By: Anna Gotsch

With a new year comes setting new goals and hopefully achieving them. So often our motivation can slip away by the time February comes around. So what can we do to make this year different? It’s all about visualization. Visualization means creating a picture in your mind of what you wish to achieve. It’s one of the most powerful mind exercises you can do and with the help of the perfect vision board you can will your 2021 goals into becoming reality. 

WHAT IS A VISION BOARD?

Simply put a vision board is a visual representation of what you believe achieving your goals might look like. For example, if your goal for 2021 is to eat more plant-based foods you might include some images of delicious looking plant-based meals. Creating a vision board is the easiest way to ensure that you are visualizing your goals several times a day. The more you visualize your goals, the more likely you are to achieve them.

SELF REFLECTION

The first step in creating an inspiring vision board involves some self reflection. Think about the things that are important to you and which parts of your life you want to change. Some areas to think about could be your relationships, finances and career, travel, home, personal growth or health. Keep in mind it’s best to stick to one or two goals, otherwise your vision board can become confusing or overwhelming. 

Once you’ve defined your goals, try to focus on how you want to feel when you accomplish those goals. For example, if one of your goals is to declutter your home, think about the feeling you get when you are in a decluttered space. Perhaps it makes you feel more calm and relaxed. If this is the case you might include an image or memento that makes you feel these emotions on your vision board.

THE FUN PART

Next comes the fun part! It’s time to get creative. Search for images or tokens that represent your goals. Get on Pinterest and Instagram or go old school and get out a pair of scissors and some magazines. This is your vision board, no one can tell you what to include. However,  there are some tips to help make your board more effective. 

Stick to pleasing images and objects that will draw your attention. The idea is to look at your vision board often so find things you enjoy looking at. Including words and phrases can be motivating but make sure to keep them short and sweet so as not to crowd your board. Arrange your items in a way that is visually pleasing to you, whether that’s spacing everything out evenly or just throwing stuff up there. This is your board! Choose whatever works best for you. 

PLACEMENT MATTERS

Once you’ve created your board it’s time to find its perfect home. It’s important to place your board somewhere where you will see it often. Remember, we want to practice visualization as much as possible. Consider putting it in your office, on your nightstand or even by your bathroom mirror. Your vision board can be however big or however small you want it to be. Seeing your board often is more important than size, so scale your board to fit in the perfect place.

CHANGE IS GOOD

The best vision boards are never finished. It’s okay and important to make adjustments along the way. Your board is a living thing that changes and grows as you do. Your achievements may not look or feel exactly like you expected and that’s OKAY. Don’t be afraid to tear things off or replace things as you go. The most important thing is to celebrate your successes along the way even if they don’t look like you thought they would!