A new year has started, which, if you are anything like my family, means setting New Year’s resolutions. For as long as I remember, my family has set New Year’s resolutions on New Year’s Eve like clockwork. This year, my mom expressed how frustrated she feels every year when she realizes she hasn’t thought about her New Year’s resolutions since January 1st. She revealed how, at the end of the year, she often ends up feeling bad about herself simply because she forgot about her resolutions. So, this year she proposed that she and I make vision boards instead.
What is a vision board?
According to Milanote, a vision board is a collection of images and words that inspire and motivate you to achieve your goals. These forms of media are to encourage you to reach your goals. Unlike resolutions, a vision board is a constant visual reminder of what your goals are. The idea of having a constant reminder of what we wanted to accomplish was very appealing to my mom and me.
How do I make a vision board?
The process of making a vision board is very engaging and exciting. Here are the steps to make your very own vision board:
- Plan Out What You Want Your Vision Board To Represent
The list of goals I wrote out to prepare for my vision board. (Bella Benson)
Similar to resolutions, your vision board should represent your goals for this year. I found it easy to complete this step by writing out my goals. I wrote things like trying new things, coming out of my shell, and spending more time with my friends and family. Anything you want to work on this year is great to have on your vision board.
- Pick Out And Print Off What Pictures You Want To Use
The pictures you choose can be from your camera roll or the internet. I decided to use a mix of both. From my camera roll, I picked out pictures of me working this summer, me participating in a polar plunge, and me after a track meet. All of these pictures represented one of the goals I wrote down. Then, I picked out pictures from the internet of celebrities that inspired me. One of these celebrities is Ilona Maher. I specifically chose a picture of Maher from Dancing With the Stars because I saw a clip of her talking about how scary yet rewarding the experience was for her because she was trying something new. Her message resonated with me. My mom selected pictures of our family because one of her goals is to spend more time with our family. Whatever pictures you choose should represent what your goals are.
- Shopping!
A shopping bag from Hobby Lobby, a store my mom and I both love. (Bella Benson)
Next, my mom and I went to Hobby Lobby and picked out various items like poster boards, stickers, and magazines. What my mom and I picked out was completely different from each other because what we picked out was what we wanted our vision boards to represent. It’s important that what you are creating is unique to you.
- Putting The Board Together
Now that you have your supplies, it’s time for the best part! There isn’t one way to go about this step. You just do whatever feels right to you. Place your pictures, stickers, and magazine cutouts wherever you want. This step was by far the most exciting part for my mom and I. This quickly became my favorite thing I have ever done with my mom. We set out all of our supplies, turned on Taylor Swift’s The Eras Tour movie on Disney+, and quickly set off to work. By the end, our boards looked completely different. This was so beautiful to my mom and me because our boards both represented who we were to a tee. Even though our kitchen table was a mess by the end we had an amazing time.
- Placing Your Board
The final step is placing your board somewhere you’ll see it daily. After my mom and I presented our boards to each other and my dad, we placed them somewhere where we would see them throughout the year. My mom placed hers in her office surrounded by cards she had received and various pictures. I placed mine in my room next to pictures of my friends and me. It’s important to be in a spot that you see a lot so that you remember to stay on track.
The most important thing about vision boards is making sure that it is uniquely you. This experience not only gave my mom and me a better way of setting goals but it was also a great bonding experience for us. Creating a vision board is a great way to start off the new year.
