How to Create a Vision Board Step by Step (With Prompts + Ideas)

Creating a vision board is about clarity, direction, and choosing what actually matters to you.

This step by step guide will show you how to create a vision board that actually works, with reflection prompts and practical ideas you can use right away.

If you’ve ever felt inspired… then overwhelmed… this is for you 🤗

I’ve been creating vision boards since 2012, saving each year’s prep work and final board. Looking through them this morning, I felt emotional, empowered, and deeply inspired.

So for my vision board for 2026, I’m sharing the exact process behind it, so you can create yours with intention and turn that clarity into sustainable action throughout the year.

“Dreams do not work unless you do”. 

Below, you’ll find a step-by-step guide to creating a vision board that becomes a daily reminder of who you’re becoming and the goals you’re committed to. Consistency is the key. 

Trust the process, and stay open to miracles – they happen too!

2025: The Year You Built Yourself

Before stepping into 2026, let’s work on 2025.

Grab a notebook. Draw a long horizontal line. Divide it into 12 sections, one for each month.

Now check your calendar and your camera roll, month by month, to recall important memories. Accomplishments, events, experiences, key people… Everything that made you feel great, and the disappointments and failures that shaped you.

I also check my notes. Throughout the year, I write down what I’m grateful for, along with moments of disappointment, sadness, or frustration. I like to put my thoughts on paper when I feel stuck or discouraged. It helps me release the emotion before reconnecting with trust.

I truly believe that everything happens for a reason. There’s always something to learn, or a form of protection we don’t see yet. Even when it doesn’t feel like it, I believe we’re always in the right place. Sometimes we need to experience this because this is the only path to what we really want.

As you go through all your memories, write down the most important moments, month by month.

I personally color-code my timeline:
• Red or Pink for successes
• Blue or black for meaningful moments that felt good
• Light blue for failures or challenges
• Yellow highlighter for extraordinary moments – things like winning 2 nights in Puerto Vallarta playing Bingo (my grandma’s favorite game… I truly felt she made me win!) or being upgraded to Qsuite on our way to the Maldives!

You just need to start writing the first things down, then the rest will flow. You’ll be surprised!

By the end, you’ll have all your key moments from 2025 right in front of you. And now, we’re ready to begin the real work.

Step 1: Connect With All The Best From 2025

This step is about recognition, gratitude, and self-trust.

Start by writing down 3 things that went well in 2025 and that you want to bring into 2026.
Then take your time with the reflections below.

Reflection prompts

1. What am I most proud of from 2025? Looking at all my accomplishments, how did they make me feel?
2. How did I make THE difference this past year? Where did my work actually impact people?
3. How did I inspire without trying?
4. What habits supported me the most?
5. Who and what added the most value to my life this past year?
6. What am I grateful for?
7. I celebrate myself for…
8. Next year, I want to feel…

Pause after each answer. Let it land.
This step builds the self trust you’ll need for everything that comes next.

Step 2: What Did 2025 Teach You?

This step is about honesty, awareness, and release.

Write down 3 things that didn’t go well or as expected in 2025.
Then reflect on each one, slowly and without judgment.

Reflection prompts

1. How did this make me feel?
2. What challenged me the most? 
3. What did it teach me?
4. What held me back? Habits, beliefs, patterns, expectations…
5. What do I want to release, let go of, or complete before moving forward?
6. Missed opportunities I’m now aware of: … Things I didn’t do, postponed, or avoided.
7. I lacked in… (Areas that need growth, for example: planning, setting boundaries, consistency, rest, clarity…)
8. I’m done being…
9. Given everything I lived in 2025, who am I becoming? 

Sit with your answers. This step clears the space for what’s next.

⭐ YOUR WORD FOR 2026

Choose one word that represents:
• The energy you’re stepping into
• What you’re ready to allow
• How you want to move through the year

Examples of words or theme: Inspire, Elevate, Intentional, Focused, Grounded, Aligned, Disciplined, Fulfilled, Successful, Complete…

Let this word guide your vision board, and your choices.

Step 3: Stepping Into 2026

Now it’s time to look forward.

Start by identifying the areas of your life that matter most to you.
Choose only what’s truly important. Less is more.

Examples:
– Career
– Wealth & Finances
– Creativity
– Wellness
– Health & Fitness
– Mental health
– Spirituality
– Relationships
– Family
– Home
– Travel
– Time & Lifestyle
– Personal growth

From this list, focus on 3 to 5 areas max.

1. For each chosen area, write 3 statements (not goals). Write them as if they’ve already happened and be specific, emotional, and grounded in reality.
   For example, under Travel, I wrote:
   “I partnered with 12 Tourism Boards in 2026 and I’m super excited to explore new places around the world!!!”
   “I’m getting paid to do what I love the most: discovering hidden gems with locals, experiencing wellness retreats, trying new sport & activities, and sharing my firsthand tips with you!”
   “I’m deeply grateful that I always travel in first class. My flights feel safe, cocooned, and truly pampering, and I never feel jet-lagged.”
2. Add at least 3 concrete actions that support those statements.
   For example, I wrote:
   – Research countries I want to visit in 2026 and why they align with my passions
   – Study Tourism Board websites to understand what they’re promoting and why it could matter to my audience
   – Find the right contacts and send at least 3 pitches per week, with follow-ups
3. Add up to 10 whimsical bucket list items you’d like to experience this year
4. Your 3-Year Vision.
   Now imagine yourself 3 years from now. Write it as if it’s already happening. Let yourself dream without editing.
   – Where am I living
   – What does my daily routine look like
   – Who is in my life
   – How do I feel about my work
   – How do I feel in my body
   – How do my relationships feel
5. Work Backwards.
   Looking at that 3-year vision, ask yourself:
   – What do I need to do each year to reach this version of my life?
   – What needs to happen in 2026 to stay on track
   The more specific your goals, the easier they are to achieve them! Specificity doesn’t mean pressure. It means clarity. This is how big dreams turn into reality..
6. Actions for This Year. Now ground everything in the present.
   What specific actions I’m taking THIS YEAR in each important area?
   Think: Habits, Systems, Commitments, Boundaries, Small actions repeated often.
7. Choose the Energy of 2026.
   2026 needs to feel like … Choose one word.
8. Affirmation: “I am …”
9. Final Exercise: write a letter from “Current Me” to “January 2027 Me“

Your Vision Board Is About Identity, Not Just Goals

Before choosing images, ask yourself this: Who am I becoming?

Not what you want to achieve, not what you want to buy.
How does this version of you move through the day?
How does she/he take care of herself/himself?
How does her/his life feel at any given time?

The most powerful vision boards reflect identity first.
Goals follow naturally.

Set Your Goals for 2026

Now that you’ve reflected and visualized, it’s time to set clear, grounded goals.

Draw a vertical line on your notebook to create two columns. Both matter!

• Left Column: Realistic, actionable, and specific goals. Small, daily habits that build consistency
• Right Column: Your “reach for the stars” dreams. Big visions. What feels exciting and expansive and scary you – IF THEY DON’T SCARE YOU, THEY ARE NOT BIG ENOUGH!

Vision Board Ideas for 2026

A vision board works best when it reflects the areas of life that matter most to you.

Here are a few vision board ideas to help you get started:

• Career vision board ideas
Projects you want to work on, income goals, creative freedom, recognition, balance.

• Wellness vision board ideas
Energy, movement, rest, nourishment, mental clarity, how you want to feel in your body.

• Travel vision board ideas
Destinations, slow travel moments, experiences, how you want to move through the world.

• Relationships vision board ideas
Connection, communication, quality time, support, community.

• Financial vision board ideas
Stability, ease, abundance, freedom, aligned spending.

Choose images that don’t just look good, but mean something to you.

Create Your Vision Board

Now the most fun and creative part 🥰

Start by searching for quotes, pictures, and images that inspire you. You can use magazines, personal photos, or digital tools. If it helps, I’ve also created a Pinterest board with ideas for you!

Do not underestimate the power of personal photos: moments that made you feel proud, calm, alive, or deeply connected. These images carry emotional memory, not just inspiration.

The purpose of each image is to evoke a feeling, an identity, or a value you want to embody. If an image doesn’t make you feel something, it doesn’t belong on your vision board, no matter how beautiful it is.

You can also look for words or short phrases that inspire you, like:
Travel the World, Wander, Magic, Calm, Confidence, Energy, Ease, Presence, Freedom, Breathe, Feeling good, In my Fulfilled Era, CEO, Millionaire.

I usually start by creating a few collage pages on Canva with all the images I’m drawn to.
Then:

• Print ALL your favorite images. You won’t use them all.
• Cut and paste the most inspiring ones onto cardboard, canvas, or paperboard.
• Assemble your vision board intuitively. There’s no right layout.

Once it’s ready, place your 2026 vision board somewhere you’ll see it every single day. In the morning, choose one image and ask yourself: What’s one small action today that aligns with this?

Optional and powerful – I do this all the time:
– Create also a digital version of your vision board
– Use it as a screensaver on your phone and computer

Revisit and Realign

Every 3 months, come back to your vision board. Take time to reconnect with your goals, celebrate progress, review what still feels aligned, and adjust what no longer does.

Growth is not linear. Consistency is the magic.

Turn Your Goals Into Action!!!

Your vision board sets the direction, now it’s time to turn intention into execution. This is where things become real.

ChatGPT or Gemini can help you break big goals into clear, actionable plans so you don’t feel overwhelmed or stuck.
Below are simple prompts you can copy and paste to support your goals throughout the year.

Step 1: Get Everything Out of Your Head

Take a photo of each page you wrote and upload it, then use this prompt:
“Can you please type everything out for me?”
This creates clarity, and a clean starting point.

Step 2: Turn Thoughts Into Clear Goals

Once everything is typed out, use this prompt:
“Based on everything I shared, can you ask me any follow up questions you need to really nail down my 2026 personal and professional goals? Help me turn them into goals that are specific, measurable, and time bound.”
Let the questions guide you and keep brainstorming.

Step 3: Lock the Goals In

When you’re ready, use this prompt:
“This is great. Now we’re ready with the assets. Let’s go back to the work we were doing before I answered all your questions. Can you now help me nail down my 2026 personal and professional goals, turning them into specific, measurable, and time bound achievements?”
This is where vision becomes structure.

Step 4: Make Your Goals Fit Your Real Life

Now it’s time to ground everything in reality. Use this prompt:

“Based on my goals for 2026, help me adjust and optimize my current schedule so it truly supports what I want to build, without burning out. Here is my current weekly schedule : [insert days, time blocks, work, rest, commitments – be as specific as possible].

Please help me:
• Identify the most important habits that will support these goals
• Translate those habits into realistic daily and weekly actions
• Adjust my schedule so these habits actually fit
• Flag what might be unsustainable or unnecessary
• Suggest a version of my week that balances growth, focus, rest, and creativity

My priority is consistency over intensity, and building momentum without burnout.”

Step 5: Refine and Revisit

Revisit the first draft you get and adjust it so it truly fits your life. Then use this final prompt:

“I’ve revisited your first draft in a way that works best for my lifestyle.
[Copy and paste your updated schedule].
Can you perfect it, making sure I get [specific hours for specific tasks] each week?
Am I missing anything?”

This is an ongoing conversation, not a one time setup. Keep the back and forth going until your weekly, monthly, and yearly schedule feels aligned, realistic, and inspiring.

How to Use Your Vision Board Daily

A vision board becomes powerful when you interact with it.

Try this:
• Look at it every morning, even for a few seconds
• Choose one small action each day that aligns with it
• Let it guide decisions, not pressure them
• Update it when your goals evolve

Your vision board is not a contract.
It’s a compass.

Vision Board FAQ

2026 Is Your Year!

Take time to reflect, dream big, and take small, consistent steps toward your goals. Your vision board is your daily reminder of who you’re becoming and what you’re capable of building.

Stay connected to it.
Revisit it often.
Adjust when needed.

And if you create a vision board using this process, share it with us. I’d LOVE to see what you’re working toward!