With the start of the new year, students are hoping to reignite COVID-19-postponed goals, dreams and remember why they came to Chapel Hill in the first place.
To begin the year and chart a path for a brighter semester, many have rediscovered the time-tested goal setting tool of vision boards – an artistic way to manifest one’s destiny.
In simplest terms, a vision board is a collection of images, ideas and goals artfully arranged as a visual reminder to remain focused on their attainment.
Vision boards have been around for decades in one form or another. Dream boards, action boards and other write-on resolution tools have seen their popularity rise and fall, usually coinciding with celebrity endorsement.
The latest surge is thanks to social media trends and notable influencer approval including Oprah Winfrey, Beyoncé and Cardi B.
UNC sophomore Max Lewin said he made a vision board to keep him motivated through 2021. He defined his goals, used broad black and white images to depict what he wanted to achieve and then hung his board above his bed as a reminder of his objectives.
“2020 was obviously really hard, but I don't think that now that 2021 is here, everything is automatically going to change,” Lewin said. “I just wanted to think about what I envisioned for myself this year and how I can make it a really good year for me, and that’s why I wanted to have it as a visual.”
Emily Saunders, a sophomore biology student, felt a vision board was a good way to get motivated and out of the slump many feel during the long winter break with the pandemic still persisting.
“I have made a few New Year's resolutions,” Saunders said. “One is to exercise five times a week, so I considered putting some pictures of people working out on my board.”
