The new year gives us all the opportunity to visualize future hopes and plans. One way to do this is by crafting a vision board full of inspiring words and images. The board can include anything you’d like- from vacation destinations to new hobbies you’ve been wanting to try.  Keep in mind that you’re never too old for goal-setting or creative expression! 

Why Vision Boards Matter for Older Adults

For seniors, taking the time to put together a collage of personal aspirations and hopes for the new year can reap numerous benefits. Sometimes, simply picturing a future hope or wish can put you in a more positive mindset. Additionally, working on the vision board with a caregiver or family member is a great bonding activity and can create meaningful conversations. Not to mention, vision boarding is a fun and engaging activity to keep seniors busy with their hands and their minds.

Tips to Make a Personalized Vision Board

There are no hard and fast rules for creating a vision board; it is, after all, your vision and no one else’s. That is why they can be so impactful and meaningful. You can take as much time as you need to reflect on your areas of focus for the new year. Once you’re ready, here are several suggestions for getting started on  your personalized vision board:

Decide on Your Goals: What is your vision for this year? What goals do you want to accomplish? This can be as small as setting aside time each day to ready a chapter in a good book or as big as planting an herb garden. Some popular topics people focus their goals around are:

• Health and wellness
• Hobbies and skills
• Family and friends–or social time
• Activities or travel

Consider Your Needs: What works best for your needs? For instance, if you have vision impairments, try using large-print words or tactile elements on your board that you can feel rather than see. Be sure to use adaptive tools for cutting out items if you have limited dexterity.

Gather Supplies: You can use anything you want to create your vision board–your imagination is the limit! Some people collect things from around their house; others enjoy trips to local craft stores like Hobby Lobby or Cut It Out Scrapbook Supplies.

You want to use supplies that reflect your goals somehow. For instance, if you want to spend more time outdoors this year, you could include pictures of your favorite local parks or gardens. Then, add quotes using adhesive letters that include outdoor-themed words like “explore” and “fresh air.” Add any other touches, like stickers, handwritten quotes, or family photos, throughout your board to make it more personalized. The point is for your board to inspire you, so make it look however makes you happy. A few ideas of supplies to get you started are:

• Magazine and newspaper clippings
• Printed-out images
• A poster board (a corkboard works well too)
• Scissors, glue, and tape. 
• Copies of family photos 
• Decorative items like markers, stickers, glitter, ribbon, etc. 

Assemble Your Board: Have your caregiver or loved one help you arrange items on the poster board before gluing them down to allow room to make adjustments. Once you’ve decided on a final layout, start assembling things.

Display the Board Somewhere Prominent: After completing your board, place it in an area where you can view it frequently, such as your bedroom, kitchen, or living room. This helps to encourage regular reflection and keep you on track with your goals in the new year. 

Visiting Angels Can Help Seniors Achieve Their Goals

Visiting Angels caregivers understand the importance of goal-setting for seniors and enjoy assisting them with creative outlets like assembling vision boards. If you could use support around the home to maintain your lifestyle, in-home care services from Visiting Angels Crystal Lake can help. 

Call us today at 815-479-0312 to find out how!