Hello all! We’re more than halfway through this year already!!! Can you believe it? Me neither. I thought this would be a perfect time to revisit my word of the year and share with you how my word of the year is working for me.
A trend in recent years has been to select a word of the year as your focus and guidance for the year instead of making traditional New Year’s resolutions. Choosing a word that has meaning for you and helps to define your goals, actions, and focus for the year.
Have you tried it?
I’ve tried this approach several times in the past. And like most “beginning of the year decisions” made in January, they quickly fade after month or two. Sound familiar?
Yeah, sometimes I actually remembered what my word of the year was. But helping me to focus and shape my goals….ehhh not so much.
Has this ever happened to you too? Good intentions…not so good follow through
(If not and you have successfully followed through with your chosen word of the year PLEASE share in the comments how you did it… I’m always looking for ways to help me follow through with goals for myself.)
Well despite my previous failures attempts I decided to try it again this year. You know with all the hoopla about January decisions/goals…
After some reflection I chose the word CREATE as my word of the year. Why? Because after a year of moving, unpacking, and trying to settle into a new home and community I so desperately wanted to create.
Yet I wondered..how can I keep this from just becoming another word? From repeating past attempts.? What could I do differently this year to help keep my chosen word –CREATE- in the forefront of my thoughts and actions? To actually have it guide me?
What if I incorporate my word into my goals? So, that’s just what did.
Here’s a look at how I wrote some of my goals in my planner this year.
How has it worked you ask? Great so far!! Now this doesn’t mean that I’ve met all my goals… or even most of them. Heck some I’ve been trying to do for a couple of years (yes weight, I’m talking about you).
What it does mean is that my word of the year is always first and foremost in my mind as I plan my monthly, weekly, and daily activities. I haven’t forgotten about it as I have in years past. But more importantly it has helped me focus more on what matters to me.
So now I am so much more intentional about how I choose to spend my time. As I plan my monthly/weekly activities I ask myself, what can I do this week/month that will help me… create memories with the grandchildren? Create a healthier me? Create opportunities for travel…etc.
This has helped make sure my day to day activities line up with my goals for myself. That they don’t just become a to do list of busy tasks… a different mindset than I have used in the past.
This year I also discovered an awesome tool to help me take my word of the year and my goals to the next level… breaking them down into smaller steps to accomplish them. I’ll be writing a blog post about that in the very near future.
Be sure to subscribe to my newsletter so you don’t miss that post.
All in all, I have come to realize that having a dedicated word of the year can indeed have a positive impact on my life. It helps keep me focused on the things that matter to me. And even if I don’t reach all the goals I’ve set, I am still making progress towards them. So I don’t feel like a failure for not keeping my “resolutions” like I often did when I made New Year’s resolutions in the past.
Have you ever used a word of the year approach? In what ways did it help you in your life? Please comment below. I’d love to hear how it worked for you.
Sherry
Vernice P Dowe says
I love this idea and seeing your planner helped to visualize how to do it. Thanks for sharing.
Sherry says
Thanks for stopping by. I’m glad the picture of my planner was helpful.Have you ever used a word of the year approach to yearly goal setting?
Vernice P Dowe says
I have not used a word of the year approach but am keeping it mind for 2020.
Sherry says
Now’s a great time to start thinking of a word for next year. Lots of resources and lists online.