VISUALIZE IT!
Vibe check: We are two weeks into 2023! As we settle into a new year, many people begin to reflect on their past and think about the changes they want to make in the future. One area that often gets attention is health and wellness. If you want to make a positive change in your health and wellness in 2023, setting intentions is a great place to start. Last week I knew I wanted to set intentions for the upcoming year, but I wasn't quite sure how to go about it. I had heard about vision boarding as a way to manifest one's desires, and I decided to try a digital version using Canva and Pinterest.
I began by creating a new Canva document and searching for inspiration on Pinterest. I made mine in a horizontal template to be used as a desktop background on my laptop, but you can create a vertical document for your iPhone wallpaper as well! I saved a variety of images that resonated with my intentions for the year, such as travel aesthetics, women’s circles, surf photography and financial abundance. I then used these images to create a digital vision board on Canva, arranging them in a way that was visually pleasing and meaningful to me. Seeing the depiction of my dreams reminded me exactly what I am working for this year.
Vision boarding is a powerful tool for bringing intentions to life because it helps to clarify and focus one's desires, and makes them more tangible and real. An intention is a guiding principle or purpose that helps you make decisions and stay focused. So, how can you set your health and wellness intentions for the New Year? Here are a few tips:
Reflect on your past: Take some time to think about your current health and wellness habits. What's working well and what could use improvement? Consider factors like your diet, exercise routine, stress levels, and sleep quality.
Identify your values: Your intentions should be aligned with your values, so it's important to identify what's important to you. Do you value being active and fit, or do you prioritize mental and emotional well-being? Understanding your values will help you set intentions that are meaningful and motivating.
Make it specific: While intentions should be flexible, they should also be specific enough to give you direction. For example, instead of setting the intention to "exercise more," you might set the intention to "go for a 30-minute walk every day."
Be realistic: It's important to be honest with yourself about what you can realistically achieve. If you've never exercised before, it might not be realistic to set an intention to work out for an hour every day. Start small and build up gradually.
Visualize it: Studies have shown that people who write down their goals and intentions are more likely to achieve them. So, take some time to write down your health and wellness intentions for 2023. You can even create a vision board or use a planner to help you stay on track.
Seek support: Change can be hard, especially when it comes to health and wellness. Consider finding a support system to help you stay motivated and accountable. This could be a friend, family member, or professional coach.
Remember, the key to setting health and wellness intentions is to focus on the journey, not just the destination. Be kind to yourself and don't get discouraged if you don't see immediate results. Celebrate your small victories and continue to work towards a healthier, happier you in 2023.
After your vision board is complete, display it somewhere where you'll see it every day, such as on your screen saver, or printed on your bedroom wall or office bulletin board. As you look at it each day, allow yourself to feel the emotions and visualize the life you want to create. You can also use your vision board as a way to track your progress and make adjustments as needed.
Vision boarding can be a fun and creative way to set intentions and stay focused on your goals. It's a reminder of what's important to you and can help you stay motivated to take action towards creating the life you want.