How I’m Making 2025 Happen with an Action Board
Vision boards are a staple of goal-setting culture, but this year, something didn’t feel quite right.
I put together my vision board for 2025, filled it with beautiful images of what I wanted to achieve, and waited for the inspiration to hit. But, as I stared at it, I realized that it didn’t spark the fire I was hoping for. The pictures were stunning, but they felt disconnected from the action I knew I needed to take to achieve my dreams.
That’s when I decided to ditch the traditional vision board and create something new—a powerful action board.
In this post, I’m sharing why my vision board didn’t inspire me, how I shifted gears, and how you can create an action board to set your intentions and goals for 2025 with clarity and focus.
Why My Vision Board Didn’t Spark the Fire
It’s a well-known tradition to create a vision board at the start of a new year (here are 50 vision board ideas if you want to create your own!), filled with pictures of the things you want to achieve.
The idea is that by visualizing your dreams, you’ll attract them into your life. But for some reason, my vision board this year didn’t have the usual effect.
It wasn’t that the images weren’t beautiful or meaningful; it was that they didn’t feel grounded in reality. Instead of igniting excitement, they left me feeling overwhelmed and unsure of where to start.
For example, I had pictures of tropical beaches for relaxation, a stack of books for learning, and photos of inspirational figures I admired. While they were all beautiful, they didn’t actually give me a clear path to get from where I am now to where I want to be. It’s one thing to see what you want, but it’s another to know how to take actionable steps toward it.
The more I reflected, the more I realized that a vision board was focused on the outcome, not the process.
And that’s when it hit me—what I truly needed wasn’t a vision board, but a plan. A roadmap with clear actions that would lead me towards my goals.
That’s when the idea of an action board was born.
What Is an Action Board?
An action board is similar to a vision board, but with a key difference—it’s designed around taking action.
Instead of just looking at images of what you want, you create a visual representation of the steps you’ll need to take to get there.
The purpose is to break down your goals into smaller, actionable steps and keep you focused on the process. It’s not just about what you want, but how you’re going to get there.
When creating an action board, it’s important to be specific. Instead of abstract images or goals, you can include tangible steps, dates, and reminders that will help you stay on track. Think of it as a vision board with a built-in action plan. It’s your personal roadmap for the year.
This YouTube video explains the process really well!
For example, if one of your goals is to travel, instead of just pasting pictures of exotic locations, you might create a visual timeline with small milestones, such as researching destinations, booking flights, and saving a certain amount of money each month.
The key is to turn your big dreams into small, manageable steps.
Step One: Reflect on Your Goals and Break Them Down
Before you start creating your action board, take a moment to reflect on what you truly want to achieve in 2025. Write down your top three to five goals for the year—these could be related to personal growth, career, health, relationships, or anything else that matters to you.
Use this guide on how to set meaningful and effective goals to help you.
You might also like: Why I’m using the HEART goal framework this year!
Once you’ve identified your main goals, the next step is to break them down into smaller, actionable tasks. For example, let’s say your goal is to run a marathon. Instead of just having “run a marathon” on your board, you would break it down into manageable tasks, such as:
Research training plans
Sign up for a local race
Start with a 5k, then work up to 10k, half-marathon, and full marathon
Schedule weekly training sessions
Breaking your goals down into smaller steps not only makes them feel more achievable but also provides clarity on what you need to do every day or week to stay on track.
Step Two: Visualize the Process, Not Just the Outcome
Once you’ve broken down your goals into actionable tasks, the next step is to create a visual representation of the process. While traditional vision boards focus on images of the desired outcome, an action board requires images, words, and reminders that represent the journey toward that outcome.
For example, if your goal is to improve your fitness, you might include pictures of healthy meals, workout equipment, or your favorite fitness apps. But you’ll also want to include visual reminders of your action steps, such as a calendar to track your workouts, an image of a workout buddy to encourage accountability, or even quotes that inspire perseverance.
The key is to focus on visuals that remind you of the steps you need to take, not just the ultimate destination. The journey is just as important as the destination, and your action board will help you stay focused on the daily choices that bring you closer to your goals.
Step Three: Set Deadlines and Milestones
Another powerful feature of an action board is the inclusion of deadlines and milestones.
When creating your action board, include specific dates for when you want to accomplish each task. Setting deadlines helps you create a sense of urgency and accountability, which makes it more likely that you’ll follow through on your goals.
For instance, if one of your goals is to write a book in 2025, you might break it down into milestones like:
Complete the outline by February
Write the first draft by May
Edit the manuscript by September
Submit the manuscript by December
These deadlines not only give you something to strive toward but also allow you to track your progress along the way. As you check off milestones, you’ll feel a sense of accomplishment and momentum.
Step Four: Stay Flexible and Adjust as Needed
One of the biggest advantages of creating an action board is that it encourages flexibility. Life is unpredictable, and things don’t always go according to plan. An action board helps you stay adaptable by allowing room for adjustments.
For example, let’s say you set a goal to start a side hustle but find that you need additional skills before you can launch. Instead of feeling discouraged, adjust your action steps by adding in time for learning or taking a course. Maybe you need to delay your launch date by a month to make sure you’re prepared. That’s okay!
Your action board isn’t a static, unchangeable thing. It’s a tool to help you stay focused on your goals, but it’s also meant to evolve as your circumstances do. By staying flexible and adjusting your plan as needed, you’ll be more likely to stay motivated and committed to your vision.
Step Five: Review and Celebrate Your Progress
The final step in the action board process is reviewing your progress regularly. It’s easy to get caught up in the hustle and forget to pause and acknowledge how far you’ve come. That’s why it’s important to schedule regular check-ins with your action board to assess your progress and celebrate your achievements.
Each month, take a moment to review your board.
Are you on track with your deadlines and milestones?
Have you completed certain tasks, or do you need to adjust your plan?
Celebrate the small wins, like completing a training session or hitting a savings goal, and use these moments as motivation to keep going.
Another tip is to update your action board regularly. As you complete tasks, remove or add new ones. This not only keeps your board fresh and relevant but also reinforces the idea that your goals are dynamic and ongoing.
Next Steps
Creating an action board for 2025 has been a game-changer for me.
It’s not just a vision of what I want, but a clear map of how I’m going to get there. By focusing on the process and breaking down my goals into actionable steps, I feel more motivated and prepared to tackle this year head-on.
If you’ve found traditional vision boards to be uninspiring, I encourage you to try an action board instead. It’s a powerful tool that can turn your big dreams into actionable steps and keep you focused on what matters most.