Are you interested in learning how to create a vision board? If so, you're in the right place! I'm a vision board junkie, and today I want to teach you how to use one to reach your goals.
If you prefer to skip learning about how vision boards have worked for me and get right to the instructions, scroll down to “Create a Vision Board in 5 Steps”.
My Vision Boards Started with Pinterest
Oddly enough, I started using vision boards when I read an article on Forbes discussing how Pinterest is the ad industry's dream social platform. The author made a correlation between the popular social networks and Charles Dickens' famous tale, A Christmas Carol:
Facebook is where people post photos of all the fun activities they've done recently, aka: the Ghost of Christmas Past.
Twitter is where everyone heads to discuss breaking news events or Miley's latest antics, aka: the Ghost of Christmas Present.
Pinterest is where people go to pin their hopes and dreams, aka: The Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come.
In essence, Pinterest is a giant vision board for your life and everything you hope to accomplish in your future. The article states: “There’s intent around a pin,” says Joanne Bradford, Pinterest’s head of partnerships. “It says, ‘I’m organizing this into a place in my life,’ like when people tear out a page of a magazine.”
Take my Pinterest boards, for example:
A quick peek reveals that I aim to be fit and fashionable, to apply my makeup perfectly, and to one day travel the world dispensing great advice — in the form of witty quotes, of course — all while showing off some of the most amazingly beautiful hairstyles one could imagine.
Hey…it could happen! 🙂
But those dreams are what makes Pinterest such a valuable marketing tool. An attentive marketing firm would capitalize on my vision for the future by filling my boards with targeted ads for plane tickets, workout DVDs, and products to make my hair long and shiny.
However, ad agencies and huge corporations shouldn't be the ones profiting off of your vision for your future; YOU should be reaping the rewards!
That's why you need a vision board!
While it may seem like a silly idea, vision boards are a great way to ensure that you're focusing on meeting your goals. Scientific studies have demonstrated that visualization really works, and Olympic athletes have been using mental imagery for years as part of their training.
When you visualize your future desires, you begin to SEE the possibility of achieving your dreams. Click To Tweet
By creating a vision board and placing it somewhere prominent in your home, you'll be forced to look at it throughout the day. That will essentially trigger your brain to visualize your dream life coming to fruition each time you see it.
How vision boards have worked for me:
If I haven't convinced you to create a vision board just yet, I'll explain how they've worked for me. Daisy and I started this blog in late May of 2015 so I could teach her about goals and provide an outlet for her to achieve them.
She'd been doing hair and makeup for homecoming and prom events for a couple of years, and she wanted a place to showcase her talent and teach her friends how to recreate the styles she'd created. I wanted to brush up on my blogging skills and create a place to share fitness tips and my travel adventures.
So, Voila! — the Sand Sun & Messy Buns blog was born!
We decided we'd try it for six months, and I created private Pinterest vision boards showing how I wanted the blog to look, topics we wanted to cover, etc. I pinned things like “Too Busy to Side Hustle? 5 Tips to Show You How“, “How to Start a Blog the Right Way“, and “How to Make Money as a Freelance Writer“.
For some unknown reason, I also posted the image below of the number 750. I think it was because I liked the white outline around it and wanted something similar for our logo?
This image was always what stood out most on my blog vision board — probably because it was so bold and most of my other pins contained a lot of words/images.
As I learned more about blogging and as I viewed my board each day, my focus became clearer. I decided to turn that mysterious number into a tangible goal; I wanted to have a day where we reached 750 page views on the blog.
As I became aware of Alexa rankings, I decided I wanted to rank below the number 750,000 in the U.S. for website traffic. (The lower a site's ranking, the better; Google is ranked #1, YouTube is #2, and Facebook is #3.)
I figured both goals were feasible within a six month timeframe.
Because that number stood out to me so much on my vision board, it really became my focus. I wanted to reach my goal so I could smile when I saw the number 750 on my vision board!
Within the first couple months of blogging we broke the 750 views in one day goal by posting a link to our blog on my personal Facebook page. Shortly thereafter, we reached the goal of ranking below 750,000 in U.S. traffic:
Not bad, considering we had a zero dollar advertising budget!
While I'm still improving my “side hustle” game on a daily basis, I do feel like we succeeded in starting our blog the right way and got off to a good start..and it all happened in less than six months!! I credit my vision board, thankyouverymuch.
Ready to create your own vision board?
Now that I've inspired you to create a vision board, let me tell you how to do it. The key to a successful vision board is to focus on how you want to feel, not just on the materialistic things you want in life.
For example, I want to focus on feeling healthier and less stressed this year, so one of my vision boards contains images of hammocks by the beach and healthy, energizing meals.
TIP: Remain positive when selecting images for your vision board and choose inspiring images.
Learn how to create a powerful 2017 #visionboard in 5 simple steps. #goals #girlboss #tiptuesday Click To Tweet
Create a Vision Board in 5 Steps
Step 1: Determine the type of board you're going to create. Your vision board can be physical, virtual, or both! It's entirely up to you. Here are a few popular formats:
-Pinterest boards
-Posters
-Bulletin boards
-Art journals
-Screen savers
Step 2: Establish your vision. Do you want an all-encompassing vision board that covers every area of your life, or would you prefer to focus on a singular goal — such as fitness or work? I personally like to do both!
I have a bulletin board in my bedroom with goals for my entire life — including work, health, family, and more. It's the first thing I see each morning when I wake up, so those goals are reinforced daily.
I also have private vision boards on Pinterest for topics such as fitness and blog goals.
Above is an example of a poster board style vision board that focuses on healthy living. (photo source)
Step 3: Gather images. This is the fun part! It's also why I almost called this article “How Pinterest can Help you Succeed at Life”. For this step, you get to surf Pinterest and pin everything that fits within your vision!
I like to create two boards: one called “Idea Gathering” and one called “Vision Board”. Pin all of your random ideas onto the idea gathering board — and don't be stingy with your pins. If something calls out to you, just pin it! (My “750”, for example.) You can narrow your focus in the next step.
If you're creating a physical board, go through magazines and tear out anything that speaks to you (words or images).
TIP: Remember that your images should represent not only your goal, but also the emotions you'll feel once you reach your goal. Try to sit somewhere without any distractions while gathering images, so you can focus on what you're doing. Be open to creating the best vision possible for your life.
Step 4: Narrow your focus. Now that you have a Pinterest board full of ideas, you can begin the sorting process to see which ones speak to you most. Delete the comments on each one and instead place your own comment ranking each pin as a 1, 2, or 3 — based on how well it fits with your goal.
If you're creating a physical vision board, such as a poster or a journal, begin laying out your magazine scraps on your board. Remove anything that doesn't seem to fit your end goal or that draws your attention in a negative way.
Step 5: Create your collage. For a digital board, this is where you'll move all of your highest-rated pins to your final Pinterest “Vision Board” (then delete the “Idea Gathering” one). On a physical board, begin gluing or taping your items in place to finalize the layout.
Your board doesn't have to be neat at all; it can be random and messy if that's the look you prefer. Try doing a Google or Pinterest search for “vision board ideas”, and you'll pull up a whole slew of inspiring samples.
I hope these tips help you as you create your vision board for 2017! Remember — a vision board will provide a tangible image of your goals, so you'll be reminded of them each day. Place yours in a prominent spot where you'll see it frequently.
If you can include some tips or positive stories of your own, please let me know in the comments! To stay in touch, please sign up for our newsletter or follow our blog with Bloglovin'.
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You have totally inspired me to do one. I just started a gratitude/goal journal seriously yesterday lol but I do need a vision board! Shared on twitter 🙂
Thanks for sharing. I’ve done gratitude journals for years and definitely see a great value in those, too. They’ve made me a more positive person all around! Plus, it’s great to look back over them whenever I’m having a low day to realize all the wonderful blessings I have in my life. Have an incredible 2017! 🙂
I think I’m going to create a vision board for rooms in my new house. It will be interesting since I’ve never done anything like it before.
Pinterest is great for that! I love pinning home ideas — especially for dream kitchens and bathrooms. I hope the building process is going well for you two so far.
Love all your ideas. I’ve been creating vision boards for years, and 100% believe in their power.
Aren’t they fantastic?! I’m moving soon but it’s the one thing I refuse to pack until the last minute because I like looking at it every day.
Thank you SO much for posting this! I have been wanting to create a vision board for myself for 2017, because the last time I made one (end of last year) I put that I wanted to start a blog, visit New York, and backpack in Europe…and I accomplished all three! This definitely gives me the motivation to do another board, and these tips on how to create them are super helpful, especially since I tend to just go pell mell and throw random stuff into mine lol
xo
Ha! There’s nothing wrong with throwing random stuff on there. Sometimes I think it’s your subconscious telling you which direction you need to take in life. lol But that’s awesome that you got so many things accomplished last time you made one!
Vision boards have been SO helpful for my business! I’m working on mine for 2017 now. Thanks for the helpful suggestions! Pinterest has been hugely beneficial for me as well!
Good luck in 2017 Krista! I hope it’s your best year yet. 🙂 I just followed you on Pinterest so hopefully I can get some inspiration from you there. 🙂 It’s the best.
What an interesting way to think about it! I love this post! It is so inspiring to see people literally making their visions real. It’s such an amazing time to be a blogger– all the feels, girlfriend. All the feels! You go, girl!
All the feels right back atcha. 🙂 It is a fun time to be a blogger and it’s always a fun time to be positive and make things happen! Happy 2017 🙂
Great post! I think I’m going to commission myself to do a small scale vision board via pinterest! Thanks for the inspiration and the idea.
Go for it! It’s fun to watch your visions come to life (and also fun to play around on Pinterest. lol) Plus, the more active you are on Pinterest, the more you can drive traffic back to your own website — if you have one. So, it’s a win-win situation. 🙂
Such great info in this post. I love vision boards. They keep goals in sight and help keep you on track. Thanks for sharing the info on Alexa Rankings. I’ve never heard about those. About to check it out now. 🙂 Happy Holidays! Wishing you the best in 2017!
I agree. Vision boards help you to keep your eye on the prize. You’re welcome about the Alexa rankings. I don’t know that they’re all that important, but just another benchmark so you can see where you blog stands in relation to others. Sometimes companies look at the numbers when they’re considering sponsorships. Wishing you a happy, healthy, and incredible 2017!
I used to make vision boards and then I let Pinterest become my vision board. Maybe I’ll get back to the good old physical boards!
I do both. I really like seeing my vision board as soon as I wake up, but it’s nice to have secret ones on Pinterest, too. 🙂
I’ve been keeping a vision board for years and I am a huge believer! It’s hard to beat the feeling of seeing your dreams come true right before your eyes, literally. I love it. Thanks for this reminder, I need to update mine 🙂
So true! They’re awesome. Have fun updating yours!
I’ve never made a vision board but it seems like heading into a new year would be the perfect time to try it out. I was already planning on listing my goals so adding visuals could only help!
Sarah Jean || http://prettysimpleideas.com/
Yes, for sure! Now is the perfect time. If you have goals, then you can just tack your goal list right onto your vision board, then add some pics to support them if you want. Have an amazing 2017!
I’m a big fan of Pinterest. Sometimes I feel as if I organize my life on there!!! haha.
Hehe…it’s so addicting, isn’t it? 🙂
What a fantastic idea to create a vision board. Perfect idea for 2017. Pintrest is the perfect platform for this. Love love love this blog post.
Thanks so much! It was fun to write and the vision boards are always fun to create. I’m working on a new one for this year right now. Happy 2017!
I am just begging a new vision board, so the timing of me seeing this post is perfect. I truly believe vision boards work. The hubby and I created one just before we were married and we included a picture of a little girl and little boy for our future kids… fast forward 3 years and we have a 17 month old daughter and due in Feb for our little boy. Granted genetics had a lot to do with it too, but I think it’s pretty cool that our vision board came true. 🙂
That’s such a fun story. Congratulations on your baby girl and your upcoming addition to the family. I’m so happy for you! I think the vision boards work, too — I’m a fan!
Great posts, never thought of doing it on Pinterest, will give it a try out.
Thanks! Yes, Pinterest makes it easy. 🙂 Happy New Year!
I had created a vision board before but hadn’t thought of doing it on Pinterest. What a fab idea! Thank you.
You’re welcome. I’d use Pinterest for everything if I could. lol Happy New Year to you!
Vision boards are powerful, and I have mine placed so that I can see it daily. I love when it’s time to change it because things have already come to past. Love this post.
It’s so nice when something comes to fruition and you can look at the board and cheer like…”YES, I made that happen!!” 🙂
Wow! What a great post. I love your Christmas ghost analogy. I do vision boards as well. As an author, it really helps me to visualize the setting and tone
I love that analogy, too. (I can’t take credit for it) I hadn’t thought of doing it as an author, but that’s a unique take on it. I hope you have a great 2017!
Vision boards are essential if you are the creative type, like me. I can have so many ideas floating around in my head I need to get them down on paper or it just becomes one being chaotic headache! My vision board is just one way to keep me motivated towards reaching my goals, be it a room maker, a furniture project or putting together the “perfect” outfit!
Great Post!
Thanks, I’m glad you liked it. I have to agree with you because I’m super creative, too. I get so many ideas that I tend to be scatterbrained if I can’t find a way to contain them all and find a way to channel my energy. 🙂
This is a really great idea. I have heard of making physical vision boards but never thought of a digital one…..great idea!
Glad you liked it! The digital vision boards are easier (to me, at least), so they come in handy when you want to focus on a goal in a hurry.
Everyone needs a vision but what you focus on is the key.
Yes, for sure. “Where focus goes, energy flows…” 🙂
This is an awesome idea, thank you! I’ve been using this idea, but on such a smaller scale – usually in a smash book, or journal. I love the idea of putting it big in a highly visible place.
I’m off to start pinning!
You’re welcome! Glad you liked the idea. Any excuse to be on Pinterest is a good one, right? 😉
I LOVE The idea of a vision board. I have used Pinterest for sometime, but never really thought about a board like this. Thanks for sharing!
You bet! Have fun creating one and have an awesome 2017!
Great idea!! I can’t wait to start my vision board! And congrats on your Alexa rating!
Awesome! Have fun creating yours! And thanks re: the Alexa ranking. I don’t pay too much attention to it these days, but it was a fun goal for a while. Happy 2017 🙂
I love that I now have a great plan to create my vision board!
OK, I’m motivated to do this! I’ve been trying to lose weight this time for a while and fell off the wagon again. I like the idea of having the number 125 plastered in my kitchen everywhere and on my bathroom mirror to remind me of the weight I’d like to reach.
Thanks for the great ideas!
You’re welcome! Good luck on your weight loss journey! Just take it slow and steady and you’ll get there. 🙂 The best way to do it is to focus on living a healthy lifestyle (a healthy diet and at least 20 minutes of cardio each 4x per week), and the weight will come off as a side effect. 🙂
I pinned your 750 because it’s a great goal and like you, I like the bold black and white look. And I pinned it into a new board I just created called My Vision Board. Thanks.
That’s a great pin, Marie. 🙂 Enjoy your new vision board! I love your site, btw. 🙂
Love the idea! I definitely have several vision boards and they allow me to stay focused on my end goals and keep on dreaming!
I used to love Pinterest. Now, it is so full of promoted and picked for you pins, I cringe when I visit. I do pin my blog posts and blog technical things and posts of friends who need sharing. I may have to revisit my thinking on Pinterest.
Hi Lori! Follow this link and start reading about halfway down the article and she tells you a few different ways you can get rid of the promoted pins. 🙂 Then maybe you’ll enjoy your Pinterest experience more. 🙂 http://www.whiteglovesocialmedia.com/pinterest-consultant-remove-pins/
Fabulous! I have always wanted to do a vision board but it just never happened. Pinterest is such a great resource and way to do this digitally….love the idea!
I just finished my newest vision board and I realized I forgot to add things about a new career….LOL….but that’s about to be taken care of today!
Love this post! I just now started using Pinterest and am not quite sure how to use it. This gives me a place to start.
I really like this post. I love pinterest, but I have never thought of a visualization board outside of that. I think it is awesome you are progressing towards your goals and I love that you have been able to reach some so far!! 🙂
I have been thinking of creating a vision board for awhile but wasn’t sure if I should create a physical one or one on Pinterest. Thanks for the tips!
I love using pinterest but I never thought of making a vision board before… I just might have to try it! It never hurts to have a little more focus!
Hi Betsy! Yes, give it a shot! 🙂 It has worked really well for me. XOXO, Erin
i think, knowing me, that i would do mine (in different ways) on both Pinterest and “cutting pictures from magazines”…. 😀
Both work equally as well. I used to be a scrapbooker, so I love cutting paper and prefer that method, but Pinterest is definitely a timesaver. 🙂 XOXO, Erin
where you focus, energy flows for sure. Right now I am learning tip #4. Narrowing my focus. It is a huge battle. I had the idea that the more open I am, the better, but it has cost me a lot. Thanks
I’ve used vision boards in the past, but it’s been a long while since I’ve had one. My kids are at a great age to introduce them to the idea as well. Thanks for such an exciting, inspiring post!
I never thought about comparing social media to A Christmas Carol, but it makes so much sense! That was awesome! I am definitely a big fan of vision boards and I think you make excellent points. They are so helpful for blogs, events (the one I made for my wedding was sooo helpful!), and even just for inspiration. Plus, it’s always fun to have a legitimate reason to be on Pinterest! 🙂
Right, Maegan?! I love any legitimate excuse to be on Pinterest. lol Have a great week! XOXO, Erin
Vision Board are great and it is true… what you focus on expands. Great post!
Thanks Michanda! XOXO, Erin
I appreciate the way you described what a vision board is, why I would want one, and how to get started with one.
Thanks for commenting, Georgia! Have a great week. 🙂 XOXO, Erin
Fantastic article! Congrats on your ranking. I have never used pinterest for my blog but will be looking into this for visioning purposes. Great post, thank you for sharing some tips and thoughts on this subject.
Pinterest is love! Very nice post! I’m happy you reached your goal and are setting new ones as you progress!
Pinterest IS love! 🙂 That’s exactly how I feel about it! XOXO, Erin
Great description of vision boards! It is super easy to create a hidden or public vision board in Pinterest and keep it updated. It’s much better than having to cut things out of magazines and paste them on a board!
Yes, and it’s a great excuse to be on Pinterest! 🙂 lol Have a great weekend! XOXO, Erin
WOW! Thank you for a very informative post. I am going to pay more attention to my vision.. and Pinterest. : ) Super post.
Thanks Jeanie! See it…then make it happen. 🙂 XOXO, Erin
I haven’t created a vision board yet, though I’ve heard about them. Thank you for inspiring me to go ahead and create my own vision board! I can see how this can be a way of setting (and reaching) goals and making plans for the future. I enjoyed your post!
Thanks, Wendy. Have fun making yours. It’s so much fun putting them together!:) Have a great weekend! XOXO, Erin
What a great idea to start a vision board. I’m not very tech savvy, so mine may have to be a cork board with pictures. 😉 This would be great to do as a family.
Great job in reaching your blogging goals. Good wishes that it continues 🙂
Thank you, Trudie! The one I created on a regular ol’ bulletin board is my favorite one. I see it every day as soon as I wake up and it’s very inspiring. Thank you for the well wishes. <3 XOXO, Erin
Awesome! I love Pinterest! I used one for deciding whic direction I wanted to go in my brand!
That’s what I’m doing, too, Aly. Trying to finalize a logo as I type this! 🙂 I love your logo, btw. Your whole site looks fantastic! Have a great weekend. XOXO, Erin
Great post. I have too many journals and dislike doing real collages. So I plan to do the Pinterest collage. Thanks.
I loved using Pinterest to create a vision of what I wanted our new apartment to look like when we moved. I had a lot of ideas and when we finally moved, all I had to do was go to Pinterest to make my vision a reality.
Seeing a visual of a goal is such a motivator! It also feels great to check something off a list when you’ve accomplished it. 🙂
I agree 100% Deanna! Thanks for stopping by and for commenting. XOXO, Erin
Great, detailed post! Vision boards are great to implement. Thanks for mentioning that the boards should also focus on how you feel. I tend to neglect that part when I create a board. It’s a good reminder. Glad to see you achieved your 750 vision. Also, nice idea about your Blogelina welcome at the bottom of your post.
Thanks for visiting, Teresa! I think that’s one of the most important pieces of the puzzle–to focus on how you want to feel instead of just on the superficial things. 🙂 XOXO, Erin
I have a book about Creative Visualization, which follows this same way of thinking. You have to see it before it becomes a reality.
I love that you have incorporated Pinterest for this concept. The idea that Pinterest in itself can be the Vision Board is also a great concept.
It frees up time and space to make your Vision Board virtual.
I agree…virtual vision boards on Pinterest can be a huge time saver. That is, until you get sucked into the vortex of Pinterest and can’t escape. 🙂 It’s addicting! XOXO, Erin
I definitely see my Pinterest as a vision board. I have so many pins it would take a hundred lifetimes to accomplish it all! But it is extremely helpful to me to keep me on track and to inspire. If I lack an idea I just jump on my Pinterest boards and have a look-see. It’s hard not to spend your day just looking around for ideas!
It would take a hundred lifetimes for me, too. But that’s why I create the private vision boards that are very focused and defined on one singular topic. Those help me to narrow my focus. For example, my blog vision board right now is all about having a logo designed and that’s where I’m currently focusing my energy. 🙂 XOXO, Erin
Way to go on reaching your blog goals like this! I think this type of inspiration/goal setting works especially well for visually oriented people.
I agree, and I’m 99.5% visually oriented. 🙂 Thanks for commenting! Have a great week. XOXO, Erin
What a great idea and a really great tutorial. While I have goals that swim around in my head, I never really thought to put them up visually. That makes a lot of sense and something I’ll ruminate on for a bit about how I can make that happen. Thanks for the tips!
Never thought of Pinterest as a vision board, but I guess you’re right. I tend to pin things that interest me and I have already created secret boards that are more focused and like vision boards.
Hi Erlene. Thanks for commenting! I think it’s good to have a clear vision of what you want, and sometimes a secret Pinterest board is just the way to make it happen. 🙂 Have a great week! XOXO, Erin
Dear Erin,
I really love this article! I believe in the importance of Vision Boards but never thought of using Pinterest as a means of creating one. Brilliant idea!
Would love for you to share this at our Inspire Me Monday and/or Friendship Friday Party at Create With Joy!
Have an amazing week and thanks for participating in the Blogelina Commentatathon! 🙂
Awww, thank you so much! I’d love to share it. 🙂 I hope you have a fantastic week, too! XOXO, Erin