Wanderbrush

From the moment I have had access to the internet, there has been one website that has been a constant from middle school to my post graduate adult life, Pinterest. From starting my barn and chevron chic wedding board on my family’s desktop in 2014 to using it as my main social media platform in 2025, Pinterest has been like a good friend throughout many of my formative years. It has introduced me to various hobbies, uncovered hidden gems when planning my travel itineraries, and has provided an aesthetic lens in which I view even the mundane things in life. 

All of that to say, I love Pinterest, and one of my favorite uses of Pinterest comes at the top of each year – curating my vision board. For as long as I can remember, I have always loved curating my ‘vision’ at the crest of the upcoming year. I know the thought of New Year’s resolutions or a fresh slate of a new year can be eye rolling to some, but as I have barrelled through my young adult years, I have come to greatly appreciate the breath of fresh air that a new year can bring. I am a planner, so I have always relished in planning out the next year of my life from goals of self improvement, vacations, and major events. There is something exhilarating about cracking open a new planner and creating a new board that signals the start of a new year. 

As a part of the routine this year, I decided to bring my vision board out of its digital realm and make use of the many stickers, magazines, and craft supplies I have had stored. I had some friends over on a gloomy Sunday afternoon, made some food, and armed us all with glue sticks and a stack of early 2000s Southern Living magazines. 

Below I have outlined my tips to create a successful vision board, either digital or physical. Now this version of success will be different to everyone. Some of my friends were very intricate with their boards and curated a detailed storyboard of their lives for the next year and some just went with the flow and cut and pasted pictures and words that called to them when flipping through the vibrant colored magazine spreads. Both ways are right! The short of all of my craft advice is simple: if you are having fun, you are doing it right. 

Now let’s dive into my tips for curating your New Year vision board: 

1. Gather Those Glue Sticks! 

• One of my favorite parts of making vision boards is getting to release my inner child with cutting and pasting pictures and words in a collage format. You do not need many materials to get started, all you need is a board or piece of paper, a couple magazines you can pull inspiration from, scissors, and a glue stick. Of course, you also need your creative thinking. The bare bones of making a board is quite simple, once you gather these items, you are already 90% there. 
  • *Bonus Tip* to help seal in your pictures and writing, use Mod Podge to seal your board upon completion

2. Let Expectations Go and Intentions Flow

• The idea of making specific goals and resolutions can be a daunting task in and of itself. When crafting your board, focus on your intentions and the energy you want to attract going into the New Year rather than crafting a board around specific goals. Setting goals and resolutions are wonderful, but likely these can feel like a mountain of responsibility if you do not already have an idea of what you want to accomplish for the coming year. When I create my boards, I usually gravitate my pictures to photos that capture the things I am excited for in the near future, such as the idea of spring and the earth coming back to life or the idea of being more intentional with nurturing my relationships with friends. Once you start the beginnings of your board with a base of your intentions, the rest can flow with ease. 

3. Keep the Energy High! 

• This might sound like a no-brainer, but keep the energy light and positive when you choose a time to sit down and create your board. Invite friends over, put on your favorite show, listen to an uplifting playlist, make your favorite drink. The atmosphere in which you work on your board helps keep the vibe light and fun and in turn helps infuse that energy to your vision board. This is a no pressure time to find the joy, peace, and excitement as you look forward into the next year. 

4. Be Open to Change

• As we know, life changes and evolves everyday. Be open to your vision board evolving as well. Throughout the year, feel free to add photos, words, and affirmations as they become relevant. It is totally normal for goals to change as we evolve and adjust as the year progresses. Take your vision board as an added opportunity to embrace the change that occurs throughout the year. 

5. Make It Visible 

• Once your vision board is complete, place it somewhere you’ll see it every day! Whether it’s above your desk, by your bed, or on your bathroom mirror, place your creation in an intentional place. This constant reminder will help keep you focused and motivated. This will also help remind you that one bad day will not ruin the overall success of a year. 

Finally, the most important tip on this list is simple: get out of your head and have fun! In so many aspects of our life, we strive for perfection. In reality, life is full of change and can be wonderfully and not wonderfully messy. Let your vision board embody this attitude of embracing what is to come in the upcoming year with renewed energy. 

Happy 2025 everyone, let’s embrace the beauty and uncertainty of what is yet to come.