How to Use a Vision Board to Improve Your Life

We’re specifically talking about using a vision board in our bullet journals but the same method applies and you can create one just as big or as small as you’d like!

We’re going to talk about creating a vision board journal.

What is that you say?

Well…..

Do you ever spend time thinking that you’d like to improve your life but you’re not sure how? Or you have goals but you’re just not sure how to achieve them?

I always see destinations on Pinterest that I would love to visit someday and now I’ve decided that someday is too far away.  I need to stop dreaming and start doing.

A vision board is a great way to organize future goals and plans.

It’s a way to visualize the things that you want to accomplish or the dreams that you have.

Stick with me and I’ll share with you some ideas and examples of how to create a vision board in your bullet journal and be one step closer to living your best life.

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What is a Vision Board?

Well a vision board is just what it sounds like – a visual tool that shows your goals and dreams.

It can be as simple as a poster with a quote that makes you feel positive.  It can be as complex as a long term life plan.  You can have one vision board or multiple vision boards with a different theme for each one.

You are basically putting together a collage of places, things and words that inspire you.

For me it’s going to be a lot of dream travel, but my board also includes some daily mindfulness and some big career goals that I’m working toward.

Your vision board journal should be full of inspiration and motivation that drives you toward reaching your goals. It should be a collection of words and images that make you feel excited when you look at them.

A vision board can be as small or as big as you make it and I’m going to show you how to create one in your bullet journal so that it can be a part of your daily planner.

You can also make a digital vision board or a poster size board that you hang up in your home or office. Figure out which one is going to work the best for you and your lifestyle and let’s get to it.

How to Create a Vision Board Journal

If you’re just starting a bullet journal be sure to check out our Crash Course!

Before I start creating a new vision board journal, I like to spend some time reviewing my past goals and plans.  This reflection helps me to see what I’ve accomplished already and review where I’m at on meeting my goals.

Some of my goals are now bigger than my last vision board.  Some of my goals are no longer relevant and some are different than past goals.  Life is full of surprises and I love to see when I’ve crushed a goal beyond my wildest dreams.

If I didn’t reach a goal, I like to spend some time thinking about why I didn’t reach it and if I need to rethink the goal or just the process.  Some things in life will certainly take longer to achieve and others will come much quicker so it’s a good time for an assessment.

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What to Include on a Vision Board

A vision board should be positive and affirming. 

It’s much easier to get your mind around a positive thought than a negative one and we want to pull in all the positive energy that we can.

Instead of “losing weight” what if we focused on eating healthy, exercising and feeling positive? 

The actual goal is to lose weight but finding a positive way to think about the goal will put you in a better mindset to achieve it.

This year I changed my goal to focus on being healthier.

I’m going to try to spend less time focused on the number on the scale.  I believe that if I’m consistent in the other categories that the weight loss will be a result of it.

I definitely need some motivation to wrap my head around this goal so I’m looking for lots of inspiration to help me!

You can have multiple vision boards or multiple categories on one vision board.  I like to focus on personal, career and dream life but you can break that down even further if you’d like.  Many people include a health category but I keep those goals under personal.

Here are a few categories to consider:

• Health and Fitness
• Relationships (family, parenting, social, romantic)
• Career Goals
• Finances
• Travel
• Dream Life or Future Life

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Vision Board Journal Supplies

The supplies that you need will depend on whether you’re planning to sketch your vision board into your journal or you’re planning to cut out photo’s and glue them into your journal.

There is not right or wrong way to complete this.

This is your vision board and it’s going to be different from my vision board.  And it’s going to be different from every other vision board that you see.

It’s based on your life goals and dreams.

There are a few things that you’ll need:

• A Bullet Journal Notebook
• A pencil for sketching your rough outline
• Micro pens for writing
• Brush pens for fancy lettering
• Glue stick or glue dots  if you’re using photos
• Scissors if you’re using photos

Other creative things to use:

• Washi Tape
• Scrapbook Paper
• Stickers

Creating a Vision Board in Your Journal

Now we’re going to talk about how to create your vision board inside your bullet journal.  I like to use a 2 or 4 page spread for my journal.  It usually depends on the time of year. 

At the beginning of the  year I will use a 4 page spread but I might make a smaller one mid-year where I get a little more granular on the steps toward my goal.

This year one of my big goals is to be more intentional.  I want to focus on being intentional with my time, my energy and my mindset.  For now I’m adding it to my vision board journal as an idea but as I move further into the year I may recognize some more specific areas that I need refocus more of my energy on.

At that point I might make another vision board that’s a little more specific to my goals.

If you’re use a journal or planner regularly and have any kind of trackers in your journal then you’re already halfway there on creating a vision board. A vision board is just a larger overview of what you want to achieve. The trackers are the accountability to achieve those plans and dreams.

Getting Started

It’s best to gather all of your inspiration before you start on your vision board journal. You’ll want to sort and categorize it before you add it into your journal so that you can place it in the best way for inspiration.

If you’re cutting and gluing keep moving your photos and words around until they fit and feel right to you.  If you’re drawing you might want to jot down all the things that you want to include before you start your rough sketch.

Remember – you want your vision board to be clear and concise. This isn’t the best time to include a lot of flowery embellishments. Your topics should be bright and clear and grab your attention when you look at them.

Benefits of a Vision Board

Remember that your life goes where your thoughts lead so a vision board journal can help you in a variety of ways.

• Visualize your future
• Set and Achieve Goals
• Make Decisions
• Focus
• Motivate

When you paint a picture of your future and what you want it to look like it helps you define the goals and steps to progress toward it. Imagine what your life would look like if your budget was unlimited. Or your time was unlimited.

Picture your perfect life and find images that resonate with that picture in your head.

Getting a visual picture will help you make decisions when you’re faced with a dilemma.  
Does it align with your goals and future self?

The pictures and affirmations will help motivate you and focus on your end goal. Having a sunny beach for my screen saver reminds me not to waste time browsing online for things I don’t need. Instead I see my screen saver and remember that a vacation is in my future and that’s where my money should be going.

Use Your Vision Board Journal

Like any good plan, if you don’t display your vision board where you’ll see it, you probably won’t use it.

The reason a vision board journal works for me is that I’ve always got my planner with me.  Adding a vision board to it means that it’s nearby at all times.  The key is to be sure that yours has a tab or cut out so that you open to it regularly.

Now you can focus on your big dreams and aspirations and you’ll be surprised how your mind comes up with ways to achieve them!

So what are your big goals and dreams?  What are you including on your vision board?  Share your thoughts in the comments below so we can cheer you on!

Follow us on Pinterest and on Instagram for lot’s more ideas and inspiration!