How To Make A Vision Board To Create Your Dream Life

If you want to create your dream life, you need to be able to envision it! One of the best ways to bring your goals to life is through a vision board. 

Whether you’re focusing on your own personal growth, career aspirations, or lifestyle changes, vision boards are a great tool to visualize the bigger picture. 

Knowing how to make a vision board that actually works is the first step to creating your dream life. So let’s dig into what a vision board is, and how to create an effective one that helps you start achieving the big goals and dreams that you have on your heart!

What is a Vision Board?

A vision board is a tangible representation of your goals, dreams, and desires. Whether you’re aiming for career success, better health, or a more fulfilling personal life, a vision board helps you see the bigger picture so that you can stay committed to your path.

Vision boards can be created physically by using materials like a poster board and magazine clippings, or digitally on your computer, phone, or tablet. Each method is a powerful visual tool to keep you on track. 

A digital vision board allows you to organize your goals online, with the flexibility to change things as your aspirations shift. You can even create multiple digital boards for different areas of your life. This makes it easy to adjust your vision as you grow.

woman standing in an open field

On the other hand, a physical vision board is a screen-free and hands-on way to engage with your goals that acts as a constant, tangible reminder of what you’re working toward.

A vision board is different from a vision map. Vision maps provide you with specific checkpoints and actionable steps that guide you through the process of achieving your goals. While a vision board offers a visual representation of your goal and helps you focus on the bigger picture, a vision map breaks down the journey into smaller, manageable milestones.

Do Vision Boards Actually Work?

This is the big question that everyone wants to know the answer to! Do vision boards really work? 

The short answer is yes, but only if you are willing to put in some hard work.

A vision board by itself is not a magic solution that will suddenly make your dreams come true. Instead, a vision board is a tool that you can use to help you focus on what matters most in your life. 

But it’s important to remember that it’s the actions you take that will turn your dreams into reality. 

Think of your vision board as a great tool for reinforcing your intentions. When you see your dream board every day, you’re subconsciously programming your mind to pursue your goals.

Science even supports the idea that visualizing success can lead to better outcomes. By focusing on the visual representations of your goal, you align your thoughts and actions with the things you want most. 

The more you see these images, the more likely you are to make decisions that bring you closer to achieving them. 

However, vision boards are not a “set it and forget it” tool. Instead, a vision board is a living thing that evolves with you as you grow, so it requires consistent effort. 

It is important to revisit your board on a daily basis and adjust your actions to stay aligned with your vision.

gluing vision board materials

Ideas for Your Vision Board

Before you begin creating your vision board, it’s helpful to do a brain dump of everything you want to achieve. This can be anything from personal growth goals to career success, relationships, health, or even boosting your spiritual well-being.

Once you’ve listed everything, you can start finding visual representations of your goal that align with your desires.

Here are some ideas for different areas you can focus on when designing your vision board:

1. Career Goals

If advancing your career is one of your big goals, consider including images or words that represent success, leadership, or professional growth. You might want to add visuals related to networking, promotions, or even a new job if you’re looking for a career change.

My recommendation is to add a few of your favorite dream job affirmations to help give your vision board an inspiring and empowering voice!

2. Personal Development Goals

Vision boards are also perfect for visualizing your personal development journey and the individual goals you have for your life. Include motivational quotes or images that inspire a growth mindset, like personal achievements, learning opportunities you have faced, and tools for self-care.

3. Health and Wellness

If improving your health is a priority, find images that symbolize vitality and well-being. This could include fitness goals, healthy eating, or mental wellness practices. 

One of the best things you can include that supports your health and wellness is a representation of the healthy habits you envision yourself having in the future.

By keeping these visual representations of your goal on your vision board, you’re more likely to take steps toward better health on a daily basis.

4. Lifestyle and Relationships

If your vision for your future includes deep, meaningful relationships or a vibrant social life, you may wish to include images of community, family, or romance to help you stay focused on nurturing these connections. 

A vision board helps you identify the different ways to grow your relationships and create a lifestyle that brings you joy.

5. Spiritual and Mental Growth

Vision boards can also serve as a guide for internal growth. If your spiritual and mental growth are areas that you would like represented on your vision board, include visuals that represent peace, mindfulness, or connection to your purpose

Use positive affirmations and personal mantras that foster a sense of calm and well-being to remind you to stay grounded.

How to Make a Vision Board

Are you ready to create your own vision board? Here’s how to make a vision board that you can start using right now!

1. Set Your Goals

Remember, your personal vision board should be unique and reflect your own individual goals. In this first step, spend some time thinking about your life and what you want for yourself. What does your dream life look like? 
Do a brain dump of everything you want in your life. Don’t hold back! Aim big, get crazy, and let yourself dream about what your ideal life would look like. 

List all the big goals and small dreams that come to mind. This process helps clear your mind and ensures that you have a comprehensive list of what you want to work toward.

2. Gather Your Materials

After focusing on goal setting, you are ready to start gathering materials for the board that is going to keep you moving in the right direction toward your goals, even when life might pull you in a different direction.

For a physical vision board, you’ll need a poster board, scissors, magazines, glue, and markers. 

For a digital vision board, choose a platform like Canva, Pinterest, or any graphic design software that allows you to create collages. 

Get our favorite collection of vision board materials here!

various supplies for vision boards

As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases at no additional cost to you.

3. Find Your Visuals, Quotes, and Affirmations

The next step is to start collecting quotes, vision board affirmations, and images that you will include on your digital vision board.

For a physical vision board, you can use magazine clippings, photos, or printed images. if you are creating a digital vision board online, you can use online images or upload your own!

Use our collection of positive affirmations and inspiring quotes to add some motivation and inspiration to your masterpiece!

4. Organize Your Board

Arrange the visuals on your poster board or digital platform in a way that feels aligned with your goals. You might want to categorize your board based on different life areas (for example: career, relationships, health, etc.), or mix everything together to show how it all connects to the bigger picture.

Get creative, have fun, and make something that is a reflection of your personality!

When you are ready, glue or tape all of your items down to create your vision board!

5. Make It a Living Thing

Once you have created your personal vision board, the hard work is far from over!

As your goals change, so should your vision board. Allow it to evolve as a living thing that grows with you. Don’t hesitate to add, remove, or rearrange images and words as your dreams shift or new opportunities arise.

Remember your vision board isn’t just a poster to look at. Instead, it’s a tool that should be used to help you reach your goals!

6. Review It Daily

To make your vision board work, be sure to spend some time reviewing it and reflecting on a daily basis. Reviewing your vision board every day keeps you focused on the next step and serves as a constant reminder to take action. When you keep your goals front and center, you’re more likely to achieve them!

Using Your Vision Board to Create Your Dream Life

Vision boards are a great tool to help you stay on track with your goal setting so that you can move forward toward your dreams. 

Whether you’re using a physical vision board or a digital vision board, the key to success is using it consistently. Let your board inspire and motivate you to take that next step, no matter how small. 

Your vision board is a powerful reminder that with focus, hard work, and intention, you can turn your dreams into a reality that you create.

Don’t just create your vision board. Use it! 

Let it be a constant reminder of your big goals to help you move in the right direction toward your dream life each and every day!

Need more ideas? Check out our ideas for vision boards to get started!

Ready to get started? Try throwing a vision board party with your closest friends and get inspired together!

Don’t forget to share this post, and photos of your own vision board, with your friends and family on social media! If you know someone who is building a vision board, this could be what they need to start reaching their goals!


Recommended for you

a young woman listening to a vinyl record spinning on a record player

15 Best Pieces of Life Advice in Taylor Swift Lyrics

JordanMar 8, 2025
Use these 15 gems of life advice in Taylor Swift lyrics to break free from your limiting beliefs and step into the life you want to live.
a simple spring vision board with the words bloom where you are planted

Ready to Bloom? How a Spring Vision Board Can Change Your Life

CassandraMar 1, 2025
A spring vision board is a fun way to stay motivated this season by channeling some of that new year’s motivation from earlier in the year!
a cherry blossom branch

Happy First Day Of Spring! 5 Ways to Celebrate New Beginnings

JordanFeb 27, 2025
Happy first day of spring! It’s the perfect season for a fresh mindset, a new routine, or just an excuse to soak up the sunshine!
10 books that will change your life

10 Books That Will Change Your Life (and How They Changed Mine)

JordanFeb 22, 2025
Use this list of 10 books that will change your life to shift your mindset, inspire action, and create lasting change!
a woman presenting at a TED talk

10 Must-Watch TED Talks That Will Change Your Life

JordanFeb 9, 2025
Use this list of 10 must-watch TED Talks that will change your life to reach those big goals and dreams that you have on your heart!
a woman looking out over the ocean

How to Change Your Life by Letting Go of What’s Holding You Back

CassandraFeb 8, 2025
You have the power to break free from what’s holding you back. Learn how to change your life by letting go!