How to Make a Vision Journal to Reflect Your Parenting Goals

Do you feel you need a push to focus on your parenting goals? It can be very effective to have daily reminders of what you want to accomplish. But how is it possible to keep your parenting goals in mind every day? One way to consistently work toward bringing your dreams to life is to make a vision journal. 

What is a Vision Journal? 

Well you might have heard of a vision board. A vision journal is a vision board but in the form of a journal rather than on a board. Let's define what a vision board first.

A vision board is a craft project – a collage that includes pictures and words that reflect your life goals. The board can address your life in general or one or more specific areas you choose. In this case, you'll be addressing your parenting goals.

Life goals in a vision journal

A vision board shows what you’re seeking in life. It prompts you to consider what you want. Before starting your board, ask yourself what your parenting goals are. What do you want your family life to be like? 

Preparing to Construct Your Vision Board 

Follow these preparation steps: 

1. Gather supplies. Use a journal or a blank book. The larger the size then the more you can paste into it.

• You’ll need colored ink markers, magazines with plenty of words in headlines and pictures, scissors, and glue. 

2. Ponder what you’ll include in your journal. Decide the life area(s) you wish to address: all aspects, such as prosperity, relationships, family, sports, health, school, jobs, and careers or just 1-2 of your most-sought-after goals. In this case, you'll be focusing on parenting and family.

• You’ll use pictures and words about the things you desire, the place(s) you want to live, and anything else representative of the parenting lifestyle you seek. 

3. Plan time to start work on your vision journal. Schedule a day and time to make your journal when you’ll be uninterrupted. Allow yourself 3-4 hours. You might not complete it in one sitting. That’s okay. It’ll take some time to browse through magazines and select images to clip and use. 

Creating Your Vision Journal

It’s time to get started. 

1. Reflect & Reason

Reflect on your most important parenting goals. Set a timer for 20 minutes and clarify to yourself what you want in family life. 

• Right now, what’s important to you? What do you want to pursue? It’s okay if you’re not sure. But give yourself time to think about it. When you emotionally connect with your parenting goals, you’re more likely to achieve them. 

2. Seek & Sort

Find the pictures you want to use. Browse through magazines and clip images that reflect your parenting goals and dreams for your family. Don't sort them out just yet. Just collect all the images that you think you may need or appeals to you. Once you've gone through all your magazines and catalogues then you can begin to sort through them.

• Sort and select only the ones that are most relevant

3. Arrange & Adhere

Without gluing, arrange and re-arrange the pictures in your journal until you love how it looks. 

• Leave a space somewhere on the poster board to place a favorite picture of you. This is optional.
• Once you have a pleasing arrangement, adhere your collage with glue. 
• Glue on a picture of yourself that you like, optional.

4. Decorate & Dispay

Include words to express goals and desires. Write words that connect you with the pictures. Express your thoughts and emotions using markers. You might choose to clip words from magazines (larger print is best) and glue them on your vision board. You can decorate with stickers or draw pictures with markers. This will depend on how creative you want to be.

Leave your vision journal on top of your desk, bedside table, or somewhere you’ll see it and have easy access to every day. Stop and open it to look at it, touch it, and say out loud, “I’m working for that!” Let yourself get excited about the prospect of achieving your parenting goals. 

This part about displaying it or seeing it everyday is really important. I made this vision journal last year but I kept my book in my drawer and forgot all about it. It was only a few weeks ago that I remembered that I had made a vision journal earlier last year. As you can guess, I didn't reach all my goals. You need to look at it and be reminded of your goals every day so you can work towards them!

Family goals in a vision journal (unfinished)

In the above vision journal, my goal was to spend more time with the family doing things together. It was about shared experiences. I didn't get a chance to finish it but you can get the idea of what a family vision journal is like. 

Making a vision journal keeps you oriented toward your family life desires. Construct a new page for your journal later as you reach current parenting goals and add new ones. Motivate yourself to attain your parenting goals and family dreams through making your own vision journal and looking at it.

If you'd like to create a vision journal using a set of templates then take a look at my Vision Journals.

It covers 6 areas: spiritual, emotional, intellectual, physical/health, financial and family. You can print and use them all or focus on family goals and print that page only.

There's also a page for monthly visions of these 6 areas. Included is a reflection page for these monthly goals so you can find ways to achieve them. Both journals are included in the one purchase. See more details here and to purchase.