I used to be really into resolutions. Don’t get me wrong, I still love the fresh energy that a new year brings, but for me, resolutions began to feel like a checklist of things I wanted to change about myself. And all too often, I found myself making the same resolutions year after year, which told me—it wasn’t really working that well for me.
It wasn’t until I shifted my perspective and began approaching the new year as a time to envision the life I wanted to be living that I started to see real change happen in my life. And I’ve learned that when I focus on how that life feels on the inside (energized, inspired, and purposeful) over how it looks on the outside, I have so clarity around where to place my energy.
My favorite part of this yearly practice? Building a vision board that brings that feeling to life in a visual way. Vision boarding is a powerful tool that helps me clarify my goals and take a transformative step toward turning my New Year’s intentions into my daily reality.
This is not magical thinking
A vision board is so much more than a collage of pretty pictures. It’s a tool for visualization and goal-setting that keeps your dreams front and center where you can look at them daily. This intentional focus reminds you where to focus, and re-energizes you to take actionable steps toward your goals throughout the year.
For those of us who like to make concrete plans, the idea of “manifesting” can sound a little like magical thinking. But I’ve learned that, whether we realize it or not, we’re already manifesting all the time. Every decision you make starts as a thought in your imagination. You dreamed it, and then you made it happen. Creating a vision board is about taking those dreams and putting them out into the world in a way that makes them feel more real. It’s a big first step towards overcoming our self-limiting beliefs. When you combine this visualization with a tactical plan for reaching your goals, you’ll begin to see real progress happen in your life (see I told you it wasn’t magic!)
Dream it, see it, manifest it
Quite simply, a vision board is a visual representation of your goals . It’s a collection of images, quotes, and words that reflect what you want to manifest in various areas of your life. Unlike a mood board—which focuses on aesthetics—a vision board is about getting clarity around what’s most important to us, and it serves as a daily reminder of our intentions for each of those priorities.
For example, you might include pictures of the dream home you want to create, quotes that inspire the relationships you’d like to have, images that reflect your style muse, or symbols of the career milestones you’re aiming for. Whether physical or digital, a vision board can help you focus on what matters most.
Here’s the real key for me: vision boards are not just about manifesting dreams; they’re about making them actionable. In the process of visualizing your ideal life, you’re creating a mental roadmap for how to get there. Studies have shown that when athletes or musicians visualize their ideal performance, their actual performance improves. The same is true for us.
Let’s get started
Before you start creating your vision board, it’s key to spend some time reflecting on your goals and gaining clarity around your own unique vision for your life.
Set Your Intentions: Journal about what’s most important to you right now. Ask yourself questions like:
What area of my life could benefit from a change?
How do I want my career, relationships, or personal life to look in five years?
What habits or routines will help me live my ideal day?
Gather Inspiration: Collect images, quotes, and words that resonate with your goals. You can cut them out from magazines or search for visuals on Pinterest. Choose things that evoke a sense of excitement and possibility.
Create Your Board: Arrange your images and text on a linen pinboard (highly recommend this one ) or use a digital platform like Canva to design a virtual version. Group related goals together—for example, career aspirations in one corner and personal growth goals in another.
Place It Strategically: To keep your vision board top of mind, place it somewhere you’ll see it daily. This could be on your desk, by your bedside, or even as your phone’s background.
Make it a ritual
Creating a vision board is so much more than an art project—it’s an investment in your future. By taking time to visualize your dreams and align your actions with your goals, you’re paving the way for a life that’s fulfilling, aligned, and truly authentic.
If you want to dive deeper, I created this Vision Board Kit that has everything you need to craft your own vision board, including a workbook to guide you through the process of designing your dream life. I also host a couple of Virtual Vision Board Workshops throughout the year—if you grab a Vision Board Kit, your ticket to the next one is included.
So here’s your first action step: get out your calendar and book a couple of hours with yourself to focus on the year ahead. Grab your materials and carve out that time to let yourself dream without limitation. I truly believe that 2025 is your year—for more passion, more purpose, and living each day with intention.
