With New Year’s resolutions, goals being set and the constant commotion of everything else, it is hard to keep track of how one plans to move forward into this new era. It is easy to plan what you want to do, but difficult to remember once you finally get to that point. If only there were a way to plan out your vision through a collage of images, symbols and phrases. A visual guide to map out all of your plans for the future. If you are stuck on how to even begin this, then it is time to be introduced to the art of the vision board.
The concept of vision imagery has existed since the beginnings of human civilization, but was truly popularized in pop culture trends in the 2000s and 2010s. Through television, the rise of self-help or meditation and the introduction of social media, everything started becoming focused on visual planning. Making a vision board allows a person to relax and truly focus on what exactly they want to do. Additionally, by keeping it available as a reference point, it acts as a guide to motivate and keep you on the right track. But the question of how to even make one is a thoughtful and challenging task to take on, so consider this your step-by-step guide on how to craft the perfect vision board.
The first step is to plan when you will do this. It is not a simple arts-and-crafts project that you can just spontaneously do from start to finish on any random day. My recommendation is to save it as a weekend plan — a way to take a break from the stress of the week and refresh yourself for the next one. It is also a great activity to do with friends so that you can compare and contrast each other’s goals and make new memories together.
Next, you need a list of what is important for you to include. What do you need reminded about? These could be affirmations, photos of people you care about, images of a job you would like in the future or simple words and phrases you would like to be reminded about. For example, I would add photos of my friends and family to remember how much I value them, newspaper clippings to represent the career path I want in the future, concert photos because I would like to go to more concerts in the new year and an affirmational quote that speaks to me. After making these lists, it is time to decide which photos you specifically want to include.
In my opinion, the best place to look for these images is Pinterest. Sure there are other image-based search engines, but Pinterest will know exactly what you are looking for no matter how niche or specific. It is also incredibly important to make sure these photos are as aesthetically pleasing as possible so that once it is done you can hang it up as a reminder of what you would like to do.
After printing out the images and gathering any additional supplies to make it more eye-catching, it is time to build a collage. The most important part when making a collage, however, is to not immediately glue anything down. It is a meticulous process requiring very careful planning. As someone who prides myself on my ability to craft collages, I speak from experience when I say that you need multiple plans and cannot simply glue everything down at once because you will change your mind. Once you know it has been perfected and there is nothing else to change, you may begin the gluing process.
Since this vision board is something you will need to view every day, it needs to be displayed in a central location. it could be above your bed, in your workspace, by an entryway or anywhere else that you often look at. I would personally choose to hang mine above my desk as a reminder of what I am working towards.
No matter what you choose to include in your vision board, each one is individualized to whoever makes it. It is not just a one-and-done craft, but something to keep with you throughout the year as you work to make your vision a reality. Now, after learning how to make one of your own, I encourage you to consider what you would put on yours.
