How to Make a 2026 Vision Board That Doesn’t Get Shoved in a Drawer
Keep reading this post to learn:
What a vision board actually is (hint: it’s not just woo-woo fluff)
My step-by-step method for creating one (with examples!)
The 4 key tips to actually use your vision board all year long
The real reason I re-made mine halfway through 2025 (and why you might want to do the same)
WE DID IT! We made it to the third and final episode in the 2026 Best Year Ever Workshop series! 🥹✨
If you haven’t tuned into Episodes 298 and 299 yet, definitely go back and listen to those first. This episode builds on everything we’ve covered so far, and it’s all about how to make a vision board you’ll actually use.
So many people feel overwhelmed or even roll their eyes at the idea of vision boards (I used to be one of them!). But when I learned how to make one that was actually rooted in vision, not pressure, fluff, or unrealistic expectations, everything changed.
Let’s dive into how to create a vision board that won’t end up shoved in a drawer somewhere.
But First, What Is the Best Year Ever Workshop?
The Best Year Ever Workshop is our free 3-part experience to help you:
Reflect on 2025 and get your mind right for the new year (Part 1)
Create meaningful 2026 goals that fit your season of life (Part 2)
Make a vision board you’ll actually use (this post!)
You can join the workshop for free at jessicamassey.com/bestyearever and follow along in your Peacefully Productive Planner.
What Is a Vision Board (Really)?
Let’s clear something up: a vision board isn’t a “woo-woo” dream collage or a manifestation hack. It’s a tool to keep what you're working toward front and center so you stay focused, connected, and grounded in your values.
There’s no one right way to make one — poster board, Canva template, magazine clippings, digital doodles, but if it keeps your vision visible and aligned, you’re doing it right 🙌
Pro tip: If your vision board no longer feels aligned mid-year, ditch it and start fresh. No guilt needed.
What You’ll Need
☁️ Your 2026 word of the year
📋 Your goals for the coming year
💡 Your personal value statements
✨ Optional: long-term goals (3–5–10 years)
👏🏼 Bonus: Hustle Sanely Vision Board Template (just $7!)
My 8-Step Vision Board Process
Here’s exactly how I make a vision board that I actually use throughout the year (not just January!):
1. Choose Your Timeline
Yearly, quarterly, or monthly? I prefer yearly to see the big picture, but do what supports your brain and your season.
2. Decide Your Format
Digital or physical? I make mine in Canva, print it, laminate it, and tape it inside my Peacefully Productive Planner™ (plus I keep another copy with my morning routine tools).
3. Add Your Word of the Year
Use your goals to find a theme or ask:
What’s the thread between these goals?
How do I want to feel as I pursue them?
Examples of my past words: Flourish, Refine, Surrender, Expansion 💫
4. Add Your Anchor Verse (or Inspiring Quote)
I pick a Bible verse that supports my word and season. For 2025, mine is 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18. If you're not faith-based, a meaningful quote works beautifully too.
5. Include Your Personal Values
This keeps your why front and center. For example:
“I am a calm and present wife and mom cultivating a peaceful home.”
“I am the confident CEO of Hustle Sanely® who operates with impact and ease.”
6. Organize by Category
This keeps your goals clear and not visually overwhelming. I use the same categories as in the Peacefully Productive Planner™:
Personal well-being
Physical health
Spaces
Vocation
Finances + giving
Relationships + family
7. Type Out Your Goals (Yes, Really)
Photos alone don’t keep me motivated, so I type each goal under the corresponding category.
8. Add Meaningful Images
I mix photos from my real life with a few Pinterest images that spark joy. Just a few, I want clarity, not clutter!
✨ Optional: Add Long-Term Goals to the Back
In 2025, I typed up 11 long-term goals and added them to the back of my laminated board, no fluff, no aesthetic, just vision. I love referencing these regularly to align daily decisions with my big-picture dreams.
4 Tips for How to Actually Use Your Vision Board
You made the vision board… now what? Here’s how to get the most out of it:
01. Use Process-Oriented Imagery
Instead of just the end goal, include pictures of you doing the work. (Ex: Instead of a bestsellers badge, use a photo of yourself writing at your desk.)
02. Inject Emotion
Use personal photos when possible! You’re more likely to stay connected to a board that feels like your life, not just a Pinterest dream.
03. Keep It Visible
Out of sight = out of mind. Keep it where you’ll see it regularly, I pull mine out 4x/week during my mental health hygiene routine.
04. Audit & Adjust
If something no longer fits your season, pivot! You’re allowed to remake your board mid-year (I did in 2025!), it’s a tool, not a contract.
What’s Next: Finish the Best Year Ever Workshop
🎉 This episode wraps up Part 1 of the Best Year Ever Workshop!
Here’s what’s next:
📓 Part 2: Complete the Vision Meeting in your planner
(BFFs get access to 2 co-working Zoom sessions!)
Dec 3: Vision Meeting
Dec 10: Vision Board Party
💻 Part 3: Join the Live Q+A Coaching Session
🗓️ December 11 from 12–1 PM EST
Ask anything about setting up your 2026 Peacefully Productive Planner™
Replay available to all registered!
✨ Sign up and get access here: jessicamassey.com/bestyearever
Want to See My 2025 Vision Board?
Here’s a peek! 👀
Ready to Create Your Own Vision Board?
🛒 Shop the 2026 Planner Collection
📋 Vision Board Canva Template ($7!)
💖 ILYSM and I’ll talk to you next week for our final episode of the year 🎉
📲 Did you find this helpful? Screenshot this post, share it to your IG stories, and tag @jessmmassey and @hustlesanely so we can cheer you on!
Shop our planners & journals designed to help you trade burnout for a peacefully productive life ☁️✨
Loved this blog post? Tune into the full podcast episode below!
