Hot Girls Use Pinterest for Therapy
Moodboarding: a return to me, and a vision of who I’m becoming
Forget retail therapy, I just need an hour with my Pinterest boards and a glass of wine.
Another blog post inspired by another pin I found on Pinterest. I find lately my days are spent on Substack, Pinterest, and Youtube — with a sprinkle of TikTok. I find the content I consume on those three apps are where I feel the most inspired, motivated and creative. Like it’s actually feeding my soul, rather than draining it. TikTok is the wild card. It can totally suck me in for hours (which... happened yesterday), but when I use it as a search engine—for things like “Is the Caudalie Resveratrol-Lift worth it?” (answer: yes) or “How to get the Ralph Lauren interior look in a city apartment”—then it actually becomes so helpful. Like, weirdly helpful.
But I want to hop back to Pinterest specifically today, and how Pinterest can truly shape and change your life (for the better). Pinterest is often seen as an app “just for inspiration”, but it’s actually become a soothing ritual—especially when I’m in a rut, overwhelmed, or need to feel re-inspired.
Pinterest has genuinely shaped how I approach my home, my beauty routines, my fitness goals, and even how I get back into a creative flow—whether that’s writing a blog post, filming a video, or just making a cozy little moodboard on a Sunday.
Moodboarding is my form of journaling—just prettier and sometimes more honest.
Why Pinterest is actually a Form of Therapy
1. It lets you visualize your future self.
One of the most important parts of growth, transformation and leaping into the version of yourself you want to become — is visualizing your future self.
I literally have a board on my Pinterest called “Future Self” — every pin represents something my future self is living, breathing, wearing, doing. It’s my future body, my skincare rituals, the cozy but elevated home I’ve curated. It’s the wardrobe I reach for every morning, the cities I’m traveling to, the candlelit dinners I’m hosting (and attending), and even the books I’m reading before bed.
The more I pin to that board, the more I get clear on who I’m becoming. And suddenly, it’s not just some vague idea—it starts to feel real. Tangible and achievable. It gently nudges me to make and stick to those micro-habits that align with her—whether that’s going for a walk instead of doom scrolling, cooking at home instead of ordering out, or wearing something that makes me feel like her.
Pinterest helps me live as if. And sometimes, that’s all you need to start becoming.
2. It offers a form of soft escapism.
There’s something really comforting about disappearing into Pinterest for a little while. It’s like a softer version of escapism—instead of numbing out, it sort of tunes you in.
Scrolling through beautiful interiors, incredible destination, effortless outfits, or soul-hitting quotes — it makes you feel something. You might also start to notice patterns—like what you're pinning more of, what you're drawn to, what feels soothing versus what feels aspirational. And often, what you're craving visually is actually what you're craving emotionally.
3. It’s a digital vision board for your subconscious.
Sometimes I find myself on my Pinterest “For You” page feeling really drawn to certain pins. I start pinning them to the corresponding board. Sometimes finding myself pinning only beautiful spaces, or glossy healthy hair, or outfits that feel perfect for my trip to the South of France.
And then I step back. I look at the board. And I ask myself:
What do my boards say about what I want, how I feel, or who I’m becoming—even if I haven’t said it out loud?
Because whether you realize it or not, what you’re pinning is often a mirror. A soft, visual reflection of what you're craving—emotionally, mentally, physically, even spiritually. It’s your subconscious, moodboarding your desires.
What do they have in common?
What are the patterns?
Do your pins reflect your current reality? Or the reality you desire for your future?
It’s not always obvious at first. But when you scroll through your boards and really look, you’ll notice things. The colours. The moods. The textures. The energy. It’s all saying something.
Pinterest helps you make sense of your inner world—without needing to explain it in words.
Let’s take a look at my current pins…and what they might be saying about my subconscious…
There is a lot with children and family — as someone who doesn’t feel like it’s currently my time to start a family, it doesn't mean I don’t dream about it one day. I envision a life with children in my dream home, still being able to travel the world, enjoying what the world has to offer with little mini-me’s. Funny enough, this desire really clicked after watching the Ralph Lauren documentary, “Very Ralph” (which I highly recommend, by the way). There was something about the aspirational lifestyle he created—being a parent, building a legacy, and offering such a beautiful life to his children—that really resonated with me. It planted a little seed in my subconscious, and clearly, it’s blooming on my Pinterest boards.
Homey interior spaces — This time of year especially, I find myself rewatching Nancy Meyers movies—the kind where the homes feel cozy, lived-in, and full of character. Over the past year, I’ve started leaning away from minimalism and into more of a collected, maximalist (not cluttered) vibe. Filling my bookcase with books that reflect me and my husband’s interests, fresh flowers to nurture, souvenirs from our travels, and picture frames filled with memories of our life together.
Instagram feed inspiration — I have seriously neglected my Instagram, not to mention the aesthetic of my feed. But I want to change that. I pinned a few IG feeds that were visually appealing, but also real — authentically curated. I saved them as a reminder to give my instagram a little more love, but also fall back in love with capturing, creating and posting.
Travel inspo — This somewhat ties into the above (as in capturing aesthetic travel pics). But these pins also capture the overall vibe and mood I want to have and create while away this summer. A true euro summer (even if it’s only for 2 weeks)
The overall vibe — If you look at the pins as a whole, they really capture the essence of my dream life. The home, the travel, the family, the fashion, the creativity—it’s all there. A visual diary of the life I’m building, piece by piece.
How I Use Pinterest Therapeutically



Pinterest isn’t just where I go to pin pretty things. It’s kind of become my place of inspiration, aspiration and action—something I turn to when I need a reset, a little inspiration, or just want to feel like me again. Here’s how I actually use it to glow up from the inside out:
I scroll intuitively: I have started to pin intuitively. I don’t overthink it—I just pin what I’m drawn to. It’s not about what’s trending—it’s about what’s speaking to me. Even if I don’t know why yet.
I make it a whole ritual: If I have the time, I’ll light a candle, put on a playlist, grab a matcha or wine (depends on the mood), and just scroll slowly. It sounds so small, but making Pinterest time feel intentional totally changes the energy. It becomes my little moment to come back to myself.
I let the pins actually influence real life: This is where the shift really starts to happen. If I notice I’ve been pinning polished, elevated outfits—blazers, ballet flats, a soft blowout—I’ll take that as a cue. And that doesn’t mean I need to run out and buy a whole new wardrobe — maybe I just need to put a little more thought into how I get dressed tomorrow.
If I’ve been saving a lot of clean, maximally decorated spaces (think Nancy Meyers) with warm lighting and fresh flowers, I’ll light a candle, clear a surface, and add in a fresh bouquet of flowers into my home—even if it’s just in one corner.
I’ve realized my boards are a reflection of the life I’m building. The future version of me already lives like this—intentional, elegant, present. And all those little shifts? They start to add up.
Pinterest Boards to Create for Your Emotional Glow-Up
If you’ve ever found yourself aimlessly scrolling, not knowing what to pin or where to put it, this is your sign to create boards that actually nurture you—boards that feel like safe little corners of the internet where you can dream, reflect, and reconnect with yourself.
Here are a few of my favourite board ideas that have helped me emotionally glow up:






Future Self: This board is all about her—the version of me I’m stepping into. Her style, her home, her routines, her energy. What is she wearing? What does her day look like? What kind of woman is she? I pin to this when I need to reconnect with my goals and get inspired to show up with intention.
Dream Home: Not just a house—this board is my future lifestyle in architectural form. Every pin reflects the kind of home I want to wake up in.
Fall/Winter/Spring/Summer Vibes: Each season carries a different mood, and I love capturing that energy visually.
Quotes That Make Me Feel Something: Not just “Pinterest quotes”—but the kind that stop me mid-scroll. The ones that call me out and push me forward.
Romanticizing My Life: This board is filled with aesthetic photos of daily rituals—think: matcha in a pretty cup, a flower market, girly therapy moments like a skincare routine at a candlelit vanity. It inspires me to make the everyday feel magical.
Things That Make Me Feel Smarter: A board for intellectual glow-ups. Save thought-provoking quotes, books to read, podcast clips, dreamy study aesthetics. Anything that makes you want to take notes or learn something new.
Slow Domestic Life: Think Martha Stewart meets Pinterest-core. Laundry rituals, table settings, floral arrangements, old-money kitchen setups, and domestic life that feels intentional and elegant.
My Evening Ritual: Skincare, everything showers, nightstand aesthetics, journaling moments, sleepwear, chamomile tea, sleepy-girl mocktails. Use this to romanticize your night routine.
Daily Aesthetic Diary: A personal vision board for how you want your days to look—meals, outfits, errands, skincare moments, tiny luxuries.
Family: A visual love letter to the people who matter most (or like mine, it’s a reflection of the family I want to build in the future). Think cozy family moments, heirloom traditions, matching outfits, memory-making rituals, slow weekends at home, and the dream vision of family life.
Wants & Needs: Your curated wishlist meets practical dream list. Pin everything from investment pieces to daily essentials you’re manifesting. This is the board where desire meets intention—luxury handbags, chic loungewear, beauty holy grails, and little things that spark joy.
Table Books: A collection of the coffee table books that define your aesthetic, interests, and aspirations. Think art, interiors, fashion, photography, travel, wellness, and timeless design.
Entertaining: For your inner hostess with the mostess. Gather ideas for intimate dinner parties, seasonal tablescapes, signature cocktails, playlist vibes, and everything needed to throw a soirée that feels refined and effortless.
Every pin, every board, every saved image—it’s all a reflection of what you’re craving, what you’re dreaming of, and who you’re becoming.
So if you’ve ever felt silly for spending hours curating your boards or re-naming them for the fifth time—don’t. That’s you holding space for your future self in the most powerful way.
So yes, hot girls use Pinterest for therapy—and maybe you should too.
Bisous,
Gabrielle
I’m on Cosmos more often than Pinterest these days but this has inspired me to go check on my boards. I really do find it intensely therapeutic to delight in my future life even if I’m not actively “manifesting” anything. Plus the visuals are just so inspiring. Thank God for quiet social media platforms.
I love Pinterest exactly for what you’re saying. It does help channel the noise and help you figure out who you are or want to be. I’ve never thought of doing a “future self” board but I love that idea!