Manifesting Momentum: Preparing for Your Best Year Yet in 2025

Manifesting Momentum: Preparing for Your Best Year Yet in 2025

Start with a Vision: Crafting Your Dreams for 2025

When I think about goal-setting, I always start with the big picture—what do I want my life to look and feel like? It’s easy to get lost in the small stuff (pay this bill, clean that room), but taking a moment to zoom out can be so powerful. That’s where vision boards come in.

A few years ago, I made my first vision board during a girls night in with my girlfriends. I was a little skeptical—how could cutting and pasting pictures on a board make my goals any more real?

But here’s the thing: seeing my dreams visually laid out every day became a reminder of what I was working toward. On that board, I had a photo of a woman on a pilates reformer, a cozy home office setup, a picturesque photo of Madrid overlooking Gran Via, and a picture of a passport. Fast forward to now: Although I’m in a running phase, I’m still a Pialtes girlie mastering the megaformer (a style of reformer), my home office in Madrid is my creative haven, and I’ve traveled more these last few years year than ever before.

Since the first vision board, I’ve taken it digital and have been using Canva to create the last couple.

Here’s how you can make your own vision board:

1. Get Clear on Your Goals: Write down what you want to achieve in 2025—fitness milestones, personal growth, career goals, love, family, financial, wellness, or anything else that excites you.

2. Use Canva (or Your Favorite Tool): Canva has free templates for vision boards. Search for images that represent your goals—think lifestyle photos, quotes, or anything that sparks motivation. Adobe Express and Tome are another great tools to use.

3. Make It Your Desktop or Phone Background: Keep your vision visible. Whether it’s on your laptop, phone, or printed out and pinned to your wall, seeing it daily will keep you inspired. I keep mine as my phone screensaver!

Manifesting: It’s Goal-Setting with Some Rizz

Let’s talk about manifesting. I know, I know—it’s a buzzword that’s been tossed around so much it might make your eyes roll. Somewhere along the way, it got wrapped up in a lot of hype, with people claiming you can simply think about something and, poof, it’ll appear in your life.

But here’s the truth: manifesting isn’t just wishing and waiting for things to magically happen. It’s not crossing your fingers and hoping the universe delivers.

At its core, manifesting is our generation’s (looking at you, Millennials and Gen Z) version of goal-setting—just with a little extra rizz. It’s about visualizing your goals so clearly that you feel the excitement of achieving them, then pairing that vision with real action steps.

Manifesting isn’t magic—it’s momentum. It’s about aligning your mindset with what you want, so you stay motivated to do the work. When you can see yourself achieving a goal, you start to believe in your ability to make it happen. And that belief drives action that becomes a reality.

So yes, manifesting has a trendy buzzword, but at its heart, it’s just modern goal-setting. Dream big, take small steps, and keep your eyes on the prize. Add your own sparkle—and a little rizz—and you’re unstoppable.

Reflect and Plan: Journaling Prompts to Align Your Mind

Journaling has always been a way for me to get out of my own head and onto paper. It’s where I process, dream, and strategize. Some of my biggest ideas have come to life because I took the time to write them down.

Here are a few prompts to help you reflect on 2024 and dream about 2025:

• What am I most proud of from this year?

• What challenges did I overcome, and what did I learn from them?

• What does my ideal day in 2025 look like?

• What’s one area of my life I want to focus on next year, and why?

• What are three things I can start doing this month to create momentum for the new year?

• What could I have done better in 2024?

When I journaled about my fitness journey last year, I realized I had been putting off strength training because I was intimidated. Writing that down—and admitting it to myself—helped me take my first step. That’s how I ended up where I am now. Sometimes, we just need to see our thoughts on paper to make sense of them.

Create an Action Plan: From Dreams to Reality

Vision boards and journaling are amazing, but they won’t work unless we take action. This is where an action plan comes in. I like to keep mine simple, so I don’t get overwhelmed.

Here’s my three-step formula for creating a realistic plan:

1. Break It Down: Take one big goal from your vision board or journal and break it into smaller steps. For example, if your goal is to run a half marathon, step one could be finding a training plan, step two might be upgrading your running shoes, and step three might be running three times a week.

2. Set Deadlines: Deadlines create urgency. For instance, I have the Prague Half Marathon on my calendar for April 2025. Knowing that date pushes me to train consistently now, along with being mindful of my diet, and staying committed.

3. Celebrate Wins: Don’t wait until you’ve achieved the big goal to celebrate. Every small step forward deserves recognition. Treat yourself to something special (a massage, a lazy day off, or a new pair of running shoes) when you hit milestones.

This time last year, I used this formula to start growing my personal brand on Threads. I decided to share my wellness journey consistently, set a goal to post at least once a day, and create conversations on there. Today, my Threads community is thriving, and I’ve connected with so many amazing people along the way.

A December Challenge for You

This week, I challenge you to take 30 minutes to dream big about 2025. Start your vision board, try a few of the journaling prompts, or map out one small action step. Remember, you don’t have to have it all figured out today—this is about starting the process and building momentum.

The beauty of December is that it’s not about rushing to the finish line. It’s about creating the foundation for what’s next. As we say goodbye to 2024, let’s step into 2025 with intention, clarity, and excitement.

I’d love to hear what’s on your vision board or your biggest goals for next year. Hit reply and share with me—I’m cheering you on every step of the way.

Here’s to manifesting momentum and making magic happen in 2025!

Valerie 💛

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