Why Your Vision Board Needs a Reality Check (Sorry, Not Sorry!)

It’s officially vision board season, I’m talking Bristol Boards, magazine cutouts, glue sticks, glitter and Drake-level quotes/captions that are meant to manifest our dreams. Don't get me wrong - I love a good crafting session with my girls, but here's the thing: vision boards alone won't get you where you want to go.

Oop, somebody had to say it!

The No-Nonsense Truth About Vision Boards

Vision boards are like dating profiles - they show the dream, but not the work needed to make it happen. They hold it down when it comes to setting intentions and getting crystal clear on what you want. But then what? Most of us stuff them in the closet or hide them behind our bedroom door, never to be seen again until next year's vision board party.

Why Your Dreams Need More Than Pretty Pictures

• Vision boards tap into visualization - great! But visualization without action is just daydreaming

• Most people create them and forget about them (guilty as charged!)

• They don't include the nitty-gritty steps needed for actual achievement

• They can create a false sense of progress

Level Up Your Vision Board, a Success Strategy

Please don’t read this hater-ass post and be like “cancel the vision boards, now!”*

No, boo… do your thing. Here's how to level up your vision board game, though:

1. Choose 3-5 “main goals”, bite off what you can chew because you can always go back for seconds once you clear your plate

2. Break down each vision into SMART goals (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound)

3. ACCOUNTABILITY: Create monthly milestone check-ins (pop them in your phone calendar - right now!)

4. Develop a detailed action plan for each goal (think baby steps, not giant leaps: what’s one thing you can do today that has the potential to get you closer to your goal?)

5. Check out my Digital Planning Tools and Planner Stickers to find something that allows you to dive deeper into choice areas

The Action Plan Glow-Up

For each vision board item, ask yourself:

• What's one tiny step I can take today?

• What resources or skills do I need?

• Who can help or mentor me?

• What potential obstacles might pop up and how can I avoid/mitigate for them ahead of time?

The real secret sauce: combine your vision board with a detailed action plan. Display both side by side where you'll see them daily.

Your vision board becomes your "why," while your action plan becomes your "how."

Make It Work (For Real Though)

Want to keep that vision board energy alive? Try these tips:

• Take a photo of your vision board and make it your phone wallpaper

• Create a digital version in a program like Canva and set it as your desktop background **

• Set monthly calendar reminders to review your goals and progress, this is serious

• Join an accountability group or find a friend you can check in with regularly

Dreams without action are just wishes. Change equals change, same equals same. Your vision board can be a powerful tool if you pair it with consistent motion.

Oh, and don’t forget to be nice to yourself.

*Do I have that kind of power and influence?? Lol

**Can I be the one to say it? Traditional vision boards are ugly. Unless you’re a 12 year old girl with matching room decor, but you’re probably a grown woman, like me.