With the advent of a new year, I’m making a lot of new changes in my life. I’m quitting my job without having another one waiting (scary!), forming a chapter of a national non-profit organization (exciting!), and starting a book club with friends (fun!). This is in addition to juggling my current commitments, activities, and responsibilities. I’m also taking on a challenge to run/walk 1000 miles in the year 2017. For those who don’t math, that’s a tad over 19 miles a week.  This is mostly to make sure I get my butt off the couch and exercise. Challenges are good for me.

With all of this going on, I felt the need to do a vision board. A vision board is a collection of images and inspiring words that represent what you want in your life. How you en”vision” your life, as it were. A vision board can represent your year, month, season, or any other time period you like. For me, once a year is good – I can always add to it, if necessary. 

Here’s how to do your own vision board. First: Collect your supplies. This includes a base such as a piece of paper, poster board, foam board or a canvas. It doesn’t have to be fancy in order to be effective.  There is a good chance you have something in your house already that you can use! You will also need printed images and words, scissors, and glue sticks.

To find images and words, you can cut them out of magazines or print out pictures from the Internet. The Internet is particularly useful if you have a specific image in mind. In my case, one of my goals is to form a local chapter of a national organization called Days for Girls (www.daysforgirls.org). My best bet to get an image for this goal is directly from their website. Once you have your images, start gluing them onto your base in a way that works for you. Here’s mine:

When you are choosing images, please keep in mind that they are representative of what you want to in your life – not an exact or literal image. For example, I am not longing for an old-fashioned typewriter in my life. Heck, I learned to type on a typewriter more modern than the one on my board! However, I do want to start my own blog in 2017 and the typewriter represents that (It’s also red, which is a good thing.)

Once your board is completed, place it somewhere you will see it on a regular basis. This will serve as a constant reminder of your goals and desires, keeping them in the forefront of your mind and encouraging you to work towards them. Mine is posted in my bathroom where I will see it on a daily basis. You can also take a picture of your board and make it the wallpaper on your computer or phone, further reminding you to work towards your goals.

Now, just doing a vision board doesn’t magically make all of your dreams come true. What it does is help you focus on what you want to bring into your life.  Don’t be surprised if some of the items on this vision board reappear on your next vision board. That’s okay. But don’t be surprised at what you accomplish!

Kellie is a Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES) who loves to bake…and eat. She strives to reach a balance among the three with healthy habits most of the time with the occasional splurge. The struggle is real. So real. Part of that balance is training for and participating in half marathons.  She also strives to improve health through creativity – in whatever form that works. Currently this includes baking (see above), scrapbooking, journal writing, and a brand new herb garden.