*This site contains affiliate links to products. We may receive a commission for purchases made through these links. It doesn’t cost you any extra but it does help us offset the cost of operating so we can continue to offer more great content!
My post-Christmas Review and Vision Board
In this end of year Bonus episode, I share how I spend time reflecting on the Holidays and reviewing the year and then shift into planning the new year and a behind the scenes look at creating my personal vision board.
Christmas Review
For the last few years, I have spent some time after Christmas reviewing how things went.
I make notes about what brought me joy, what others enjoyed, and overall, what went well. I also note what didn’t go so well or what we should do differently next year.
I even record what food I made and what was liked best. This year the Lemon Lush cake was a hit but the peanut butter cakemix cookies – not so much!
This may be a little over the top, but I also save my gift list and any ideas I had but didn’t purchase. This gives me a head start on my shopping for next year.
Then I put these notes in a place where I will remember to look at them around October of next year so when I start planning for the Holidays it will refresh my memory. I used to put it in my paper planner but now I keep it digitally with just a note in my planner and a reminder in my calendar.
“This year the Lemon Lush cake was a hit!
The peanut butter cakemix cookies – not so much! “
Reviewing the Year
It’s also a great idea to do this for your year.
I enjoy looking back through my calendar and photos to remember all the things that happened throughout the year.
It’s a jog down memory lane that can get emotional.
It prompts me to be thankful for all the Lord has brought us through and the many blessings He has given us.
Looking Ahead
Then I think about the new year and think about places I want to go and people I want to see.
Y’all know by now – I like to plan!
…But I’ve learned to plan in pencil and be flexible to what the Lord has in store.
Instead of calendaring specific events, like date night the first Friday of the month, lunch with a friend every Tuesday, I think differently.
More like… date night at least once a month, lunch with a friend twice a month, family gathering every quarter.
This way gives me more margin or space. I don’t have to be so specific. It allows room for important things that come up and keeps me from feeling guilty if something doesn’t work out.
I think about self-care, relationship goals, career/business plans, and ministry vision.
Then at the beginning of each month I can schedule the date night, lunches, and visits on my calendar around whatever else has made it onto my schedule.
Vision Board
After I go through this process, I like to create a Vision Board as a physical reminder of what I feel is mine and the Lord’s vision for the year.
Then place it where I will see it each day. In the past it has been the screensaver on my computer. This year I’m framing it and putting it on the wall.
Now, you can do this with a posterboard and cut out pictures from magazines or even print specific pictures if you like or you can do what I do and create a digital board.
I have created a digital version the last two years and I just love it. I use canva.com which is an online program. It’s kind of like digital scrapbooking. They have a free plan, and you can find templates to help you get started or you can create from scratch.
Here is my “behind the scenes” footage of me creating my Vision Board in real time.
It’s a raw, unedited video so no judging!
Save to Pinterest for later!
Listen here or subscribe on your favorite podcast app:
Are you ready to start Vision Planning for your Ministry?
The Jump Start Guide to Vision Planning
Signs you NEED a Vision
- Our church is on autopilot just going through the motions.
- We aren’t seeing any new visitors walk through the doors.
- We don’t feel like we are making a difference in the community.
- Our regular people are dwindling.
- We aren’t seeing any lost come to Christ.
- We aren’t seeing spiritual growth within the church or ministry.
Benefits of Creating a Vision Plan
You are going to feel so excited, so energized, and so joyful about creating a plan that is inspired by the Lord.
You’ll know exactly what steps to take to see the vision become a reality.
Your heart will be so full of joy as you know you are partnering with the Lord in His plan for you.
Are you ready for the challenge?
