Set Your Intentions (And Involve Your Kids)
Before you start cutting out pictures or finding quotes, it’s important to clarify what you truly want to achieve. Think about the different areas of your life—career, health, relationships, personal growth, finances, travel, and more. Reflect on the following:
- Career: Do you want to change jobs, start a new business, or get a promotion?
- Health: Are there fitness goals or lifestyle changes you want to make?
- Relationships: Is there someone you’d like to connect with more or a relationship you want to nurture?
- Travel & Adventure: Do you have places you want to visit or experiences you want to have?
- Personal Growth: What skills or hobbies would you like to develop?
Now, let’s think about how to get your kids involved. Sit down with your children and talk to them about their dreams for the year ahead. Do they want to try a new sport? Learn a new skill? Make more time for family activities? Ask them what excites them, and help them identify their goals. Setting intentions with your children not only strengthens your family bond but also teaches them the importance of goal-setting from a young age.
Gather Your Materials
Creating a vision board doesn’t require a lot of fancy supplies. All you need are a few basic materials:
- A large board or poster: A corkboard, foam board, or even a simple piece of cardboard will work.
- Magazines, newspapers, or printed images: Collect images that resonate with your goals and dreams. You can also print out inspirational quotes or words.
- Scissors and glue: For cutting out images and gluing them onto the board.
- Markers and stickers (optional): To add a personal touch or highlight important aspects of your board.
Now, the fun part! If you're doing this with kids, grab a stack of colourful magazines or print out images of their favourite characters, animals, or places they dream of visiting. Let them go wild picking out their own visuals. The process of choosing pictures that inspire them is not only fun but also gets them thinking about what they truly want in life.
Find Visuals That Inspire You (And Them)
Your vision board is a reflection of your future, so the images you choose should represent your dreams, desires, and goals. For adults, look for:
- Photos of destinations you’d love to visit.
- Pictures of healthy meals or fitness routines to represent your health goals.
- Quotes that inspire you or capture your dreams.
- Images of successful people in your field or who embody the life you want.
- Symbols of money or abundance if you’re focused on financial growth.
- Pictures of family and friends to represent the relationships you want to build.
- For your kids, the options are endless. Encourage them to pick:
- Images of their favourite animals to symbolize their love for nature.
- Pictures of books or toys they’d like to receive.
- Sporting equipment or activity images if they want to try something new.
- Quotes about kindness or friendship to inspire positive behaviours.
As you search for images, think about how each one makes you feel. The visuals should be motivating and emotionally charged, creating excitement and a clear path for success in the year ahead.
Arrange and Organize Your Vision Board (A Family Affair)
You can:
- Cluster similar goals together. For example, keep career-related images in one corner and travel-related images in another.
- Use a grid layout for a more structured approach.
- Mix words and images to make your vision board visually stimulating.
- Leave some space for new goals or things that may come up throughout the year.
If you’re doing this with children, involve them in the creative process. Let them arrange their pictures as they like, and don’t be afraid to add some fun flair with glitter, stickers, and colourful markers. Let them have fun with it—vision boards are a great way to express their personalities and creative minds.
Glue everything Down (And Make it Stick)
Once you're satisfied with the arrangement, start gluing the pieces onto the board. Be mindful of the order and how the images feel when they’re placed together. This is the final step in bringing your vision to life.
As you glue each image, take a moment to reflect on why it’s important to you. Let yourself feel the excitement and motivation that comes with imagining your future.
For kids, this is a great time to explain how working toward their goals is like building something special. Every picture glued onto the board represents a step closer to their dreams.
Add Affirmations and Goals (For the Whole Family)
After securing the images, use markers or stickers to write affirmations, goals, or words that empower you. For example:
- “I am worthy of success and happiness.”
- “I am capable of achieving my goals.”
- “Every day, I’m becoming healthier and stronger.”
- For your kids, include words or affirmations like:
- “I am kind to others.”
- “I am brave and strong.”
- “I can learn anything I put my mind to.”
Affirmations will remind both you and your children of the positive mindset needed to achieve your goals. It’s a fun and powerful way to keep everyone motivated.
Place Your Vision Board Somewhere Visible (And Inspire Action)
One of the most important aspects of a vision board is that it needs to be seen regularly. Find a spot in your home or workspace where you’ll be able to look at it every day. The more you see your goals, the more likely you are to stay motivated and work towards achieving them.
You can place it:
- On your bedroom wall, so you see it first thing in the morning.
- On your desk or above your workspace to keep you inspired while you work.
- In the kitchen, where you’ll notice it during the day.
For kids, place their vision boards somewhere in their room where they can view it every day—ideally close to where they do their homework or relax. Seeing their goals regularly will keep them excited and focused.
Take Action and Stay Flexible (And Encourage Your Kids to Do the Same)
Creating a vision board is only the first step. The next step is to take consistent action toward your goals. A vision board isn’t a magic solution—it’s a tool to inspire and motivate you to take real steps toward your dreams.
Also, be open to adjusting your goals as the year progresses. Life is dynamic, and your vision board should evolve with you. If new opportunities arise or if your priorities change, feel free to add new images or modify existing ones.
For your kids, this is a great time to teach them that their vision board is a dynamic tool. Encourage them to revisit it, add new goals, and celebrate their achievements as they reach milestones throughout the year.
A vision board is a powerful way to visualize your goals and create a clear, tangible roadmap for the year ahead. It’s a simple yet impactful tool that can help guide you toward success, remind you of your dreams, and motivate you to take action. The process of creating a vision board, especially as a family, is not only fun but also a valuable life lesson. By involving your children, you’ll teach them the importance of setting goals, staying positive, and believing in their own potential. Here's to a New Year filled with inspiration, growth, and success for the whole family!
