When I first started dreaming about building my own online business, I didn’t have a full plan. I didn’t know what my niche was, how to market myself, or even what kind of offers I would sell.

But I did have a clear vision in my head of the lifestyle I wanted: working from my laptop, having creative freedom, and living somewhere sunny by the beach.

That’s where my first digital vision board came in.

Instead of keeping those ideas stuck in my head, I created a board that made them real — something I could see every day, even before I had the business or income to match.

And let me tell you, it changed everything.

If you’ve been wanting to start your own business (or take your current one to the next level), a vision board can help you connect with that future version of yourself and stay motivated on the hard days.

And the best part? You don’t need magazines or scissors anymore — Canva makes it easy to design one in under an hour.

Here’s how to do it.

Step 1: Get Clear on Your Dream Business

Before you open Canva, take 10–15 minutes to think about what you actually want.

Don’t just think “I want to make money online.”

Get specific:

• What kind of business do you want to build? (coaching, digital products, freelancing, Etsy shop, etc.)
• How do you want your business to feel? (calm, creative, bold, soft, luxurious, minimal…)
• What kind of lifestyle do you want your business to give you? (traveling, working 4 hours a day, more family time, financial freedom, etc.)

Write down your answers in a journal. This will make it much easier to find photos and quotes that truly align with your vision.

Step 2: Collect Images and Inspiration

Now it’s time to start curating visuals that match the business and life you want.

Here’s where you can find them:

• Pinterest: Search for things like “female entrepreneur office,” “digital nomad laptop by beach,” or “luxury home office aesthetic.”
• Unsplash /Dupe photos: Free stock photo sites with high-quality images.
• Instagram saves: Look at posts you’ve already been drawn to and save screenshots.

The goal is not to create a mood board of random pretty things — it’s to find visuals that represent your dream business specifically.

For example, if your dream is to sell digital products while traveling, maybe your board includes a laptop on a cafe table in Bali, a Stripe payment notification, and a passport.

Step 3: Open Canva and Start Designing

Log into Canva (the free version is enough). Search for “vision board” in the templates. You’ll find dozens of layouts you can drag and drop your images into.

Tips for designing your board:

• Stick to 1–2 fonts and 1–2 colors to keep it clean.
• Add keywords or affirmations like “$5K months,” “freedom,” “my dream clients,” or “soft girl CEO.”
• Place the most important images in the center (like your dream lifestyle or your business offer).

Don’t overthink it. Your board doesn’t have to be Pinterest-perfect. It just has to spark emotion when you look at it.

Step 4: Use It Every Day

A vision board only works if you see it often. Here are a few ideas:

• Download it as a desktop wallpaper so you see it every time you open your laptop.
• Print it and place it above your desk.
• Save it to your phone lock screen.

Each time you look at it, let yourself feel what it would be like to already live that life. That’s what helps your brain start to believe it’s possible — and when you believe it’s possible, you’re way more likely to take action.

Why Vision Boards Actually Work

Some people say vision boards are “woo woo,” but there’s actually psychology behind them.

When you visualize something repeatedly, your brain starts looking for evidence to make it happen (this is called the reticular activating system).

For example, if your vision board shows you speaking on a podcast, you might suddenly notice someone in your network who hosts one. Or if your board shows you running an online course, you’ll be more motivated to finally outline your first one.

It’s not magic — it’s focus.

A vision board reminds you daily of what you’re working toward, so you don’t get lost in the noise.

Ready to Create Yours?

You don’t need to wait until “someday” to start shaping your dream business. Open Canva, collect some images, and make your future visible today.

And if you’d like a shortcut, I created a free Canva vision board template you can grab inside my Designed by Her Diaries.

The Diaries are my weekly behind-the-scenes love letters about building a business and lifestyle you love. When you join, you’ll get the free vision board template right away — so you can stop staring at a blank Canva screen and start putting your dream business into focus.

Click here to join and get your free vision board template.

Your vision is already real in your mind. The vision board is just step one in making it real in your life.