why pick a word of the year?
So for several years now, instead of making resolutions I’ve chosen a ‘word of the year’. This is a word that embodies an intention I wish to focus on throughout the year.
I feel this carries with it much more positivity than resolutions; it's a single word I use as a reminder and a guiding force for the year ahead, in order to grow - not restrict.
how to pick a word of the year
Previous words that have served me well, have been:
• FOCUS - the previous year, I had felt a little directionless and without a plan, which meant I was flitting between various projects without actually making much progress. Prioritizing tasks and reminding myself to focus on what was important without getting distracted, helped me be much more creative and productive towards my goals.
• ACTION - this was a perfect reminder to stop procrastinating!! I wrote it down and kept it on my desk as a constant reminder. Such a simple word but it's surprising how well it worked to give me a kick up the bum when I needed it!
• ORGANISATION - this particular year, I had a lot of upcoming projects and felt I needed much more structure in how I spent and prioritised my time and finances. So this was an important reminder, helping me keep on top of it all without becoming overwhelmed and stressed out.
put some thought into your word
I also feel that actionable words are better than words describing an emotion or how you'd like to feel.
I was chatting with a fellow small business friend about picking a word for the year, and she suggested hers would be ‘passion’ as she felt that was the thing that was most lacking in her business last year.
The only issue I saw with this word, is that ‘passion’, in any context, is rather overrated, and let’s be honest, no matter how much you love something, it’s impossible to be passionate about it ALL the time. Through the highs and lows of running a business in particular, imposing passion upon yourself isn't helpful or productive.
The same goes for words like 'happy' which isn't an emotion that we can control or simply switch on.
Seeing that written down won't instantly make you feel joy. So I tend not to use an emotion as my word. There are exceptions of course. There are some feelings we can evoke to be helpful to us; 'brave' or 'calm' for example, can be very effective words to use.
But generally, an ideal word would be one that spurs you to take action. It should be a supportive word - an anchor - that will act as a gentle reminder to keep you on track to reach your overall goal or achievement.
how to use your word
It's important to be able to see your word every day. Write it down on a piece of paper and place it where it'll be visible - on your desk, on a notice board, stuck to your mirror, or even on your phone's home screen... whatever works for you.
But don't just write it down and have it hidden away, it'll inevitably get forgotten about. The word needs to act as a reminder throughout the year, giving you a little nudge when needed, and so should sit somewhere prominent.
It's completely free - download your worksheet here!
