Stress Relief Tip - Vision Board or Binder

This isn’t a quick exercise, but it is an easy and fun one. Creating a vision board or binder allows you the opportunity to reflect on what you want when things are not going your way.

You start by writing down what you want in life. For me, that included a healthy body, a career in which I make a difference, economic security, travel opportunities, wonderful family relationships, and a beautiful home.

Let me caution you, though: don’t focus just on acquiring “things.” Acquiring stuff (bigger houses, fancier cars, etc.) causes anxiety because you have to keep working hard to maintain the costs of supporting these new acquisitions. This situation was one of the main culprits that lead to my divorce (and additional stress, as anyone who has been through a divorce can attest).

Research has shown that material things don’t make you happy. People living in extreme poverty experience a significant increase in happiness when their financial circumstances improve, but it drops off quickly above $20,000 in annual income. When you make a habit of chasing things, you are likely to become unhappy. Why? Because beyond the disappointment you experience once you get them, you discover that you’ve gained them at the expense of the real things that bring you joy (https://youtu.be/J9t--ivUunA ) such as friends, family, and hobbies (https://youtu.be/NFvD5nbjVio).(1)

Once you have your list, start collecting a bunch of images, either printed from the internet or from old magazines and then decide where it will live. If you have space on your wall, pin-up your vision board, or to have it handy, create a vision binder to carry around. Once you decide your format, start organizing your images on your board or your binder until you have enough images to reinforce what you are striving for.

Use your vision board/binder any time work gets challenging, or when experiencing any other stressful situation. Your vision board/binder will remind you of why you are working so hard and where you ultimately want to go, and it will have a calming effect on your demeanor.

(1) https://www.dhirubhai.net/pulse/nine-traps-you-fall-limit-your-happiness-dr-travis-bradberry/

Please note that there is no guarantee a particular stress relief tool will work for you. Thus you must take complete responsibility for using them and for your own physical and emotional wellbeing. Further, Professor Pete Alexander is not a licensed health professional. Please consult qualified health practitioners regarding your use of any stress relief technique. Medical advice must only be obtained from a physician or qualified health practitioner.