Many people swear by the power of vision boarding – from businessmen to, yes, some psychologists.
It’s because our brains love visuals. A vision board represents goals and aspirations. It’s typically a collection of images, inspirational quotes, and other visuals that motivate a person to reach his goal.
Vision boards aren’t a magic bullet but can serve as a reminder of our dreams and help keep us focused.
At Earnest Learning, we take this activity up a notch and present an action-driven alternative: the “vision-to-action” board. This option is a more structured roadmap that includes intentional budgeting and saving to keep you on track to achieve your financial goals.
It's a tool we recommend when adopting the goal-based money management approach we call save without missing out or “SWOMO.”
To read more about “SWOMO,” click here.
So, how do you create a “vision-to-action” board?
Understand your purpose
First, clarify what truly matters to you.
Ask yourself what success and happiness mean to you. Is it providing your family with the best life possible? Is it having enriching experiences and exploring new countries and cultures.
Knowing your “why” will guide your decisions and actions. Your purpose serves as a compass for the goals you ultimately set.
Define meaningful goals
Understanding your purpose allows you to set and organize all your goals.
You can define goals by category – personal growth, relationships, security, etc. – and determine which are achievable in the near or long term. Remember, these should still reflect what fulfills you.
For example, you define your purpose as giving your family a better life. This may include goals like taking them on their first international trip this year, buying a new home in five years, and staying healthy so you remain a good provider.
This exercise makes goal-setting more meaningful and saving for them more intentional, which in turn leads to financial mindfulness and better money management.
Identify the right mindset, habits, and daily actions
Knowing the steps to bring you closer to your purpose-driven goals is key to the “vision-to-action” board.
For example, what does it take to buy your dream house while taking your family overseas?
This could mean adopting a “live within your means” mindset, goal-based budgeting, saving – including setting up sinking funds for each goal – and even upskilling to earn a promotion at work.
When forming new habits, there are tools you can use. You can use apps and excel sheets to record your finances better. Earnest Learning has its budget tracker here! Staying on top of deals and promotions you can take advantage of can also give you a head start when saving up for your goals.
Now, the fun part
Once you understand your purpose, organize goals, and identify the proper steps, it’s time to make an actual “vision-to-action” board.
You can be as creative as you want in crafting it. Add images that represent your goals and steps, motivational quotes, and personal notes about why all this matters. You can consider physical or digital boards.
Here’s a tip! Put the steps you must take beside or close to the goals they’re meant for, so the “vision-to-action” board appears like a structured plan.
We encourage you to check your vision boards regularly. Review the goals you have achieved, how far you are from realizing all the others, and whether there are new ones to add.
Being guided by goals helps you plan your finances better and allows you to turn your visions to actions.
We talk more finances in our free Earnest e-Book.
Disclaimer: This article is for general information purposes and does not constitute formal financial advice. Always do further research before making financial decisions.