pick the ones that fit you.
Where I would start
I would start with the money and the movement squares. They are easy to measure, and a small win in each one builds the habit for the rest of the board.
Does a vision board really work?
A picture alone does not make a year. In 2002, researchers Gabriele Oettingen and Doris Mayer reported four studies (Oettingen and Mayer, 2002).
People who judged success as likely tended to put in more effort and do better. People who often fantasized about a positive future tended to do worse.
Their explanation is that enjoying a dream in your head can feel like having reached it. That is why a board needs a date and a first step, and why the card below adds the obstacle to the picture.
The studies measured specific groups, including job seekers and students, so they do not prove what a board will do for you. Treat your board as a reminder of the plan, not as the plan.
How do you keep it going all year?
On the first of each month, spend ten minutes with the board. Tick what you finished, move what is late and swap any picture that no longer fits.
Take a photo of the board and use it as your phone wallpaper, so it follows you out of the house. When you finish a goal, write the date on it, which is more satisfying than it sounds.
Vision board questions, answered.
What should I put on a vision board?
Put pictures and words for three areas of life, plus one dated goal and one first step for each. Fewer areas make a clearer board.
When should I make a vision board?
Late December or early January suits most people, but any time you want a new plan works. Some people redo theirs every season.
Is a digital or paper vision board better?
Choose the one you will see every day. A paper board by the door and a photo of it on your phone is a good mix.
