Now is the best time to work on your Vision Board!

The best way I have found to keep myself motivated and accountable, is to set very clear goals about what I want to achieve within a given year. It has become a habit to have these clearly envisioned goals for both my personal and professional life. One of the more useful tools I use to visualise said targets is a vision board. It has been very useful for me, and here is to hoping it will be useful to somebody reading this short article.

I will focus on what a vision board, how to make one and give a personal account of whether it works, or not.

So, what is a vision board...

The name 'vision board' is in itself a very clear description. It is basically an exercise wherein you put your visions on a board. For a given year, this will speak to the goals and aspirations you have for that year. I like to keep my vision board somewhere I will continuously see it, so I am regularly reminded of my goals. Life and work are not always easy, so it also helps to visualise the future fruits so see why I should keep grinding.

If you have read "The Secret", "The Alchemist" or "Make it Happen" you are already familiar with the idea of manifestation. Honestly, there are many books that touch on this. The idea states that our beliefs and thoughts can shape our future. Alas, this article is not about manifestation but by putting up a visual representation of your aspirations, you are making it tangible and hopefully positively influencing your actions towards achieving that goal.

How do I make my vision board?

I like to keep mine simple and creative, something that I will enjoy coming back to throughout the year.

1) First, I think about the different areas of my life where I have aspirations for the year. For me this includes academic, professional, family, fitness, and financial goals.

2) I think about and list the specific targets that I want to achieve in the year in the areas I decided on in point(1).

3) I then decide on the background/platform on which I will stick my visual representations. I normally use an A1 paper or board (This can be achieved by sticking four A3 papers together). There is also an option to use digital platforms like Photoshop or PowerPoint, but I prefer the physical version. #showingmyage

4) Next up, I collect magazine and newspaper clippings (pictures, words, quotes) that visually show my goals as listed in point (2). I do sometimes also use images and quotes I print form the internet.

5) How the items are stuck on the board really comes down to preference. In the past I have divided portions of my board for the different areas of my life. Sometimes I stick items on so they are colour coordinated, and at times based on when in the year I expect to make the achievement. There really is no right and wrong.

6) The last part is finding the perfect place to hang your collage of dreams. I now put mine in my office at home and because I go in there daily, I see it often.

The vision board helps with visuals to aid in manifestation. It helps you focus on your goals and keeps you motivated by showing you the end zone. It also helps put things into perspective because you must list the things that you deem important to achieve in the given year. In the past, I have added pictures and quotes that did not represent my starting list but spoke to me when I read or saw them.

Any Cons?

Perhaps important to note is that the vision board should not put you under pressure where you feel you are not achieving what you set out to. This is a risk that could happen if you don't pair you vision with actions. There is also the risk of focussing only on the goals you envisioned, and potentially missing out on good opportunities just because they are not part of your plan.

By design my vision board is normally comprised of stretch goals that would not easily be achieved. I see failing forward as an achievement. You only truly fail when you quit.

In closing, does it work?

My short answer is a resounding Yes! I stumbled on a vision board I made in 2017 that my mother had not removed from my childhood bedroom. I have achieved every target I set out to, except for one travel destination that is still on my bucket list. The secret to it working for me is that I use my vision board to direct the actions I take. "A dream becomes a goal when action is taken towards it" - Bo Bennet. Therefore, if all you do is stick pictures on the board but don't take steps towards making them reality, then a dream they will remain.