Vision Boards and Mind Maps


general journal junk  -  idealog

Perhaps a bit formal for the tastes of a lot of folks, I thought the end of the year would be a good time - as with our habit of making resolutions - to plan a plan. If you like plans.

Vision Boards



What is a vision board

A vision board, often created in a collage format, depicts your dreams, desires, and goals, using words, images, quotations, and other symbols that server as tangible representations to illustrate your wants in some way to help you stay motivated and focused. Many use large sheets of paper, cork boards, or even journal collage to create their vision boards.

Creating a vision board

There's no formal way to do it, but here's some tips on how you might get started.

  • Choose an intention, goal, desire, or area of specific focus in your life.
  • Gather supplies, like a surface or journal to create your vision board on, materials to collect images from (newspapers, magazines, other ephemera), stickers, quotations, other decorative items as desired, scissors, glue, colouring and drawing supplies, washi tape, et cetera.
  • Look through your magazines, books, newspapers, websites (to print items out), etc., to find things that resonate with your goals and desires, and group them based on relevant themes. You can include drawings, affirmations, handwritten materials, personal photos, or other meaningful ephemera.
  • After choosing the right vision board format for you, whether it be digital or physical, arrange the items you've chosen and attach them to the board.
  • Put your vision board in an easy-to-view place where you can always see it.
  • Reflect on your vision board regularly to visualise your goals, reflect on your intentions and motivations, and modify it as needed.

Mind Maps



What is a mind map

Mind maps are visual diagrams representing ideas, concepts, or information in a hierarchical structure, branching out from a central topic into related subtopics or categories. They use keywords, colours, and images to organise and connect thoughts, aiding in brainstorming, organizing thoughts, problem-solving, and enhancing memory retention. Mind maps use a hierarchical structure, are non-linear and encourage a more free-form thinking path, make use of keywords, images, and colours to represent the information it displays in its more organic visual display to assist in non-linear connections, brainstorming, and associative thinking. Mind maps can even be used collaboratively for group projects. Each person can contribute ideas to the map, which reveals the potential interconnectedness between ideas, concepts, and viewpoints of the group members.

Creating a mind map

Central idea

  • Write your central idea, theme, or topic in the middle of the paper (or larger surface if you're thinking big), where it will act as the focal point of your mind map.


Key branches

  • Draw branches from that central idea using outward radiating lines. These will represent key ideas related to your central one. You can use different colours for each one to differentiate them.

    Sub-branches

    • For each of those outward-radiating ideas, use smller outward-radiating lines to add more related information or detail.

      Keywords and images

      • Add short phrases or key words to the branches to summarise ideas in a concise fashion. Simple images or symbols could be used here to augment what you're trying to illustrate.


      Connect and organise

      • Connect related branches to show their relationships, using arrows, different line styles, to illustrate hierarchies or connections.


      Keep it visual and clear

      • Use a clear, clean layout that allows ample space for branches and sub-branches. Consider spacing, colours, and other visual elements to increase the visual appeal and make it easier to follow.


      Review and modify

      • Review your mind map regularly to modify or change its content as needed.


      Mind map tools

      • You can start with tools as simple as a pen and piece of paper.
      • You can make use of coloured pens, highlighters, markers, or whatever tools you have.
      • Don't forget to think big if you want, and create your mind map on a large piece of paper that you could hang on your wall for easy viewing and inspiration.
      • There are a wealth of online tools for digital mind mapping as well, that offer a variety of tools to add in creation and organisation, and even allow for sharing.


      Whatever format you choose to do it in, allow your thoughts to flow freely and organise them in ways that make sense to you. This is a flexible, expandable, and adjustable as need be.

      Connecting vision boards with mind maps

      • Create your vision board.
      • Review your board to any recurring themes, areas of interest, or key concepts. These will function as the mind map's foundation.
      • Use the identified ideas as your mind map's starting points.
      • For each, create further sub-branches to explore related action plans, steps, goals, or related ideas that can help you achieve your goals, using key words, phrases, and images to represent these ideas.


      Establishing connections between vision board elements and related branches on the mind map, and integrating the two, you create a visual combining your goals and desires with actionable steps to achieving them. You can use the creative/motivational aspects of a vision board with the structural elements and benefits of a mind map in order to pursue those actionable steps.

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