Easy Vision Board Ideas Anyone Can Do

It’s the beginning of the year and there’s still plenty of time to be thinking about your goals and dreams. Whether your goals are short or long-term ones, there are several tools you can use to help you make progress and achieve those dreams.

I’ve written about so many ways to do just this. I love using planners and journals to set intentions, track progress, and motivate myself to do a little work each day toward the things that matter most to me. However, one thing I haven’t written about extensively is my use of vision boards.

What is a Vision Board and Why Create One?

If you’ve been on the personal-growth, goal-setting bandwagon, you probably already know what a vision board is. But, in case you don’t, a vision board is essentially a visual compilation of the things you are hoping to achieve.

Vision boards are popular tool in goal-setting, with life coaches and celebrities promoting them. There is no right or wrong way to create one.

The only requirements are that the images and words you place on it will motivate you to move toward your goals. And, of course, your vision board should be placed somewhere that you will guaranteed to see it often.

There are several reasons why folks use these. Here are a few:

The Law of Attraction. Whether you’ve read books like “The Secret” (#Ad below) or “The Power of Positive Thinking” (#Ad below), there is a theory that when you focus on your desires and send those thoughts into the universe, your desires will be manifested. As such, a vision board can be used by folks who wish to manifest their desires into something tangible by focusing on words and images that represent what you hope to achieve. The idea is that your subconscious mind will work to bring these things into reality.

Visual Representation. When we set goals or resolutions, it is important to be specific about what we wish to accomplish or obtain. A vision board can help you to truly “see” the things you are working toward. So, if you want to be a homeowner, it can be helpful to cut out photos of houses and the things you see yourself having in the house. With this in mind, you can start to truly plan out the steps it will take to reach that goal (saving money toward a down payment, looking at places that sell the type of furniture that fits your style, etc.).

A Helpful Reminder. Even if you do not believe in the Law of Attraction, vision boards help to keep the things that we see as our goals at the forefront of our minds, rather than becoming distracted with day-to-day concerns and responsibilities. If out-of-sight, out-of-mind means that we tend to forget about what is not plainly in front of us, vision boards help keep these goals fresh and on our minds. And, you can see whatever you desire at a single glance.

Vision Board Themes

There are as many themes for vision boards as there are types of journaling or planners. You can have one vision board or several. It all depends on what works best for you.

Here are some ideas for vision boards:

General Life Goals. This is the most common type of vision board, and you can find a ton of examples on the internet. Usually, these boards have different clusters of words and/or images that focus on different aspects of a person’s life- family, work, travel, etc.

Career. I know of folks who have a general life goals vision board at their home, but they keep a career-focused one at their place of work as a separate vision board. This is particularly helpful if you are looking to change something about your work life such as looking for a new position, working toward a promotion, or taking on new projects to set yourself apart from your colleagues. Empowering words and quotations can inspire you to work toward these goals while images of the kind of workspace you see yourself occupying or individuals doing the work you want to do can provide a visual of your desired future.

Fitness/Weight Loss/Body Image. This is another popular type of vision board. If you have a desired health goal such as losing a certain amount of weight or working toward a fitness activity, a vision board can help you to define what you are hoping to achieve. Workout mantras or reminders about food and exercise can accompany images of clothing you hope to wear or races you plan to run. Anything that represents the things you hope to be able to do with your healthier body would be helpful to include- including images of healthy foods and even trackers for weight loss, steps walked, or miles covered. What not to include? Images that make you feel like you’re shaming yourself. Keep it positive.

Self-Care. This is something we all know we need to do but rarely make time for. If you are someone who has been neglecting yourself in any way, a self-care vision board may be the perfect reminder to do something special for yourself on a regular basis. What does self-care look like for you? Whatever that is should be included in your vision board. It could be images of a spa or people getting a massage. It could be a picture of freshly painted nails or someone sitting in meditation. You might also include images of your favorite hobbies. Don’t forget to include some encouraging words that remind you that you deserve to have time just for you!

Spiritual. If you are hoping to foster a more spiritual life, a spiritual or faith vision board might be just the encouragement you need to add this element to your life. Images of places of worship (especially your own place of worship), sacred texts, and spiritual or religious activities can remind you of the things that draw you to your own sense of spirituality. Include quotations by theologians, spiritual leaders, and scripture to further inspire your faith. If you plan to embark on a long-term spiritual exercise (such as reading a bible over the course of a year), you can include a habit tracker to chart your progress.

Travel. A vision board about travel, especially during a pandemic, can feel like a bucket list. But, that may be what makes it so much fun to put together. Really think outside the box when it comes to a travel vision board, and include more than just places you would like to visit. What are the things you would like to do when you travel? Are there museums you would like to see? Foods you wish to try? Activities you want to do? Words can include quotes about the joy of traveling or phrases in other languages.

Personal Growth. Perhaps you are hoping to make some strides in your personal mindset. A personal growth vision board can help you to map out the things you can use to achieve the state of mind and mental well-being you hope to accomplish. Look for images that depict people who are peaceful, confident, and content with their lives. Perhaps include images of people you admire and wish to emulate. You might also include a list of self-help or books you plan to read with a way to mark them off as you complete them.

Home. This is another popular type of vision board. Whether your goal is to one day own your own home, you are hoping to move into a larger (or smaller) space, or a renovation is on your wish list, a vision board can help you decide on what exactly it is that you want. Images of the types of homes or rooms you wish to live in can decorate your board. You can also add a savings tracker and images that represent the budgeting it takes to achieve this type of dream.

Family and Relationships. Another popular vision board theme is one based on goals for families and/or relationships. These can range from images meant to help you see yourself dating or getting married. It may be a vision board just for weddings. With family, you can include images and phrases pertaining to having children or promoting a close relationship with your kids. The sky’s the limit.

Recovery. Whether it be recovery from childhood trauma, loss of a loved one or relationship, or from an addiction of some sort, a vision board can be a powerful motivator as you recover from difficult circumstances. Images can include ones of peaceful landscapes (quiet forests, calm waters, sunrises or sunsets) and words may include inspirational phrases or recovery slogans.

Self-Image. Perhaps you want your outward image to reflect the person you feel you are inside. Or, you may be hoping to change your wardrobe to portray a new sense of fashion, a vision board can help you collect the words and images that create this new look.

Vision Board Styles

As you can see, there are so many different themes you can have for your vision board. But, there are also a good number of styles for the board itself.

As always, your own personal tastes play a big role in deciding. One major factor that influences the style and medium of your vision board should be where you think you will best pay attention to your vision board. Having a beautiful vision board that is located someplace you will not see it regularly means it’s not really a vision board.

Here are some ideas that might help you get creative with the process:

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A Page in Your Planner. Vision boards do not have to be large or stationary. If you need portable encouragement, feel free to dedicate one or two notes pages in your to a smaller vision board. This is something I have done each year in my PowerSheets planner, which has a space for creating a vision board. Just like the examples above, you can place anything on these pages that will stick to paper.

Creative Journal. Another portable vision board can be a creative journal. This year, I decided to make a small vision board page with words and phrases that I hope will inspire my creative journaling throughout the year. I used different craft supplies along with hand-lettered word stickers from Kell Of a Plan.

Artwork. Along the lines of creative journaling is making your vision board into a work of art on its own. This can be mixed media, a storyboard, or images that you draw or paint. Using a vision board to make a creative expression of your goals can be a satisfying process that creates attachment to the vision through the work it takes to make art. This would be a particularly appropriate way to make a vision board for a career in the arts.

Words on a Pretty Background. If you like the idea of using just words, try writing (or using word stickers, as I have) on an inspiring background. To make this word-only vision board, I used watercolor paper painted with a light wash of colors that lift me up and remind me of the sunrise. However, you can create any background that you like with whatever supplies will work on the paper you have chosen. If you are use wet media, such as paint, be sure to use paper made for it. After that, add your words and feel free to cluster related words with their corresponding goals. If the paper is the right size, you can frame it and hang it up.

Poster or Foam Board. These are some of the classic backgrounds for vision boards. They are inexpensive, come in a variety of sizes and colors, and since they are lightweight, you can pretty much hang them anywhere. You can find these boards anywhere from office supply and craft stores to your local dollar store. And, since they are thick and sturdy, you can go to town with the materials you use on them – paint, glitter, glues, you name it. You can also make pretty big vision boards since they come in larger sizes.

Parts of Your Home. Pinning up photos on a door, wall, or even the fridge may just have been how the first vision boards were made. I’ve heard of folks using their closets doors and bathroom mirrors to add images and motivating words. As long as it is a place that you will pass by every day, using a spot in your home is a great place to display your inspiration. Just be sure that you use materials that are easy to remove like command strips or poster putty, so you avoid possibly damaging those spots.

Premade Board. What I mean by pre-made is that these are boards that are meant to have things hung or pinned to them. These would include corkboards, ribbon memory boards (#Ad below), magnetic white boards, etc. These are a little more expensive, but they can function as both a vision board and decorative wall hanging in your home or office. Also, if you are using tacks, magnets, or other non-permanent items to hold up your inspiration pieces, you can reuse the board from year to year or make it an ever-evolving work in progress where the images and words change with your goals.

Digital. This is another option and one for folks who want a portable vision board with zero clutter. There are lots of ways to make digital vision boards. Canva is a great site for creating graphics for social media and presentations. However, since you can upload photos and use stock images while adding text in different fonts, it is a great site for creating a vision board. Another option is to use a site like Instagram or Pinterest to collect photos and images of words or phrases. Although they are not organized like a collage, they can be added to create a huge collection and you can make them private so they’re only for your eyes.

Materials for a Basic Poster or Paper Vision Board

A vision board does not have to be a work of art or cost a lot of money. It only needs to include words and/or images that inspire you and help you to visualize a better future.

If you want to create a non-digital vision board that keeps things simple, I recommend starting with a few inexpensive items and going from there:

Background– I like a simple, thin poster board for a first vision board. Just be sure to choose one in a size that works for the space you plan to hang it.

Tape or Glue– These work best on a simple poster board. And, I find that any tape or glue will work. Glue sticks (#Ad below) tend to be less messy and double-sided tape (#Ad below) makes for a neater finished product.

Images– Here is the fun part. What speaks to your goals? You can add anything that helps you to see the kind of future you would like to have. Here are some ideas:

• Magazines and Periodicals. If you subscribe to a magazine, chances are the publication’s theme already resonates with you. There’s no need to go and buy a whole bunch of them if you have a few months’ worth in your home. I am a fan of Real Simple, which has practical ideas for daily living and very simple but fresh layouts on its pages.
• Memorabilia. Have you been collecting things over the years that tell a story you can see yourself living? If you are comfortable adhering these items to a poster board (maybe using a ribbon board might be less scary?), use them.
• Postcards and Maps. Especially if traveling or immersing yourself in another culture is on your list, these travel-themed items make for nice visuals on a vision board.
• Stickers and Die Cuts. These can be words or images. There are tons of stickers and die cut images sold by countless planner and scrapbooking shops which would work well on a vision board. Some have single words while others have inspiring and motivational phrases. You can find die cuts in images that match your goals.
• Anything That Moves You. Ribbon, lace, glitter, markers- anything that can write on or stick to paper will work for your vision board. Again, there’s no need to get fancy, but if fancy is your style, go for it.

I hope these ideas inspire you to create your own vision board. And, if you have a general vision board, see if a specific-themed version is calling to you to make another.

And, as always, if you have ideas to share or just want to chime in on vision boards, please leave a comment below!

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** Images of vision board in main graphic, memorabilia, and the word Vision were found on Unsplash.

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