Your guide to making a vision board for 2026 

The first time I created a vision board was at the start of 2021. It was a simple digital collage — a few images I’d downloaded from Google and arranged on Canva. I didn’t have a long list of goals, just a handful of clear intentions. By the end of that year, every one of them had come to life! Needless to say, I felt incredibly accomplished.  

Four years later, vision boarding has become an annual New Year ritual for me. Full disclosure: not every dream I’ve pinned up has fully blossomed, but each board still serves as a visual reminder of what I’m working towards and who I am becoming.  

Interestingly, this practice that feels so personal to me has become a global phenomenon. Vision board parties, retreats and Pinterest-worthy prompts are everywhere, but the idea isn’t new.  

Vision boarding gained traction in the early woos, thanks to the bestseller self-help book The Secret by Rhonda Byrne, though ‘creative visualisation’ was already a thing in the 196os, and some trace its roots as far back as early civilisations, when people used imagery and symbols to focus their thoughts.  

So, what exactly are vision boards? And why do they work?

Decoding vision boards  

Digital coaching platform BetterUp describes vision boards as “collections of images, drawings and other visuals arranged together to represent your goals and ambitions”. Think of it as a visual mission statement — a collage that captures not only what you want to achieve, but how you want to feel while achieving it.  

You can create one for the year ahead or map out two- to five-year plans. You can even design a separate one for different aspects of your life —career, relationships, wellness, creativity. You can go old-school and make it on cardboard, but with Canva, making a digital version is easy (plus it makes a great phone wallpaper).  

The mechanics 

According to HuffPost, vision boarding is rooted in visualisation. Many experts say that visualisation is one of the most powerful mind exercises one can harness. Olympic athletes have used it for years. 

As The Secret states: “The Law of Attraction is forming your entire life experience, and it is doing that through your thoughts. When you are visualising, you are emitting a powerful frequency out into the universe.” 

“Vision boards anchor you to the reality you are moving towards, a visual depiction of who you know you can become,” says life coach and long-time vision boarder Brooke Nolly in a Stuff magazine article. “Every time you look at it, there should be a sense of alignment: “This is what I’m moving towards’ If something feels off, delete or change it.” 

Pinning down purpose 

When crafting your vision board, it is important to not only pin pictures of your dream job and corner office but also prioritise fulfilment. “Your vision board should focus on how you want to feel, not just on things you want,” said whole-living expert Elizabeth Rider on HuffPost. 

Life goals, especially career goals, often focus on what you want – more money, more status, more recognition. But personal fulfilment asks why… Why do you want it? What about it excites you? 

This is where a vision board can help. Instead of filling it with material milestones, include visuals that reflect feelings — joy, balance, freedom, impact, curiosity, excitement. Use words, images and even textures that represent how you want your life to feel. “You can’t be what you can’t see,” Brooke reminds us. Visualisation is not magic— it’s a form of clarity. When you can see your future self clearly, you begin to make small, intentional choices that move you closer to that vision.