A vision board is a visual representation of your intentions. These typically poster-sized visuals, contain all kinds of images and text that represent an intention (or intentions) you have.
What’s the point of a vision board?
It turns out putting your intentions on paper in a visual format can help you achieve them. According to Psychology Today, mental practices (like visualization) can increase motivation, confidence, and even motor performance. In fact, in one study, researchers found that, in athletes, visualization was almost as effective as physical practice.
It’s also a fun arts and crafts project that allows you to see what your intentions would look like once you achieve them. So, if, for example, you’re hoping to be more comfortable with your body, you might put pictures of happy, healthy people coupled with empowering words like “confidence” on your vision board.
consider what matters most to you.
When creating a vision board, take a moment of self-reflection and figure out what’s most important to you. Think about the one or two segments of your life you really want to change and focus on the words those ideas bring to mind. This will be the topic of your Vision Board.
Then, get out a posterboard and your magazines
It’s time to hunt through old issues of your favorite magazines for visual representations of your intention. Or, if you’ve gone digital, you can always print images you see on Pinterest and Instagram.
If you want to have better living conditions, for example, you can clip pictures of a home that inspires you. Or, perhaps you’d like to finally take a vacation day. In that case, find yourself a palm tree pic and some glue.
To make your vision board work, put it somewhere you can see it.
The trick is to make sure any words you use are short and the images you choose are vivid, attractive, and glossy, so your vision board regularly catches your eye.
Once you’re done, put your vision board in a place that’s within your regular line of sight—your nightstand, your home office, or even by your television—because the key is to look at it as a reminder of your new, improved life.
Alternatively, you can snap a picture of your vision board and use it as your laptop’s backdrop or your phone’s home screen. It’s best to make a physical collage, because there’s a clear connection between doing something with your hands, seeing it, and accepting its arrival.