I’ve spent the last decade creating a vision board for the coming year + a word of the year. This year, however, I am going for a combination of Vision & Action Board.
Action boards are the new vision boards and I believe it’s about using the science of how the brain works to make your dreams come true. If you create an action board, look at it daily and visualise it coming true, this tracks images to your subconscious and primes your brain to grasp opportunities that may otherwise have passed you by. Add in doing something each day, no matter how small, to move you towards your goal you’ll be transforming abundance thinking into reality.
Below I share a breakdown of vision boards and action boards, along with how they differ:
VISION BOARD
Focus: A vision board is a visual representation of your dreams and goals. It’s filled with images, quotes, and affirmations that inspire you and motivate you.
Purpose: It helps you to visualise your desired future, creating a clear mental picture of what you want to achieve.
Benefits:
- Boosts motivation and positivity
- Align your thoughts and actions with your goals
- Sparks creativity and inspiration
- Enhances focus and determination
ACTION BOARD
Focus: An action board takes your vision board to the next level by adding concrete steps and deadlines to achieve your goals. It’s a combination of a vision board and a to-do list.
Purpose: It turns your dreams into actionable plans and helps you stay organised and focused on your goals.
Benefits:
- Break down goals into manageable steps
- Provides structure and accountability
- Increases productivity and efficiency
- Helps you track your progress and celebrate your achievements
KEY DIFFERENCES
Level of Detail: Vision boards are more broad and aspirational, while action boards are more specific and actionable.
Focus: Vision boards focus on the end goal, while action boards focus on the steps to get there.
Timeframe: Vision boards are often long-term, while action boards are more short-term and focused on the present.
IT’S TIME TO TAKE YOUR VISION BOARD TO THE NEXT LEVEL AND THIS IS HOW:
1. Write a list of goals for the coming year
Your action board is going to be posted on your wall for a year, so try and make your goals sound realistic and actionable, and encompass all aspects of your life – particularly your business.
2. Choose images that correspond to your specific goals
Personally, I go over to Pinterest for some inspiration and to add a few to my curated personal photos and magazine cut-outs. There’s no single rule on how to choose the right images, so long as they can easily be identified once you begin to add “action” texts on them. The images don’t have to be the specific objects you’re aiming to have, but something that perfectly represents your goals. Once you’ve selected your images, arrange them on a board in a collage. Just make sure you can easily identify each image for when you finally add text to it.
3. Add The “Action” Texts On The Photos
Make the “actions” brief. You don’t need to add the objectives of each goal you’re planning to tackle – just the bare essentials. You can use paper cut-outs or you may opt to write directly on the photos using a marker pen, careful that the images are not completely obscured.
HOW TO USE AN ACTION BOARD:
Now that you’ve successfully made your action board, it’s time to make it work.
1. Mount the board on your wall
Pick the side of the room where you can easily see your action board in passing or just when you’re about to retire at night.
2. Spend time with it through meditation
You’ll need to visualise your goals every time you spend time looking at them, preferably first thing in the morning and before you sleep at night. An action board works like a vision board in the sense that it stimulates your mind and allows the Law of Attraction to help manifest your goals. When you’re in a meditative mood, don’t forget to remind yourself of the call to action that you’ve written on each image on the board. Seize each day with the thought of accomplishing your goals, one step at a time.
3. Tick off the images of your goals that you’ve accomplished
Finally, you can easily track your progress towards your goal by ticking off or crossing out those that you’ve managed to achieve. In a way, it will look like you’re marking off a bingo card, which adds to the excitement of tackling your goals.
As soon as all your goals have been ticked off for the year (congratulations!), you’re going to need a new action board with entirely new goals. Repeat the process and soon it’s going to be easier the second time around. I tend to make two boards a year – one for each half. Through my life experiences, I’ve learned that life happens when we’re busy making plans and through that process, we grow and evolve a lot so the intentions and goals we set at the beginning of the year may not be relatable halfway through the year.
20 In-Depth Journaling Prompts for Curating Your Yearly Vision & Action Board
- Reflect on the Past Year: What were your biggest wins and accomplishments last year? What lessons did you learn from the challenges you faced?
- Core Values Assessment: What values are most important to you right now? How do you want these values to guide your decisions and goals this year?
- Defining Your Vision: Imagine it’s the end of the year. What would a successful, fulfilling year look like for you? What do you see, hear, and feel?
- Personal Aspirations: What aspects of your personal life (e.g., relationships, health, hobbies) do you want to elevate this year?
- Professional Goals: What achievements would make you feel proud in your career or business? What steps will help you reach them?
- Lifestyle Choices: What kind of lifestyle are you working towards? Describe the environment, daily routines, and habits you want to cultivate.
- Passions & Creativity: What creative outlets or hobbies bring you joy? How can you integrate more of them into your year?
- Health & Wellness: What does thriving in your physical and mental health look like? What habits or changes will support this?
- Growth & Learning: What skills, knowledge, or experiences do you want to gain this year? How will they shape your future?
- Financial Vision: What financial milestones are you aiming for? How can you align your spending and saving habits with these goals?
- Relationships & Connection: What type of relationships do you want to nurture or build this year? What actions will strengthen these connections?
- Decluttering & Simplification: What can you let go of (physical, emotional, or mental clutter) to make space for the life you want to create?
- Time Management & Priorities: What are your top priorities this year? How can you ensure your schedule reflects these priorities?
- Inspirations & Role Models: Who inspires you and why? How can you channel their qualities into your own life and goals?
- Overcoming Obstacles: What fears, doubts, or barriers might hold you back this year? How can you navigate or overcome them?
- Embracing Joy & Fun: What activities or experiences make you feel truly alive? How will you incorporate more of them into your year?
- Your Ideal Week: If you could design your perfect week, what would it include? How can you bring elements of that into your current routine?
- Visualising Success: Close your eyes and visualise your action board. What images, words, or themes resonate with your goals?
- Intentional Habits: What daily, weekly, or monthly habits will move you closer to your vision? How will you track your progress?
- Your Year’s Motto: If this year had a motto or guiding phrase, what would it be? How can you keep this at the forefront of your journey?
These prompts can help you dive deep into your desires, reflect on your aspirations, and map out meaningful steps to turn your vision into reality.
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