Create a Vision Board in Any Notebook

Not 2020 Vision…Something New!

If you are working on something that you really care about, you don’t have to be pushed. The vision pulls you.
— Steve Jobs

Many of us are done in all ways with 2020. Starting this post out saying it has been quite a year would be redundant, to say the least. We know this year has had many challenges; however, moving on to a new time period is always an excellent way to reset and restart our intentions and goals for not only the coming year but in life in general. I love making vision boards. They help me get my priorities in line as I start to plan for the year and each individual quarter. I always feel like after I complete a vision board exercise I feel lighter and a bit clearer. The key to creating a great vision board is to allow yourself to dream, but also let yourself wander into the territory of who you want to be and what it actually feels like to be him or her. I always like to start this work with some journaling prompts, and then I move into the cutting and pasting part of the project. This post outlines some helpful prompts, shows you a quick vision board video tutorial, and also walks you through the 4 main steps to create a vision board in any journal you have around the house.

Vision Board Journaling Prompts

Take from this list what you like! Set a timer for 5-10 minutes and allow yourself to think about all of the “what ifs.” What ifs aren’t always bad. They remind us about the possibilities in life and not just the worries.

  • “My greatest strengths are…”

  • “I feel most confident when…”

  • “I feel uncomfortable when…”

  • “What I like about myself is…”

  • “My ideal self is…"(looks like, sounds like, acts

  • like)

  • “My perfect day would be…”

  • “I love…”

  • “My favorite quotes are…”

  • “My favorite song or playlist right now is…”

  • “My favorite books are…”

  • “My favorite season is…”

  • ‘My favorite scent is…” and “It makes me think

  • about…”

  • “10 positives about my life right now are…”

  • “5 things I could teach someone else about

  • are…”

  • “The people I look up to are…”

  • “My ideal home is…” (looks like, sounds like,

  • smells like)

  • “I get excited thinking about…”

  • “I feel joy when…”

  • “The beliefs that are important to me are…”

  • “If money were not an object, I would…”


My Previous Vision Board:

  • People, Places, and Things =CURRENT INSPIRATION

  • What I’ve Already Learned=CELEBRATION SO FAR

  • Goals=END RESULTS

  • Steps=HOW YOU WILL GET THERE

vision board example

My New Vision Board Plans

  • People, Places, and Things =CURRENT INSPIRATION (Keep!)

  • What I’ve Already Learned=CELEBRATION SO FAR (Keep!)

  • Goals=END RESULTS (Change!)

    • I also want to add to this section a breakdown of the different types of goals that I have and some smaller milestones I can take to make it feel like I am making progress. I am picturing one side of the page is the different types of goals broken down by small, medium, and large milestones. Then, the other side of the page will include images, quotes, and photographs that are inspirational.

  • Steps=HOW YOU WILL GET THERE (Keep!)

Watch the Mini-Lesson Video:

Steps to Create a Journal Vision Board:

Step 1: Before you start making your layout, create a list of goals, desires, dreams.

Use some of the inspiration from the prompts. I like to keep in mind that there are four types of goals: 1.) Stepping stone goals 2.) Short-term goals 3.) Long-term goals and 4.) Lifetime goals. Feel free to make four columns because sometimes thinking about goals can become overwhelming and discouraging because it is easy to think about what you don’t have or what you haven’t accomplished yet. Try to think about all of the different areas of life including, but not limited to:

  • Personal/Family/Relationship

  • House

  • Professional/Work

  • Financial/Money/Saving

  • Self-Care/Self-Improvement/Wellness

  • Education

  • Stuff/Things You Want

After you have thought about the different goals and you have some ideas in mind, grab a computer, and get ready to Google. I also like to incorporate drawings or photographs that I find inspirational. My new vision board is going to include things from the past that have fueled me or made me excited, but my hope is that it includes a clear direction for the future.

Step 2: Arrange your pictures, photos, or drawings on the page.

Once you have Google imaged to your heart’s content, put all of the images on a Doc, and make them smaller. Keep in mind the size of your journal. You want everything to fit. Perhaps also consider making your current goals or the stepping-stone or short-term goals larger so you can focus on them more when you open your journal. Personally, I go through a journal in about 2-4 months depending on my frequency of writing. I want to keep in mind that my vision board’s purpose is to keep me motivated during that time I am using my journal. Some items you may want to include in the VISUAL part of your vision board:

  • Photographs

  • Google Images

  • Logos

  • Quotes

  • Advice

  • Inspirational Words/Word of the Year

  • Write Out Goals

  • Trips/Travel

Step 3: Focus on goals and dreams. What do you want to accomplish? Where do you see yourself headed? Include steps you can take NOW to get there.

Step 3 is all about the steps in how you will meet your goals. I like to think of these as immediate actions you can do tomorrow, the next day, and within the next month to help you realize your dreams. These are also great to put into your monthly layouts as project planners.

project planner

Step 4: Include people, places, and things that continue to inspire you!

This current inspiration is one of the many things that keeps me going. This also serves as a resource for the days when you aren’t really feeling like you are accomplishing anything or you may feel “behind” on meeting your goals. I like to focus on people I talk to every day and people I admire. I also like to focus on places that make me feel productive as well as places that have inspired me to be better.

Writing Mindset Reflection: What will you include on your new vision board? Do you create a vision board for the new year? What parts of this process do you see yourself using?


vision board


Stephanie Hampton

A dedicated educator with over a decade of experience in public education, specializing in English Language Arts, writing instruction, and using mentor texts in the classroom. Stephanie currently works as an educational consultant. When she isn’t talking about teaching, she is with her family, spending time journaling, and enjoying a fresh cup of coffee.

Previous
Previous

Defunk! Find Postpartum Positivity Using Mindset Shifts in your Journal

Next
Next

Ribbons, Bows, and Using My Journal to Stay Present Through the Holiday Season