By Lori Huertas
In a conversation about goal setting, Oprah Winfrey once said, “It’s not the view so much as the vision.” Developing such a vision can be done by creating a vision board. This is a visual representation of images and words that represent the things you want out of life.
Common sections of vision boards include career, personal life, spiritual life, financial life, and health. Beyond reminding you constantly of your goals for 2021, a vision board can be a fun way to spice up your dorm room or even your room back home.
Having a vision board can help Barry University students get clarity on what they really want, map out their goals visually, and connect with peers who have similar goals.
Here are some easy steps to create a virtual vision board:
1. While you’re in the process, playing relaxing music may help draw out your inspiration. This music can help keep you calm and focused as you map out what you want your life to look like. It can make the experience serene.
“Music has always been a matter of Energy to me, a question of Fuel. Sentimental people call it Inspiration, but what they really mean is Fuel. I have always needed Fuel. I am a serious consumer,”said Hunter S. Thompson, an American journalist that encouraged readers to set goals and dream.
In this sense, music and vision boards go hand in hand to motivate you to pursue your goals. Vision boards act as a GPS, which points you in the direction you want your life to go. 2. Keep in mind that this is not homework. Grab a cup of tea and smile, as this activity is meant to be a stress reliver. This is an opportunity to be creative and put ideas from your mind and soul on paper. Although pre-COVID-19 students would use a poster board, for a virtual vision board, all you need to do to begin is create a new Microsoft Word document.
3. Write down your categories, along with as many goals as you would like for each. Here is an example:
Career
Try to get a job on campus.
Personal Life
Make new friends by attending more on-campus events.
Spiritual Life
Dedicate one hour per day to meditation.
Financial Life
Put $50 each month into a savings account.
Health
Eat at least one healthy meal per day.
4. Search for images on Google, Instagram or other social media platforms that depict what you want to represent on your virtual vision board. Pre-COVID-19 students would cut and paste these images from a magazine. However, you can copy and paste these from the Internet to your Word document. For example, a student aspiring to be a nurse could include a photograph of a nurse smiling in her white coat.
5. When you’ve represented all your goals in the document, print it out and hang it up in a place where you will see it each day. This will serve as a reminder of the goals you are working to achieve.
If you are still unsure of how to get started, try using the Smart Goal system. Smart Goals are a tool that many students use to conduct research. It serves as a reminder that the goals should be specific, measurable, achievable, realistic and timely.
Want to see some examples? Click here.