Word of the Year Method
Many years ago I ditched the idea of New Year’s Resolutions, and began setting goals. Then when my life started having more parts to it I found that I didn’t want to choose goals as they put pressure on me I didn’t like it. 2 years ago I began choosing one word to focus on that year instead. This method is called The Word of the Year. Have you heard of it? I can’t remember where I first heard about it but I love it. It helps me bring intention, focus, and clarity to what I want to create in my life.This year I written down the process by which I choose my word each year and today I’m sharing those steps with you.
This isn’t about crossing another goal off your list. It’s about creating a word or mantra to help guide your daily actions and grow mentally, physically, or spiritually (maybe even all three!).
Here are a few easy steps to help guide you in choosing your 2025 word of the year.
STEP 1: REFLECT
The first thing I want you to do is to reflect on this past year and ask yourself these questions. Jot down whatever pops into your head, in sentences, notes or on a mind map. Try using these questions….
What made you feel happy this year?
What did you find most difficult this year?
What habits do you want to change?
What accomplishments did you achieve this year?
What prevents you from living in alignment with what you want most in life?
How much sleep do you need to thrive?
What are the first five highlights that come to mind from this past year?
How much time did you dedicate to hobbies this year?
What did you learn in 2024?
What are the first three words that come to mind when you think about this year?
Once you review your responses you’ll have a better sense of the direction you’d like to go, or what you feel may be lacking in your life.
Steps 2. THINK
Next we think about your values, intentions and goals for 2025
There’s a difference between values, intentions and goals. Your values are what is important to you, what you believe in. Your intentions or what you want to achieve are influenced by your values and your goals are external proof of, or steps towards, an achievement. For example, you may believe in a harmonious work: life integration. Your intention could then be to enjoy more time for self-care. Your goal might be to get up earlier to create more time for doing the things you enjoy before you start work.
Now looking forward, think about your values and intentions in each of the following areas for 2025. You don’t need to set any rigid goals, rather start comparing where you are against where you want to be in these areas.
Reflect on your:
Relationships
Work
Physical health
Wellness and mental health
Lifestyle and hobbies
Life milestones
Skills – what would you like to get better at or learn?
STEP 3: VISUALISE
This part of the task is about visualising your perfect day and most importantly how you FEEL on that day. I enjoy creating a Vision Board as part of this stage of the process. A vision board is different to a mood board, and I encourage you here to concentrate on selecting images that represent how you want to FEEL this year, as opposed to having stuff you WANT on it. I’ve used old magazines in the past to create these, but this year for the first time I’ve use the free Canva App, which has a vision board template on it.
STEP 4: CREATE
Now you’re going to spend 10-15 minutes creating a list of the words that come to mind, no self-editing! Need some help? Here are some examples to get you started, but your word can be anything you want it to be.
STEP 5: REVIEW & REFINE
Review your list and narrow down your 2/3 favourites.
Chances are you’ll see a theme going on between the words you wrote down. Do any of the words jump out at you, make you feel excited, nervous, scared, uncomfortable, or at ease? Sometimes the words that scare us most can mean we’re on the right track because change isn’t always easy. At the same time, I think finding your word can also bring peace and empowerment.
Think about the words, try them on, and see what feels right. No need to over-analyse this process, trust your gut instead. Gently review your list and let the words pick you.
STEP 6: ASK YOURSELF THIS VERY IMPORTANT QUESTION
Now that you narrowed down your list to three words, there’s just one more question to ask: Are you interested, or are you committed?
If you’re merely “interested” then chances are you’ll make excuses as to why you’re not putting forth the effort to actually make changes. But if you’re “Committed” to your word, you’ll do whatever it takes to implement that word and bring more of it into your life.
If necessary, allow yourself a day or two, even a week to really think about this. It might change- that’s fine.
WHAT’S YOUR 2025 WORD OF THE YEAR?
The word will guide you throughout the year and even if you forget about it from time to time, subconsciously you’ll discover resources or tools to bring it into your life more than the year before. My word helps guide my decision making more often than I’d ever have thought. I’ve brought myself back to it at the end of each month to check I’m in line with my plan for the year… and I’ve even played around with words of the month which you might like to do too.
Note down your WOTY in your calendar or journal. You can write it on a post-it note and stick it on your bathroom mirror, computer, or anywhere else you’ll see it regularly.
If you’re curious, here are the words I’ve chosen in previous years:
2024: Love (but my vision board was all about Calm)
2023: Courage
I’m still working on my 2025 word, but so far I’ve narrowed it down to Alignment, Energy and Trust. Let me know what yours is!