Every January, we get a fresh start, so to speak. A clean slate. A blank piece of paper. But what are you going to do with that blank piece of paper? If you’ve already thought about your resolutions and goals, why not take it one step further and create a vision board?
A vision board is, quite simply, a visual representation of what you want to achieve in your life. For some of us, a vision board might be a little too out there, but it shouldn’t be. These boards are an interesting and compelling way to help us visualize what we want our future to be. If you’re ready to jump in, you might be wondering what some of the do’s and don’t’s are. We’ve got you covered!
To start, you’ll need some supplies. The basics include: a board of some sort (poster, cork, etc.); glue, tape, or pins; magazines; and scissors. Get a little fancier with stickers, washi tape, markers, and yarn.
Ready?
The do’s and don’t’s of vision boards
Do: Be messy! (This one’s hard for me. I gave up on bullet journaling because mine wasn’t pretty enough.) Break out the paint, markers, crayons, and glitter, if that’s your thing. Your board should be full of images and words that make you happy, drive you forward, and inspire you. If you like it neat and clean, that’s awesome! Do you.
Don’t: Follow a template. This is your future, after all. It doesn’t have to be perfect or what everyone else’s’ looks like, it just has to be true to who you are and what you want.
Do: Ask yourself important questions. What do I want? Who and what do I value? What do I need? Force yourself to think about what makes your heart sing.
Don’t: Rush it. Seriously consider the questions above. After all, what’s the best that could happen?
Do: Embrace the process.
Don’t: Feel embarrassed or silly. No one has to know you’re making a vision board if you don’t want them to. Your thoughts are your thoughts, and you aren’t required to share them. Of course, it might help to share with someone you trust and look to for guidance.
Do: Set aside quiet time and a quiet place to work on your vision board. Or, if you’re more outgoing, make it a party. Invite some friends, set out supplies, and turn up the music. For some people, it helps to talk about their vision as they’re creating it. For others, the quiet is the best place to find clarity on what they want most.
Don’t: Half-ass it. Invest some serious time (either loud or quiet) working on your board.
Do: Put your board somewhere so you can easily access it throughout the year. You don’t have to display it if you don’t want to, but don’t hide it either! Look at it often. Say things out loud (make them an affirmation).
Don’t: Ignore your board. Use it as a road map and make adjustments throughout the year to make your goals a reality.
All of this being said, your vision board is yours, and you can follow these “do’s” as loosely as you’d like. Ultimately, your vision board should help you focus on what you really want and give you some of the energy you need to make it happen.
At Siegfried, one of the things we spend a lot of time on is our bigger future – the life we really want for ourselves. So, it’s not a new experience for us to imagine how we want our future to manifest, but I’d venture to say most of us haven’t put it all down on a vision board yet.
Maybe today’s the day.
This article was originally posted on January 3, 2019.
