Unlocking Your Retirement Dreams: the Power of Vision Boards
I was probably in middle school at the time. I had a stack of old magazines and catalogs in front of me and would peruse through them finding pretty things or places and cut them out. I’d find phrases or words that resonated and cut those out as well. Then I’d paste them to a posterboard and make a collage. It was fun to find images of places I’d like to visit, pretty things I’d like to have, and words that were empowering.
Little did I know then that what I was actually doing was creating a vision board.
Vision boards are used by many people as a way to set goals. By intentionally finding images and words and arranging them all in one place, the result is a visual representation of all that a person wishes to accomplish.
Visualizing results is not uncommon. Athletes are famous for it. For example, before performing a routine, a gymnast will imagine the entire floor exercise in their mind, practicing the flips and “watching” themselves stick a landing. Jack Nicklaus used visualization to help him prepare and win at golf.
As it turns out, there is real science to back this up. Dr. Tara Swart, a neuroscientist, author, and MIT professor, sums it up in this CNBC article, “Looking at images on a vision board primes the brain to grasp opportunities that may otherwise go unnoticed because the brain has a process called ‘value tagging,’ which imprints important things onto your subconscious. The brain assigns a higher ‘value’ to images than written words on a to-do list, and the more you look at those images, the more those images move up in importance.”
If you google the words, vision board, you’ll find much about the topic. It might even bring you down a rabbit hole of other topics, like action boards, law of attraction or manifestation. It’s quite in vogue at the moment. There are even vision board workshops and events.
Vision boards can be created the old fashioned way - by collecting old magazines and cutting images and words from them. Or you can create digital vision boards through websites like Canva, PicMonkey, or through apps like Vision Board Perfectly Happy, Gratitude, or Dreamer.
Before creating a board, there has to be a reason for making one. Like creating a travel vision board of places you want to visit or a vision board of a kitchen remodel. For those who are undecided about retiring, why not consider creating a retirement vision board with images of where you’d like to live and the things you’re interested in doing?
Creating a vision board can serve as a powerful tool in the decision making process. For many, the thought of retiring is fraught with ambivalence. You think you’re ready one day and get cold feet the next. It can be emotionally draining and anxiety-producing. Is it because we feel our days will be directionless and cannot envision what retirement would look like?
A visual representation can serve as a guide toward the retirement we’ve always dreamed of. It might provide clarity by allowing us to visualize and prioritize goals, whether it's traveling the world, volunteering, or starting a new hobby. By regularly engaging with our vision board, we’re sending signals to our subconscious mind, making it more likely to manifest desires into reality - and making it easier to envision a future without a 9-to-5 job.
Visualizing our ideal retirement can cultivate feelings of positivity and excitement and shift our mindset from dwelling on limitations to focusing on possibilities.
Crafting Your Retirement Vision Board in 5 Steps
Step 1: Reflect and Brainstorm
Take some time to reflect on what you envision for your retirement. Consider your passions, interests, and goals. What activities bring you joy and fulfillment? Brainstorm a list of ideas, from traveling to learning new skills and hobbies to volunteering.
Step 2: Gather Materials
Gather materials for your vision board, including magazines, newspapers, photographs, quotes, and any other visuals that evoke emotions and excitement about your retirement plans. You can also use digital tools like those mentioned above to create a virtual vision board.
Step 3: Create Your Board
Begin arranging your chosen images and words on a board or canvas.Get creative with the layout. Your vision board should reflect your unique aspirations and personality and include a diverse range of interests and activities.
Step 4: Visualize and Affirm
Once your vision board is complete, display it in a prominent location where you can take time each day to view it. Close your eyes and immerse yourself in the scenes depicted on your board, visualizing yourself living out your retirement dreams.
Step 5: Take Action
While vision boards are powerful tools for manifestation, they are most effective when coupled with action. Use your vision board as a roadmap for planning and pursuing activities that align with your retirement goals - whether it's saving for a dream trip or researching local volunteer opportunities.
Creating a vision board is more than a craft project; it’s an empowering practice that allows a person to take control of the future. And having a clear vision of what the future holds may help to alleviate ambivalence in making that decision to retire.
Vision boards provide a tangible tool for articulating dreams, staying motivated, and taking concrete steps toward achieving them. Now that’s a great way to recycle all of those magazines and catalogs that come in the mail! Happy crafting.