8 Ways Vision Boards Can Help Ease Your Anxiety
Discover how vision boards can help calm your anxiety, reframe fear, and keep your goals in focus. Learn tips to use vision boards as a mental health tool today.
In this blog Show
You might be rolling your eyes and thinking, "Vision boards? Really?" Hear me out.
These little gems aren’t just Pinterest-worthy throwbacks from 2006. They’re actually an underrated and effective mental health tool, especially when it comes to anxiety.
If you often find yourself stuck in a loop of worry or doubt, a vision board can act as your personal hype squad. It keeps your goals front and center while reminding you that your dreams are worth chasing, no matter what anxiety tries to tell you.
They are an awesome way to support anxiety management, acting as a potential new tool for the anxiety toolbox.
What Is a Vision Board Anyway?
At its simplest, a vision board is a physical or digital collage of images, words, and colors that represent your dreams and aspirations. Think of it as a visual wishlist meets motivational poster.
Whether it’s a tiny postcard-size display or a giant piece of poster board that takes up an entire wall, the point is to create something that reflects what truly matters to you, keeping your intentions front and center.
Sound familiar? Maybe it takes you back to grade school projects with magazine cutouts and glue sticks. But this time, it’s grown-up style (though glitter and stickers are still highly encouraged).
Simply visualizing your dreams isn’t enough, sadly. OY– Adulting! A vision board isn’t magic, it is a genius tool (of the many in your toolbox) for aligning your mindset and behavior with your goals.
By seeing your dreams daily and reminding yourself “this is what I want, and I’m worth it”.
This process is the essence of manifestation. When you align your mindset and behaviors with your goals, you don’t just wait for opportunities—you create them.
Anxiety vs. Your Dreams
We’ve all been there. Anxiety worms its way into your head like an annoying roommate, whispering worst-case scenarios, stirring up doubts, and convincing you to play small. You start doubting your goals, hesitating on decisions, and second-guessing every step forward.
It’s fear dressed up in logic, your brain and body reacting to a perceived threat—even when the "danger" is just a new opportunity knocking.
If this sounds familiar, our online anxiety therapy for women offers tools to help quiet that inner voice and move forward with courage.
FACTS: anxiety loves to sabotage your big dreams. And that’s where a vision board comes in. It’s your personal hype squad, keeping you grounded, focused, and gently reminding you of what’s possible.
When anxiety says, “You can’t do this,” your vision board lovingly—and firmly—responds, “Oh, yes, you can.”
When fear whispers, “What if you fail?” your vision board flips the script to, “What if this is the best thing you’ve ever done?”
Your vision board is your anchor when anxiety tries to keep you stuck—whether it’s skipping the party, shying away from that promotion, or hesitating to take the leap. It’s a daily dose of yes, you can.
Don’t fret yet, my Sassy friends:
Confused? Sussing me out? Follow me—
8 Ways Vision Boards Tackle Anxiety
1. They bring genuine joy and happiness
When you think about what you love, it invites a smile to your face and a warmth to your chest. Creating a vision board takes real self awareness, and it’s an act of love to know you and want you to have what you love. How thrilling! Who doesn’t get happy looking at photos of what they love?
Examples look like so— puppies, anime, flowers, diamonds, campfires, fuzzy socks, karaoke, dim sum– IT DOES NOT MATTER.
Let yourself get genuine about what you love, what you want to pursue and capture that image. What brings you joy, peace and harmony? THAT’S WHAT GOES ON THE BOARD.
2. They ground you when anxiety strikes
When in panic mode and in need of stability, look at your vision board. Ground in the colors, shapes and designs. Marvel at the brights, the darks and the textures.
The body can regulate when focusing on 5 senses, and your creative vision board is a natural flame for the moth that wants to settle into what’s happening right here, right now.
Examples look like so— On a finished vision board, zone in on ONE picture or item. Study it as if you’ve never seen it before, with curiosity like a cat. Describe it out loud in detail and without judgment. Write a story about the image and what it means to you. Try one or all of these!
3. They keep your values front and center
Whenever you get confused or experience self doubt, look to a safe place, the finished vision board you poured your heart and soul into. Study it daily to remind yourself what you truly care about when triggers arise and emotions run high.
Examples look like so— forget why you’re saving 20 bucks from each paycheck? Look at that Hawaiian sunset on your vision board. Discouraged and ready to quit? Find the visual reminder that reminds you why you’re doing this in the first place.
4. They help cut through decision paralysis
Ever feel completely stuck when making decisions? That’s anxiety’s favorite power move.
If the vision came from your heart, it can’t possibly be wrong. You can’t get anxious about the right decision. You already made it, you smart woman. Now, get after it.
Examples look like so— when anxiety wants to slither into the picture, you get to come back to the truth. When self doubt flares up, come back to the truth.
The TRUTH is you want the minivan, as evidenced by the 26 stickers all over your vision board.
The TRUTH is that you LOVE corgis and you want a field of them. Don’t judge and get weird about the decisions you made. Let the collage defeat any judgment that you didn’t make the right call.
5. Making them is super fun. DUH!
Yes! Vision boards can actually be F-U-N. Flip through magazines, print out Pinterest finds, and break out the glue sticks and glitter.
Get your friends involved or bring your board to therapy and chat about what each goal means to you. Bonus? Creativity itself is a wonderful way to reduce anxiety.
6. Vision boards reframe fear into excitement
Perhaps this is a blend of 1 and 4. Seeing these visuals daily helps rewire the brain when it’s thinking about big steps and getting nervous.
Fear and excitement are two sides of the same coin. Your vision board gently nudges you to focus on the possibilities instead of the risks.
It’s like CBT at its finest taking the thought “what if I fail?” and turning it into, “what if this is the best thing I ever do?”
7. They offer a safe space away from judgement
Your vision board is YOURS. It’s a judgment-free zone where you’re allowed to dream as big and bold as you want. It’s a sanctuary where societal pressures, fears, and other people’s opinions simply don’t matter.
Examples look like so— Mom hates the car you drive. She’s already made her opinions known about the next one you’re contemplating. Use your vision board to craft exactly what you want away from unsolicited judgments from family and friends. In your dreams, in your world, on your vision board, anything is possible.
8. Vision boards don’t support avoidance
You gotta do WORK to avoid the beautiful representation of your hopes and dreams when it’s hanging on your door, posted to the fridge, the background on your computer, etc.
You have a harder time avoiding what needs to be done when you’re constantly seeing the reminders.
Examples look like so— Out of sight, out of mind, yeah? So Sassy, don’t let it be out of sight. Plaster your hopes and dreams in a vision board form any and everywhere you can.
If helpful, keep a small photo of one dream in your pocket and move it with you daily to your jeans pockets, to your little black purse, to your cell phone case if you change it often.
Are Vision Boards Better Than SMART Goals?
LOL, I don't know, maybe they are! Not according to these guys, so I may have a less popular opinion.
For those of us who need less rigidity and more flexibility for our passions and desires to change, the vision board may be for you.
No direction, no step by step process. Just a photo you get to look at every fucking day. And if it’s something you truly love, you’ll decide daily to look at it, admire it, chase it. Even in a small way. Because the small steps lead to the arrival of the goal.
Try these for inspo: a digital vision board with Canva ; a vision board book
Vision Boards Are Mental Health Magic
Thank you, vision board. For keeping it in perspective every day in a way my eyes not only can digest, but are drawn to like a moth to a flame. Thank you for not yelling at me in noise yet inviting me daily to look, obsess and get hyped about!
Whether you’re manifesting goals, grounding in the present, or simply adding a dash of creativity to your day, vision boards are a powerful tool for managing anxiety and staying motivated.
Feeling stuck or overwhelmed? Your board is a visual reminder to reconnect with your why, take deep breaths, and keep going.
And if you need support creating one or need a little therapy magic to make those goals feel actionable, you know where to find me. Together, we’ll turn those big dreams into reality.
Need even more support? Check out our online therapy for women to help you dig deeper into strategies for managing mental health.
P.s. Your goals are worth chasing, and so are your dreams. Start with one small step today. Build your vision board, dream a little louder, and watch what happens.
You may also like
