How to Make a Vision Board that Actually Works in 2026

We spend so much time worrying about the future, but how often do we actually take the time to plan it? It’s all too easy to feel like life is slipping past you without a plan. One of the best ways to combat this is by creating a vision board.

Creating a vision board isn’t just a fun Sunday craft. Vision boards are visual representations that serve as your daily reminder of who you are, what you value, and what you aspire to achieve. Some even say vision boards are a way to “manifest success.”

It’s about taking those abstract dreams of financial freedom, productivity, and happiness and turning them into a concrete, visual reality that you can’t ignore. Today, we’re moving past the vague “one day” and getting clear on the values and ambitions that define your best self.

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Step 1: Reflect

Before you look at any images, you have to get straight on your “why.” This is all about aligning you actions with your values. Ask yourself:

• What makes you feel successful?
• What makes you feel upset?
• What goals have you achieved?
• Which goals are you still working toward?

Now that you’ve got an idea of where you stand, visualize where you want to go.

• What does your ideal year look like?
• What are you doing on a typical day?
• Who are you spending time with?
• What values are you living by?

This reflection will help you nail down your goals, priorities, and values for the year ahead, and now you’re ready to get creating.

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Step 2: Choose Your Medium

This is where your motivation meets your lifestyle. You have two main options when it comes to creating your vision board: digital or physical.

1. Digital: For those who live the laptop lifestyle, try using Canva or another graphic design software. With a digital vision board, you’ll simply collect photos, text, and graphics that match your vision and arrange them to create a desktop or phone wallpaper. Perfect for the woman on the go.
2. Physical: For the artsy type, try the classic approach that mimics scrapbooking. You’ll need some scissors, cardboard, glue, and lots of inspiration, whether in the form of printed photos, text, and graphics or magazine cuttings, to glue to your board.

Whichever route you choose, be sure to place your board in a spot that you’ll see each day. For a digital vision board, make it your phone wallpaper or add a photo widget to your home screen. For a physical one, pin it to your wall or the back of your door where you’ll see it. This way you can be sure you’re getting the visual reminder of your goals and values each day.

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Step 3: Curate with Intention

Now get creating. When choosing your photos, text, and graphics for your vision board, it’s important to get specific. Your goals and values are deep and nuanced, and your board should represent that.

• Don’t just pin a million dollars; pin the side hustle that gets you there.
• Don’t just pin “fitness”; pin the 15-minute walk that recharges you.
• Don’t just pin a stack of books; pin the nighttime reading routine that helps you reach your goal.

Each image you include on your vision board should be strategically chosen to curate a unique, motivating board that speaks to your vision for your future.

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Next Steps

Remember, a vision board only works if you see it. Place it somewhere obvious, where it can help you avoid complacency and remind you what you’re working toward every day.

Your vision board is a powerful start toward achieving your goals and living by your values, but it’s your daily actions that turn those dreams into reality. Look at your board each day, train your brain to search for opportunities, and get a little bit better each day.

I’m rooting for you in 2026 🙂

Actionable Tip: Look at your board every Sunday night to help identify your “most important to-do list tasks” for the week ahead that align with your vision board goals.