This is how you set your New Year's resolutions (and actually stick to them)
It seems like the same song every year. We tell ourselves that this is the year those kilos will finally come off, the shed will be cleaned up, and time and again you resolutely wipe the layer of dust off the stack of books you’ve wanted to read for years. Yet, our ambitious plans often fall apart by mid-January. Well, those New Year’s resolutions are just easier said than done. Are you, like me, looking for a way to document your resolutions and actually stick to them? Maybe creating a vision board is something for you.
A vision board is a collage of images and short texts that represent your dreams and goals. Creating such a collage can help you visualize the future you would like to have. The positive emotions and optimism that visualizing your dreams brings you would, according to research, help create new opportunities and it can even increase your chances of success. Are you sold yet? Here’s how to start your own vision board:
Set your goals
What do you want to achieve in the coming year in terms of your career, finances, love, or health? Maybe you want to meet the love of your life, make a career switch, or save a certain amount of money. Whatever it is, make sure you are clear about where you want to be around this time next year.
Set priorities
Of course, we all want to get rich, live in a penthouse in New York, and adopt the workout routine of a Victoria’s Secret model, but if you want to achieve your goals, it’s smarter to be realistic. Ask yourself what you can really achieve in a year. This way, you won’t get lost in a sea of ideal images.
Look for photos that relate to your goals
Going through Instagram, Pinterest, or just a good old stack of magazines is my personal favorite part of this project. Look for images and texts that relate to your resolutions. Don’t just go for images that you find pretty, but choose images that evoke a positive emotion in you. This way, you get into the mindset of how it feels to have achieved your goal, which research shows helps you reach that goal faster.
Create your vision board
Once you’ve gathered all your images, you can start on your collage. This can be done online using a program like Canva, but I personally prefer to craft one myself. This way, your vision board is truly yours. Click here for examples of different vision boards.
Place your vision board somewhere you’ll see it every day
If all goes well, you now have a vision board that you’re proud of. The only thing left to do is to put it in a place where you can look at it every day. Research shows that daily interaction with your goals helps you achieve them faster. For example, make it your wallpaper on your laptop or hang it (like I did) in your bedroom. Success guaranteed!
Source: Psychology Today
