Many people choose a “word of the month” or a “word of the year” instead of making a New Year’s resolution.  It is estimated that 25% of people make resolutions.  As a registered dietitian nutritionist, I can confidently say that losing weight, eating healthier, and exercising more are among the top ten resolutions. However, while New Year’s resolutions give opportunities for a fresh start, they can be daunting.

According to one poll, 35% of people keep all their resolutions and 50% keep some of them. One author noted that resolutions often fail because:

• The focus was on changing a behavior rather than on changing a mindset
• There was no accountability structure
• There was a deep-seated fear of achieving those goals

Why Choose a Word of the Year Instead of a New Year’s Resolution?

Many people opt for a word of the year instead of a resolution.  A few years ago, I opted for this approach for a much-needed mind shift.  With this approach, you select one word on which to focus for the year. This word is then used to create your vision board, set your goals and intentions, and empower you.

For example, if your word is “fearless,” you might create goals and sub-goals for:

• Starting a new job or business
• Pursuing a new relationship or end an existing one
• Saying “yes” to things that scare you
• Saying “no” to people and things that drain you

For example, if your word is “discipline,” you might create goals and sub-goals for:

• Saving money from every paycheck
• Contributing monthly to your retirement account  
• Going to the gym 3 days a week
• Going to bed at a consistent time
• Not eating after 7 pm
• Limiting use of social media

For example, if your word is “grow,” you might create goals and sub-goals for:

• Reading more books
• Taking a course
• Starting a hobby
• Getting out of your comfort zone

Why Choose a Word of the Month Instead of a Word of the Year?

This year I chose to focus on a word of the month instead of a word of the year.  Last year, my word of the year was “big.”  I really got into the word “big” for the first two months, then several things happened:

• COVID pandemic
• Isolating at home
• Not traveling
• Zoom overload
• Death of my father

I journaled throughout the pandemic.  However, I quickly realized that the thing that really got “big” was my fear.  Focusing on that one word was overwhelming.  I finally acknowledged that:

• Each month was different and came with new opportunities and perspectives
• The different seasons of the year sometimes require a shift
• I was more deliberate and reflective during my birth month
• Emotions and feelings are powerful drivers
• Life events often require major shifts
• Flexibility is a gift that needs to be mastered

Tips for Using Your Word

Instead of choosing one word for the year, you get to choose 12 powerful ones to focus on during the year.  Here are a few tips for using them for a successful year:

• Don’t choose all 12 words at once
• Choose a new one before the new month starts
• If one really resonates with you, use it for a few months
• Learn the meaning of the word and its alternatives
• Choose a mixture of adjectives, nouns, and action verbs
• Focus on ones that nourish your soul, refocus your mind, and recharge your body
• Incorporate the word into your vocabulary
• Write it in your journal each day
• Print out the word and place it over your desk or bathroom mirror
• Make it the screen saver on your phone, tablet, or computer
• Write a few I AM affirmations using your word
• Find inspirational quotes or Scriptures that use that word
• Create a vision board for the word of the month

50+ Words to Consider

1. Abundance
2. Adventure
3. Align
4. Balance
5. Begin
6. Big
7. Bold
8. Breathe
9. Challenge
10. Create, Creativity
11. Collaborate, collaboration
12. Commit, commitment
13. Confident, confidence
14. Dare, daring
15. Discipline
16. Embrace
17. Empower
18. Enjoy
19. Faith, faithful, faithfulness
20. Family
21. Fearless
22. Flexible, flexibility
23. Forgive, forgiveness
24. Freedom
25. Friendship
26. Gratitude, grateful
27. Grow, growth
28. Give
29. Harmony
30. Health, healthy
31. Help
32. Honesty
33. Hope
34. Humility, humbleness  
35. Joy
36. Kindness
37. No
38. Peace
39. Persist, persistence
40. Play, playfulness
41. Refocus
42. Relationship
43. Rest
44. Risk
45. Serve, service
46. Simple, simplicity
47. Sparkle
48. Strong
49. Survive, survival
50. Teach
51. Thrive
52. Touch
53. Whole, wholeness
54. Yes
55. Zeal
56. Zest

Now, It’s Your Turn

A new year brings hope, excitement, and opportunities. I hope that you will take the approach of focusing on a word of the month to achieve your goals for this year. Don’t feel guilty if you have to change your word or go in a new direction. Remember, things happen in life and we need to shift and grow. I think you will also enjoy the blog posts on SMART goals to manage stress eating, 9 Sunday habits for a more productive week, fierce quotes on being successful, and 3 top priorities for work-life balance.

What are some of your focus words?

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