As I write this, I am looking at nine of my past vision boards displayed on my office wall. As a financial planner, I know that I can’t control all of what comes in life, so I try to plan for the “what ifs” to at least hope to be less stressed when some of them come my way. And I also believe the saying, “Man plans and God laughs.” So there’s that. So, because of my planning nature, you may be surprised by the theme for my personal vision board this year: Go with the flow!

Why I Chose “Go with the Flow” as My Theme of the Year

Choosing a theme of the year helps anchor my focus. It gives direction without feeling rigid. This year, instead of doubling down on structure, I felt drawn to something softer. Something more flexible.

“Go with the flow” kept appearing in my mind, and eventually, on my vision board.

How I Create a Vision Board Without Overthinking It

How do you go about making your vision board? Right or wrong, I don’t start compiling it with anything in mind. I let my subconscious mind get attracted to words, phrases, and pictures in the magazines that I am thumbing through as I visit with other women who are also working on their vision board. Some theme phrases I have on past vision boards include:

“Plan on your best year yet!”

“Enjoy time at home.”

“Celebrate everything.”

“Living the dream, one mistake at a time.”

And this year I found “Go with the flow!”

I remember creating my vision board on Zoom one year during COVID. I found it to be just as much fun. We visited and laughed and shared our boards at the end. To me the process is relaxing and full of anticipation. I let my fingers stop on pages that catch my eye, a picture that speaks to me right now or a word or a phrase. I never really know what I will end up with until I am done. So maybe I have been going with the flow more than I realized in the past.

What the Science Says About Vision Boards and Goal Success

I was curious about the science behind vision boards so I dug into it a little bit with one of my new friends, ChatGPT. The information really reinforces the value of creating vision boards. Did you know that our brains process visual information 60,000 times faster than text? Or that visualization activates the same neural pathways as real experiences, reinforcing motivation and follow-through? Wow, no wonder I have strong feelings around my vision board wall display!

I knew the research part about how goals are more likely to be achieved (33-42% more likely) when they are written and visualized. And I do consider my vision board as a goal activity, just way more fun than making a list. Plus the collage format actually reduces cognitive overload by layering several goals into one visual, according to the research.

My Year of Going with the Flow

This might sound a little unexpected coming from me, since I talk a lot about the importance of focusing on a plan and the tools for getting your financial house organized. But I have learned over time that focus and flow can actually work really well together!

Having a clear focus gives you direction. Going with the flow gives you flexibility.

What “Go with the Flow” Looks Like

My single wellness focus this year, for example, is making sure I exercise every day. Going with the flow makes it easier to adapt when my schedule shifts. So even when my usual morning walk or going to the YMCA morning ritual doesn’t happen because I have to schedule an early morning appointment, I can go with the flow and choose a different way to move my body later that day.

Sometimes that means going to the Y in the evening or taking a walk at night. Lately, when mornings are too cold, I use an exercise app at home like Down Dog yoga or Body Groove dance right in my living room whenever I can fit it into the day instead. My focus stays the same, I just go with the flow, yay!

Small Pivots Matter More Than Perfect Plans

This is the same approach I use with money and organization. When you know your focus, whether that’s preparing for retirement, managing your budget, or keeping systems simple, you can make small pivots without losing momentum. If you’re thinking about choosing your own theme for the year, start with one clear statement. “My year of ___.”

• My year of getting organized.
• My year of paying attention to my money.
• My year of simplifying.
• My year of consistency.

Tools to Help You Create Your Own Theme of the Year

Do you catch yourself saying, “Who am I now? And who do I want to become next?” Perhaps a vision board is just what you need to help your mind find the answers to those questions. To help with that, and throw in a little planning in formats that let you go with the flow, I have bundled a few of my favorite tools. Check out my Women’s Wealth and Wellness Toolkit for a vision board template, money makeover checklist, and some financial planning checklists.

Let’s Chat:

What vision board experiences have you had? Planning or going with the flow, which do you prefer? Anything you have learned over the years to share with others? Let’s have a discussion.

Marie Burns is a Certified Financial Planner, Speaker, and Author of the bestselling Financial Checklist books. Find Marie on Facebook or contact her at Marie@MindMoneyMotion.com.

This article was first published at 60 and Me – a community that helps women over 60 live happy, healthy and financially secure lives.