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How to Choose Your Word of the Year (and Stick With It!)

January 7 // 15 Comments // 5 Minute Read

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New Year, new me? I've gone back and forth about New Year's Resolutions. I can't decide if they're too much pressure or not enough inspiration. But I am loving this Word of the Year trend! It sounds a little quirky at first, but stick with me: I think this is going to change everything! #wordoftheyear #wordoftheyearideas #intentionalliving
Your friends are all choosing a word of the year to be their rallying cry for the next 12 months. So, should you do it? And if so, how??
This post may contain affiliate links. Read my full disclosure policy here.
 
New Year, new me? I've gone back and forth about New Year's Resolutions. I can't decide if they're too much pressure or not enough inspiration. But I am loving this Word of the Year trend! It sounds a little quirky at first, but stick with me: I think this is going to change everything! #wordoftheyear #wordoftheyearideas #intentionalliving

In between large sparkly balls dropping in downtowns everywhere and the rush to order crisp new planners in the hopes of procuring a productivity miracle, certain words start popping up all over social media on or around January 1st.

You’ve probably seen them! Words like intentional, focus, and the ever-popular simplify are on everyone’s minds and Instagram accounts. I even shared mine!

This worldwide internet phenomenon is called “Word of the Year.”

Your friends are all choosing a one word resolution to be their rallying cry for the next 12 months, and some even choose yearly goals aligned with the word so they can stay true to it in a practical way.

So, should you choose a word too? And if so, how??

I Wasn’t a Fan of the Trend … at First

I resisted “Word of the Year” for so long … for two reasons:

1. I couldn’t imagine putting myself under that much pressure. Choosing a ONE word resolution? For the entire year? Impossible. What if I chose the wrong word? That would be devastating. (I know you fellow perfectionists feel the same way.) 😉

2. Would choosing one word really make that much of a difference? In years past, I had flippantly picked words like “focus” and “intention” without any thought as to what goals would guide me toward fulfilling that word over the next 12 months.

But in 2018, I took the whole thing more seriously.

I was exhausted by social media. Tired of being glued to my phone. Disgusted at my addiction to app notifications and worrying about what emails needed my attention right away.

Right then and there, I decided to approach 2018 a little differently. (And then 2019. And then 2020!)

But for this particular year, I wanted to stop feeling the tug of my phone and be present wherever I was.

So that was my word. PRESENT.

bullet journal spread with word of the year: present

But instead of just choosing a word and doing nothing about it like before, I put boundaries in place that would guide me back to this word all year long.

Things like:

  • Saying no to screen time after 9pm
  • Not opening my phone until after my morning routine
  • Leaving my phone at home during walks
  • Focusing on one task (and one browser tab!) at a time
  • Time-blocking my projects so I would be more efficient and less distracted

Any time I felt myself drifting away, I’d acknowledge my slip-up, dust myself off, and start again.

Then the Calendar Flipped to 2019

After being motivated by my 2018 success, I decided to try the whole “word of the year” thing for a second time, and I chose GROW to influence this next season of my life.

woman holding bullet journal spread with word of the year: grow

Just like before, I saw this word come to life in multiple areas!

  • My online blogging business revenue grew by 30% over the course of the year.
  • I grew in my knowledge of how to study Scripture for myself (thanks in part to my friend and role model Phylicia Masonheimer!)
  • I tumbled down the rabbit hole of the Enneagram personality framework which provided so much clarity about why I do the things I do. This personal growth journey helped me recognize my weaknesses so I could take steps to conquer them.
  • Joseph and I also invested some money into stocks, and our investment grew by 20%. I know that’s not something you can predict, but because growing our retirement was one of my goals that year, it’s worth mentioning!

Now, that I’ve chosen a “Word of the Year” consecutively for two years, I’ve found that my life can center around one word. It’s not as overwhelming as I thought!

Because when you choose one word to be your theme for the entire year, it helps guide all your decisions. And if you tend to start new things or get distracted easily (ahem), your word of the year can bring you back to the present and remind you of why you chose it in the first place.

Have I convinced you to try “Word of the Year” yet?

There’s no pressure here to choose your perfect word. But I do have some tips to start the ideas flowing.

How to Pick Your Word of the Year

Think over the past few months and ask yourself three simple, yet revealing questions about your life:

  1. What worked?
  2. What didn’t?
  3. What would you like to change?

Jot these down in your bullet journal or planner and give yourself enough time to brain dump everything you can think of.

You may start seeing a theme develop through your writing. Is there one word that encompasses your desires for the future? A dictionary or thesaurus can also help you discover one that feels right!

Of course, sometimes the word is already on your heart and you just need confirmation.

I felt this with my word, “Present.” This word kept popping up in books, on signs, and even in some podcasts. Those outside sources confirmed that the word I thought might work was indeed the right one for me!

The Secret to Sticking To Your Word of the Year

It’s always a good idea to ask yourself occasionally,

“Does what I’m about to do line up with my word of the year?”

If not, that task, project, or event might deserve a “no”, or at least a delay so you can focus on the specific, actionable goals that align perfectly with your guiding word.

idyllic window scene with word of the year wall art

But your word of the year will only be effective if you refer back to it consistently, which is easier to do when you see it consistently! Here are a few ways to do that:

  1. Make your word tangible by writing it down on the top of every month in your planner as you make your schedule and set your goals for that season.
  2. Turn your word into a pretty phone or desktop wallpaper.
  3. Even better, display your word where you can see it every day as an art piece!

There are plenty of Etsy shops that offer to do this with your word, and this is what I did with my word GROW. Here are a few of my favorites!

  • That Inspired Chick
  • Maple Oranges
  • Sahuaro Lane

So…What is My Word for 2020?

Needless to say, I’m a big believer in Word of the Year now, so of course, I had to choose another word this year!

And that word is:

Peace.

bullet journal flatlay with word of the year: peace

I’m desperate for it.

I feel tugged in 1,546 different directions—mentally, physically, and emotionally. I’m tired of the noise and the never-ending to-do’s. Even when I do have a spare moment, I pick up my phone and fill it with screen time, bouncing around from app to app rather than intentionally using technology to serve me.

I want to trade in stress for calm. I want to embrace the quiet without having to fill it with something. Most of all, I want to be okay with not getting everything … and still be content.

I’m looking forward to how 2020 will stretch me … even though I know it will be uncomfortable at times!

So if you’re feeling a little lost right now but don’t like the pressure of setting twenty different goals for the year, I’d encourage you to choose one word.

Let this word be your rallying cry over the next twelve months. Let it be the driving force behind how you envision your life unfolding in light of this word and how it will impact your life in different areas.

By the end of the year, you’ll be the one looking back and noticing all the small, unexpected ways this word showed up in your life. And you’ll be on the edge of your seat come next January to choose a new one.

Want to know what my word of the year for 2021 is?

Share Your Word in the Comments!

I’d love to know your word of the year so we can fill the comment section with dozens of potential word choices. You never know who’s been thinking about your word and your comment could be confirmation for them!

Disclosure: Some of the links in the post above are affiliate links. This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will add value to my readers. Read my full disclosure policy here.

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Comments

  1. Roma Callaghan says

    January 14 at 7:29 pm

    I have a personal question from your post…. I was hoping you could help me, as this is an area I really struggle with, and it has been on my mind for a year or so now.. but Now is the time to begin..
    Please any tips would be gratefully accepted. The sentence in question is below: ……….

    I grew in my knowledge of how to study Scripture for myself (thanks in part to my friend and role model Phylicia Masonheimer!)

    Thank you in advance
    Roma from Victoria Australia..

    Reply
    • Kalyn Brooke says

      February 14 at 1:21 pm

      Hi Roma,

      You have me at the edge of my seat wondering what your questions was going to be! 🙂

      If it is along the lines of figuring out how to study the scriptures more, I really recommend Phylicia’s course that you can find here: https://phyliciamasonheimer.com/driven-women-bible-study/

      Reply
  2. Shannon says

    January 18 at 12:03 pm

    So, I think this is my 3rd year also. And last year I did put my word (Focus) on my monthly page/spread in my bujo, writing deeper meaning with it each month.
    This year my word is BELIEVE and it got a whole page for January 2020, with lots of “Be” statements. But what you wrote here and in your email showed me I need to have guides (boundaries you called them) to help define ways to accomplish growing my faith. I’ll be pondering these next few weeks for writing my February BELIEVE page. (long comment) 🙂

    Reply
    • Kalyn Brooke says

      February 14 at 1:22 pm

      Love your word!! Great choice.

      Reply
  3. Kathy Skinner says

    January 18 at 1:32 pm

    I have been on the Word of the Year wagon for a few years but this year was really struggling. Nothing seemed to fit. Then it hit me…Heal or Healing! I have been struggling with health issues, mainly a slipped disc pinching a nerve, so this year I need to concentrate on my health! Self-care would have been a good word too.

    Reply
    • Kalyn Brooke says

      February 14 at 1:23 pm

      Healing – I love it! There is so much that can go into that as well, physical, emotional, and even relational healing.

      Reply
  4. Guyonne says

    January 18 at 2:06 pm

    My word of the year will be: Choose. I always try to plan my week with things that are important for me. But it always end with a lot of things I have to do for other people, to make their life work. And in the meantime my work piles up.I eat food that I don’t like, because my family likes other food. And so on. This year I will focus on making decisions that makes me feel good. And if I feel good, I will have the energy to take care of the people who are important for me.

    Reply
    • Kalyn Brooke says

      February 14 at 1:24 pm

      I love that word!

      Reply
  5. Linda Peters says

    January 18 at 10:14 pm

    My first year to settle on a word. Prepare. I have been a Girl Guide – Canadian here – for most of my life and this naturally makes me think of the organization motto “Be Prepared”. It has been a difficult couple of years and from some of it I have learned I often end up in trouble because I did not think things through or did not prepare well enough so for this year I am going to try to be better prepared for what I can. Always knowing there will be situations coming up that I could not prepare for. I will have more energy for the unexpected if I am not using it to sort out what I could have “seen coming”.

    Reply
    • Kalyn Brooke says

      February 14 at 1:25 pm

      You can never over-prepare… right?! 🙂

      Reply
  6. Robin says

    January 19 at 1:30 pm

    I’m thinking of my word being Accomplish…to me it means doing something or finishing something towards a goal. It’s motivating and releases me from doing to much. So if I accomplish anything it’s a good thing. It’s one thing off my list and one less stress in my life.

    Reply
    • Kalyn Brooke says

      February 14 at 1:26 pm

      Accomplishments can be like a snowball rolling down a hill. The more you accomplish, the more motivation you have to accomplish even more!

      Reply
  7. Lorissa Reynolds says

    January 2 at 10:05 pm

    Kathy Skinner, I have back issues too. Bulging disk. I was told my orthopedist that I may need to have back surgery. That didn’t sound like fun to me! So, I began a program called Hinge Health that I found out about through my work insurance. Here is a link to the website. https://www.hingehealth.com/for-individuals
    You might want to check with your insurance to see if it’s covered. It has really helped my back. Worth checking it out.

    Reply
  8. Andrea says

    January 3 at 10:21 am

    My word is persevere. I’ve never had a ‘word’ before so this should be interesting. I’ve got a lot of home renovations to get done this year, sorting out contractors etc having moved home at the end of October I still haven’t fully unpacked. I know I’ll find more that needs to be done as I progress thru the projects. So persevere seems appropriate, keep on rolling along getting everything done bit by bit.

    Reply
    • Kalyn Brooke says

      January 6 at 4:06 pm

      That sounds like a great choice! Good luck with your home projects 🙂

      Reply

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Hi, I’m Kalyn—a recovering perfectionist who nerds out about organizing systems, personal productivity, and helping you prioritize what matters over the pressure to do it all. I have a feeling we’re about to become the best of friends! Learn more >>

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👩‍💻 | I help value-driven women lead manageable + meaningful lives.
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What’s one thing you budget for that other peopl
What’s one thing you budget for that other people might not? I always find those interesting. 😃⁣ ⁣ You might have a mortgage. I budget for campgrounds. You might want a separate clothing budget, while I’m fine combining it under “Beauty and Style.” Recently, we also added a new line item for our motorcycle—something I NEVER thought would appear in our budget. ⁣ ⁣ See, we’re all different! ⁣ ⁣ Recently, I rearranged my budget categories and created this “cheat sheet.” Sometimes I forget where things go, like picking up new wall art for the living room. Does this item belong in the categories of Household Items or Home Maintenance? 🤔⁣ ⁣ Now I know! And I save time processing receipts each Friday. 🧾⁣ ⁣ What budgeting categories do you use? Share one of your random budget line items with me in the comments below! 😃

I call 2020 the Year of Abandoned Books. ⁣
⁣
I

I call 2020 the Year of Abandoned Books. ⁣ ⁣ I’m never afraid to stop reading a book if it doesn’t live up to the hype. Why invest more time in a book I’m not all that excited about when I could be exploring new authors and storylines where I can’t wait to turn the page? 🤷⁣ ⁣ But in 2020, I let more books go than I normally do. I suppose my patience dwindled when I thought the world was ending. Not that I thought the world was actually ending…but you know what I mean. 😉⁣ ⁣ As an Enneagram 1, I hate giving up on a book. I’m prone to the all-or-nothing mentality, even in my reading habits. My eyes could glaze over boring prose and I’d still repeat to myself: “You MUST finish this book!” 😫⁣ ⁣ Why? ⁣ ⁣ No one is adding a plastic star to your Book-It pin, (Remember those?) This isn’t assigned reading from your high school English class. This is YOUR reading life. ⁣ ⁣ And YOU should choose what books deserve your attention. 📚⁣ ⁣ There are too many good ones out there anyway. Like one of my favorite reads from 2020. 😍⁣ ⁣ This week’s newest blog post rounds up everything I read last year (43 books total!) including 5-star psychological thrillers, a delightful royal series, a couple self-help books, and of course, historical fiction.⁣ ⁣ Click the link in my bio to read it! ☝⁣ ⁣ What were your favorite books in 2020? Our literary styles might be a match made in heaven! ✨

My planner/journal lineup for 2021. 👆 ⁣
⁣
T

My planner/journal lineup for 2021. 👆 ⁣ ⁣ These small but mighty sidekicks will be my saving grace this year. 📚⁣ ⁣ 1️⃣ Bullet Journal (Blue) - for everyday planning and goal setting⁣ 2️⃣ Regular Journal (Yellow) - to track gratitude (5 things a day!) and to process ALL the feelings⁣ 3️⃣ Growth Journal (Sand) - a space for me to brain dump everything I learn from books, podcasts, sermons, etc ⁣ ⁣ That last one is new to me as of this year and I can't wait to flip back through all my notes come December! 📆⁣ ⁣ What planners/journals are you using for 2021?

Self-care is just as important as making your famo
Self-care is just as important as making your famous sugar cookies this holiday season. 🍪⁣ ⁣ Because let’s be real. ⁣ ⁣ That Hallmark-esque Christmas magic disappears the moment disagreeable family members annoy you. Or when you feel irritable over too many late nights and little-to-no sleep. Or when expectations over meals and traditions and social activities fall short and leave you feeling disappointed. 😬⁣ ⁣ But instead of dwelling on these stressful moments and using them as an excuse to completely disconnect from reality (as I’m often tempted to do!), view them as an opportunity for you to respond with poise. 💞⁣ ⁣ ➕ Journal your feelings. ⁣ ➕ Go for a walk. ⁣ ➕ Prioritize what’s essential. ⁣ ➕ Remember to breathe.⁣ ➕ And try not to eat your feelings…okay?⁣ ⁣ Here’s your permission slip if you need one: You don’t need to do or participate in everything! Take a time out when you need it. 🙌⁣ ⁣ That’s the best way you can protect your emotional well-being over the next few days.⁣ ⁣ Merry Christmas, friends! 🎄


I know you’re ready for this year to be over. 🙋‍♀️ The last twelve months brought so many hard things into our lives—relationships were lost, our country became more broken and divided than ever, and oh yeah, we walked through a pandemic too. 🦠 🤯 No biggie, right? Ha! 😅 And while it’s easy to look back and wish we could skip 2020 altogether (or at least insist on a do-over), I don’t want this year to be the one where the hard overcame the good. 💕 Just as hard days don’t mean ruined days, hard years don’t mean ruined years. 2020 can still be good. 💪 For me, I want to remember the fun and exciting things we did. The adventures we had. The new shows we watched, and the books we read. The new life hacks and things I discovered that made my life easier or just brought me joy. 💞 You’ll find it all in my latest blog post (link in profile). If you still need to buy a gift for a loved one (or for yourself!), you’ll find plenty of fun and affordable ideas to fill up the rest of your gifting list. 📦 Otherwise, enjoy a stroll down the good side of 2020’s memory lane and leave your favorite things in the comments so I can try them. 👋


Pro minimalism tip: Use double-duty appliances. 🤯⁣ ⁣ With limited kitchen space, I have to be super careful about what appliances we invite into the RV. We already had an Instant Pot, Ninja Blender, and a Food Processor. But I really wanted an air-fryer! ⁣ ⁣ With no place to put it, I discovered that Instant Pot made a dual instant pot/air-fryer product. So I gave my instant pot away, and my mom bought me this one for an early Christmas present. I’ve only played with it a couple of times but I’m already in love! 💕⁣ ⁣ Kale chips...sweet potato fries...broccoli. I’m basically an air-frying queen now. And I can easily switch back to the instant pot whenever I want. Yay for two appliances in one! 🥳⁣ ⁣ Q: What is your favorite appliance to use? Is it double duty? 🤔


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