Resolutions Vs Intentions? It doesn’t matter with a Vision Board.

Are you in the resolutions camp, intentions camp, or another camp entirely?

I don’t believe it’s as black and white as resolutions vs. intentions vs. any other camp.

It is about taking an approach that works for us and committing to act in areas that matter to us as individuals. 

It’s about knowing ourselves, what makes us tick, and what works for us, and ideally, taking a wellbeing-led approach to choosing our priorities. 

Resolutions never work…for me.

I stopped making New Year's resolutions a long time ago in favour of a more intentional and holistic approach. Not because I couldn’t be bothered or I was not interested in developing myself or making changes in my life, but because they didn’t work for me. 

I always set too many or was too specific or ambitious.  Or, they related more to what I thought they should be – go to the gym three times a week, eat clean, and so on - rather than what I needed and wanted.  I can see now I was taking a narrow impersonal perspective, and my approach wasn’t setting me up for success - so I rarely sustained my resolutions.    

I’m not alone in this resolution struggle.

Most people don’t sustain their resolutions beyond February.  This isn’t that surprising because i) they can be made quickly without consideration of our bigger picture and ii) it can take up to a year (sometimes more) to form new habits depending on the goal and our circumstances. 

In our on-demand culture, most of us expect to crack things quickly so when life takes our attention elsewhere and/or momentum wains we can give up, often believing we can’t or are no good at whatever we are trying to do.  This in turn can dent our self-esteem and confidence.   

Now I’m not calling for an end to resolutions.  If they work for you and you enjoy the process of making and working on them then that’s great.  I’m all for the person-centred approach, and the adage “if it ain’t broke don’t fix it”.

I also know personal growth is important to our success and wellbeing, and working towards goals is an important part of this.  But I will say there is a tool that can also support your success with your resolutions, just like it can support those of us who have abandoned resolutions altogether.   A Vision Board.

Vision Boards, Burnout, and Me

Each year I now reflect on the year past, check in with myself, and create a Vision Board as part of my ongoing commitment to live my life intentionally, in alignment with who I am, my values, and what nurtures my wellness, fulfilment, and impact.   Through this process, my priorities, intentions, and goals emerge. 

This approach, and using my Vision Board throughout the year, has had a profoundly positive impact on me and my ability to make changes, achieve goals, and have a positive impact through my work.   

I was introduced to Vision Boards when I was recovering from burnout and figuring out how to rejuvenate my wellbeing and nurture a sustainable self. 

If I’m honest, I was a bit skeptical.  They seemed a bit woo-woo for my practical solution-focused mind, and I know if I’d been asked just a year or so earlier to go to a Vision Board Workshop my response (embarrassingly) would not have been positive.   

However, I was burnt out, I wasn’t in a good place, and I was open to trying anything to move me forward.  I also realised that what had got me to where I was, was not what was going to get me out of there.  

I’m very glad I did. 

Since that first workshop, I have been making and using a Vision Board every year.  2025’s will be my ninth.  And, making my board is now one of my absolute favourite experiences of my year.

The detail and richness of what I capture on my board have grown as I gradually gained greater knowledge of myself, what makes me tick, and my burnout recovery.

At the same time, my understanding and appreciation of the power and potential of Vision Boards has skyrocketed.    

They are now an essential part of my toolkit for life, business, and burnout prevention.

I’m such a reformed skeptic I quickly started introducing them to clients and now I’m on a mission to help as many people as possible discover, create, and benefit from this simple but impactful tool.

But what is a Vision Board?

If you haven’t heard of it before, a Vision Board is a collage that visually captures your vision for your life in the year ahead. 

On it you capture images and words to illustrate what matters to you, how you want to live and work, what you want to invite in, and what you’d like to experience and achieve. 

It is a highly impactful visualisation and accountability tool that can help you:

·       clarify your priorities and set goals;

·       stay focused and achieve your goals;

·       make decisions and navigate the highs and lows of life and work; and

·       strike a healthier and happier balance between work, rest, and play.  

(And who wouldn’t want a better work/life balance or blend!)

It’s also a fun and, if created alongside others, great social experience that offers the opportunity to connect and get to know each other in different ways.  

What are the benefits of Vision Boards?

Vision Boards are a highly accessible tool.  They are simple to make and use, pocket-friendly, and almost anyone can add them to their toolkit. 

And, you certainly don’t need to be creative, crafty, or artistic. 

While they can be particularly helpful at times of uncertainty, change, and/or challenge you can start at any age, stage, or point in the year.

But why bother?  Yes, they have helped me but what can they really help you to do?   

1.      Manage your Mind: your board can help you cut through the noise, provide a positive perspective, and help you feel grounded and motivated.

2.      Navigate Life: your board can help guide decision-making, support time management, and enable you to feel more in control.

3.      Achieve your Goals: your board can help you connect and clarify what matters most, set priorities, intentions, and goals, and support you to stay focused, take action, and achieve your goals.

4.      Thrive by Design: your board can assist you in unlocking your potential for wellbeing, fulfilment, and impact, energise, and improve your work/life balance or blend. 

But, the only way you will see and feel how a Vision Board can benefit you is to create and use one for yourself.      

So, whether you are in the resolutions camp, intentions camp, or another camp entirely, why not add creating and using a Vision Board to your plans for 2025?  

It might be the best resolution/intention/goal you ever set yourself.