What’s a vision board and how can you make one? Cork sisters share their top tips

In recent years, manifestation has become a popular way of turning thoughts, desires and intentions into reality. Vision boards are used by many as a tool for manifestation, to help clarify goals and inspire action.

Cork sisters Edel and Lauren Marples have been creating vision boards for five years, and now help others do the same.

Vision boards are collages of pictures, quotes and graphics, often made using magazines or items such as ticket stubs, receipts and posters.

“Vision boarding is sort of a visual representation of what your goals are for the year,” says Edel, who works as a French tutor and event organiser. “It’s something nice to do at the start of the year… you can set out your goals for the year and have them as a visual representation on the wall, so when you’re walking past it, you can see it, and it’s a reminder of your goals and your hopes for that year.”

A key element of vision boards is visualisation, or picturing the life you want for yourself. As a yoga and meditation teacher, this is a tool Lauren has connected with through her meditation practice.

“One of the first questions or visualisations that someone guided me through was ‘Imagine your dream life,’” she recalls. “It started coming together… this is how it’s going to feel, this might be what it might look like. It was just so powerful, and it gives you such clarity and a path to follow.”

A vision board is a physical reminder of that clarity. “If you write it down, or if you create that vision board, it’s a reminder of how that felt at the time that you were making it, or what it might feel like in the future when you have achieved it, and it inspires you to take action,” says Lauren.

Vision boarding has worked for them in the past.

“Last year, I put education and UCC on my vision board, and then I wasn’t really ready, or I wasn’t sure what I wanted to learn,” Lauren says. “Then this year I enrolled in college to do a post-grad… I looked back at last year’s vision board, and [saw] that was something that I was working towards.”

Some people make digital vision boards using apps like Pinterest or Canva, but the sisters prefer the old-fashioned approach. “You don’t look back on a Pinterest board,” says Edel. “Whereas, if it’s physical and it’s visible, you’re going to be reminded all the time.”

On January 11, the sisters will be hosting a workshop in Cork City on creating a vision board for 2026.

In the meantime, if you want to make one of your own, Edel and Lauren have some advice to get you started.

Five tips for creating your own 2026 Vision Board

Carve out the time

One mistake people make is not allowing enough time to create a vision board.

“You can be doing it for an hour, and then you’ll make half a vision board, you won’t come back to it, and it’ll never go on your wall…that has happened to me,” says Edel.

“I would say give yourself a good three hours to do it, and plan it out beforehand.”

Prepare in advance

Planning ahead will help you find the right images for your vision board, and create something beautiful that inspires you.

“Gather together your magazines, print off your pictures, gather little stamps, or tickets that you come across during the year, and keep those and have them ready to go,” says Edel.

Do it with a group

While you can make a vision board alone, it can be a lovely group activity. It’s a way to connect socially, and you can share images and quotes if you find something that might fit with another person’s goals. “This happens to us all the time,” says Lauren.

Use prompts

If you’re unsure where to start, it can be helpful to use affirmations or journal prompts to help clarify your goals.

“Something that we often do is a journal prompt session first, or goal setting workshop,” says Lauren.

“If health is something that you want to focus on, what aspect of health are you focusing on? If it’s career, are you starting a new career? Are you hoping to get a promotion or an increase in salary?”

Hang it where you can see

Once you’ve made your vision board, hang it up somewhere prominent where you can see it. “Put it up on your wall,” says Edel. “There’s no point in having it in the back of the wardrobe for the whole year.”

• The 2026 Vision Board Event takes place on Sunday, January 11 from 1pm-4pm at Cork Lotus Yoga, Careys Lane. Tickets are €35 and available at https://laurenmarplesyoga.com/events.