Happy new year! Although it’s only the beginning, 2021 already feels like a breath of fresh air after the year we’ve just had. One of the most common things that people do at the beginning of the new year is create resolutions they want to stick with for the coming year. However, just writing down things you want to improve on might not provide you with enough motivation or inspiration for you to actually do these things.
That’s why creating a vision board for the new year is such a great way to understand what you really want for the new year, why you want to work on certain areas of your life, and how you’re going to achieve your goals. Having your dreams and goals laid out in a visual display can really help you get excited to stay on track and keep working towards what you hope to achieve, and that’s why I’ve compiled a list of ideas and tips for you to design your personalized vision board for 2021.
What is a vision board?
A vision board, or dream board, is a visual representation of your desires, dreams and goals. You simply gather different pieces of inspirational materials, such as artwork, quotes, images and words that motivate you, and put them together in a collage. Visualizing what you want for your year can really help you to stick with your resolutions. Vision boards are different from mood boards, which help you plan or design certain projects. When you create a vision board, you are manifesting what you want out of your life. Manifesting is simply living intentionally and working towards what you want.
What should you include on your vision board?
The first step in creating a vision board is to be intentional about what you want. Think about what’s most important to you, and if you want certain things to change in your life. Don’t create a long list of every miniscule thing you want to change, but rather focus on a few areas of your life that you want to work on. You also need to decide whether you want to create a vision board for just this new year, or one that applies for your long-term life plan. Here are some of my ideas for what to include on your vision board:
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Wellness goals, such as intuitive eating or meditating
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College goals, such as taking a class that interests you or exploring different majors
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Career goals, such as exploring interesting career paths or landing your dream internship
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Places you want to travel to
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Mantras or quotes you want to live by
Where to find visual representations for your vision board
When it comes to creating your vision board collage, there are a variety of places you can look for inspiration, such as:
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Magazine clippings
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Pinterest or Instagram images that you can print
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Polaroid pictures
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Newspaper clippings
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Stickers
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Postcards
Remember to use words and images that will stand out to you so that you come back to your board often! For example, if you’re trying to find your dream internship, try including bold words or quotes that motivate you to keep searching and applying. If you’re using Pinterest, you might want to search for “career quotes” to find some inspirational material. Adding images of the locations or companies that you’d love to work at can also help you manifest what you want to achieve.
How to assemble your vision board
Now that you have all the components of your board, you can now put it all together in a collage. You can use a bulletin board, poster board, journal pages, or even just a wall to display your vision board. Arrange all your quotes, pictures, and inspirational representations on your surface of choice, and then pin or tape them to the board or wall. Alternatively, you can create a digital vision board by copy pasting all of your saved images and quotes onto a collage tool, such as Canva.
After you’re done assembling your vision board, put it up in an area that you’re going to walk by or look at often, such as above your desk or bed. Vision boards are amazing tools to stay motivated, so glancing at your board when you’re uninspired or adding new images and quotes once in a while can help you gain clarity and stick to your resolutions. Just taking a deep breath and gazing at what inspires you can remind you why you’re putting in so much energy and work into what you do each day.
Creating a vision board is a great way to stay on track and remember what you want for your year and life. Having a visual representation of your hopes, dreams, and goals can really motivate and inspire you. Remember that you can always update and change up your board throughout the year. I hope that your vision board will help you live intentionally this year!