It’s the same cycle for many of us every year….we make our New Year’s resolutions fully determined to start right after the holidays…….and yes, New Years day does count as a holiday. If that happens to be on a Friday, can you really start on the weekend? That just doesn’t seem right, does it? Okay, Monday it is! The new week of the new year starts. By then I’m already thinking five days until the weekend! When is the next holiday? I hate running, why did I put that on the resolution list? I know I need to exercise, but it sure seems like this list was made to torture myself and loved ones who live with me. New Year’s resolutions….aren’t they meant to be ignored and forgotten about by the end of the first month anyway?

Do something different in the new year…..have a vision for the upcoming year, not a to do list containing things that may or may not be realistic to achieve. You don’t want a list of items to complete that you inevitably abandon. 2020 is a blank slate…..what do you want to see in it? What do you want to see happen in your life in the next year? Think about what you envision this next year to hold for you. What are you praying and believing for? Has God given you a word for 2020? What has He been revealing to you? Spend some time in prayer to hear what God is speaking to you about this next season! Then turn your vision into something physical that you can see everyday. Do a personal vision board, family vision board, or both.

Creating your vision board:

You can go as simple as a piece of construction paper or poster board, or even fancier with a framed bulletin board or magnetic board. Whatever you already have or want to go out and get, great! You just need a blank canvas to start with. You can get really into it with decorative paper, a title or sign for the board, fancy push-pins. It just depends on your style and personal taste.

Next, think about what you need to see in front of you on a daily basis to encourage you and make that vision a reality. Planning a much anticipated family vacation? Put a few pictures on your board of your family and the destination you want to go to, a reminder of why you are budgeting and saving for the trip. Perhaps there is an inspirational quote that you want to be the “theme” for the upcoming year. Write it out and stick it on there! Anything that symbolizes your vision, put it on the board. My vision board a few years ago included a map and photographs taken out of a travel magazine for the new state my family and I were planning to move to. When we got discouraged as we waited for the whole process to play out, we would see our vision in a tangible way on the board and be encouraged! We remembered what God told us and where He was leading our family. Don’t feel pressured to fill up the board right away…..I added some things here and there throughout the year.

Create a vision board! It is easy and also something you could get together and do with your friends. And once you have that done, you’ve already accomplished something in the new year, win-win!