I shared a page from my bullet journal about my word of the year on social media yesterday and had a TON of questions from my followers, so figured I’d write a post about it instead of answering questions over and over.
For the last six years, I’ve picked a word to guide my focus for the year. It helps shape all the decisions I make and keeps me focused on creating the changes I desire in my life.
A few people wanted to know where this concept came from. It’s been popular online for the last 5 or 6 years, but as far as I’m aware, it originated with Ali Edwards’ One Little Word program in 2006.
This post really isn’t about how to pick your word, because there are a lot of amazing resources for that online already (see resources at the bottom of this post).
The only thing I’ll add is that your word needs to feel like it fits. Some years you’ll need a more active word because you’re in a season of growing. Other years, you’re needing more rest and rejuvenation and will want something softer. I was craving a gentler ride in 2016, so my word was EASE. It fit perfectly and taught me a lot about ways I can handle my business life in a way that felt less stressful. In 2017, I’m determined to get out of my own way and say yes to things that scare me, so I’ve chosen LEAP for my word.
Sidenote: If you want to learn more about the stages you naturally go through as you progress in life, Molly from Stratejoy has an awesome article about why you shouldn’t compare yourself to others who are in a different stage than you. She explains the Cycle of Years that we all go through. I highly recommend checking it out!
Today I’m sharing some ideas for implementing your word of the year into your life once you’ve chosen it. This picture is the post that started the landslide of messages I received. I asked, “How can I LEAP in 2017?” Then I applied that to different areas of my life. It gave me a unique perspective and I saw there were things I could do in all areas of my life to leap, rather than just in my business.
Last year I added my word of the year to the front of my bullet journal. This kept it in my mind because I saw it often.
Create a Vision Board
Another fun idea is to create a vision or inspiration board. You can do this by googling your word or searching on Pinterest. You could even make a Pinterest board for your word. It’s really easy to put them together using the collage feature on PicMonkey or by using an app like Photogrid.
Once you have your collage made, you can print it out to hang up where you’ll see it every day, or save it as your phone wallpaper or the desktop background on your computer.
For more info on how to create a vision board, visit this article from Christine Kane.
Themed Reading List
Another great idea is to create a list of books to read that support your word of the year. Here’s the list I’ve put together so far for my word, Leap.
- The Year of Yes by Shonda Rhimes
- The Big Leap by Gay Hendricks
- Wild by Cheryl Strayed
- You are a Badass by Jen Sincero
- Let’s all be Brave by Annie F. Downs
- Wild & Free by Hayley Morgan
- The Universe has your Back by Gabrielle Bernstein
If you have any other suggestions for me, I’d love to hear them. You can leave them in the comment section below.
Another idea, which I haven’t done yet is to create your own personal manifesto about how you’re going to apply the word to your life this year. If you’d rather journal, I think that’s a great idea to really revel in your word.
Monthly Quotes
I found 12 quotes that go along with my word for the year. I plan to use one each month and write it in my bullet journal and on my monthly calendar page.
Resources for Picking your Word of the Year
I personally go through a year-end review and goal setting process, and a very small part of that is picking my word of the year. It’s been a favorite feature of my blog readers for the last 6 years. The workbook includes over 60 pages of worksheets that will help you set goals for the new year. Click here for more information.
Another great resource is Ali Edwards’ One Little Word Workshop.
Also check out Susannah Conway’s 5 day course and workbook to help you find your word of the year.
Join the Conversation
Have you picked your word of the year yet? If so, I’d love to hear what you picked. Share it in the comments below.
Great post! I have participated in Ali Edwards One Little Word for the past twos but unfortunately, have not followed through with the class material. I have attempted the live with the word but was not focused and intentional with the words I chose so I didn’t gain much. I have a new perspective after some big life changes last year and plan to live with a word again. I love the vision board and mind mapping you did for your word and it is definitely something I will be adding this year to help me live with my word.
This is a great post and thank you for curating all these resources. I am very interested in words of the year because I handmade custom jewelry to keep a word of the year top of mind – in a tangible way. This post is so helpful for my research.
I used Kim’s worksheets to pick my word for the year. It is NOT one of the words I had listed originally. It came out of the poking at thesaurus.com and the synonyms there. I am very happy about it. My word is REVITALIZE!!
Ah! I love that word!! I might have to add that one to my list of possibilities for 2018. I gather words all year long in a note on my phone and see what feels right at the end of each year. 🙂
I have a small white Christmas tree that stays lit all year long……….it’s my “word tree”. It’s in my little corner of my Sunroom where I have my quiet time/devotional every single morning.
My word this year is “HOPE”
I’ve decided on “determined” from a poem that talks about “the firm resolve of a determined soul.” I’ll post the poem at the front of my journal and each month tackle something to be determined about…even about saying “yes” and “no”! I thought about my word for weeks and today…bam! I’m determined!
Ahh…determined is a great word!! And I totally agree that knowing what to say no to is just as important as knowing when to say yes. 🙂
I must be in a season of growth (again!) because I chose ‘collaborate’ as my word for 2017.
I really like the idea of the 12 quotes to accompany your word, and I have done the same. I’m planning on turning them into 12 different images and saving them as backgrounds on my ipad,laptop etc and also on my iWatch as another gentle nudge to be mindful of my word.
I chose LIGHT this year. This is my 9th year having a WotY. An amazing and life altering practice.
Light for me is about Being A light, a beacon. Being LIGHT, physically and mentally. Lighting sh*t up, being a force to be reckoned with and living up to my potential. Kim, have you also looked up Christine Kane? That’s where I first heard about a word of the year practice in 2008. Just another perspective and thought process about how and WHY to choose a word. 🙂 – beth hackett
I had a tough time coming up with mine, but then it just hit me out of the blue: LESS! Still working with it. But that’s the one ????! It has so much meaning for me.
HI! I thought I had my word all picked out…”determined”…and during prayer time I was redirected to the word “love” for 2017! I really like the idea of 12 quotes ( I may use a lot of Scripture! ) for my “word”. I also will be implementing applying it to each focus area of my life. Thank you for sharing this! An off-topic question for you~ What font did you use for the words “Sublime Reflection” in your header? I have fallen in love with that style font, but have no idea what the name might be! Thank you!
I “love” your word and the idea of using scriptures! 🙂 The font is called Starlight.
Thank you so much!
I chose my word of the year for the first time just last month. The word is for 2018, and I’ve actually had it printed on the front of my Erin Condren (bullet journaling wound up not being for me for a variety of reasons I won’t get into). I chose the word “Believe.” It’s my reminder that I have to believe in something — including myself — to make magic happen!
I love that one! I’d love to hear from you later in the year and see how you’re making it happen!
This is my first WotY. In the past, I didn’t really think I needed one, but this year, things are going to be different. My Word this year is “Excitement.” For too long I have been existing, doing things I have always done, everything the same, my life, my relationship, my work. Next year, I want to inject more excitement so that I can be happier, more glad, more in tune with myself and end the ideals and habits that are no longer serving me.
I discovered the Word of the Year concept a month ago and thought it was not for me. Then yesterday, while setting up my new Bllet Journal for the year, a word found and adopted me. I didn’t see it coming! But it wanted to be there upfront on my 2018 BJ first page. My word of the year 2018 is Realization. I moved last year, and spent the last 5 months of 2017 trying to settle znd build a new life around so many major changes. I changed a lot this year too, discovered the world of bullet journalling and started to become moreproductive, more organized, and less procrastinating: I’m getting sh*t done!
I also figured on an impulse a month ago my life purpose, and decided to start a new course and add a second profession to my main one, a side technique that will reunite my artistic self with my healing self, and invite my main “hobby”, Music, into my everyday healing job. I’m starting in January.
This year, I will REALIZE myself as a whole, find my identity, and I will REALIZE stuff, finish all the zillion projects I started in Music, in Crafts, and in making this new house pretty and my Home.
Several of my daughters have been using a word to live by for years now. I️ have seen how it has blessed their lives. I’ve picked a word in the past but it never went anywhere. My whole life changed in 2017. A divorce after 43 years of marriage. A move to another state to be near 6 of my 8 children and 26 of my 33 1/2 grandchildren. Living alone, paying bills for the first time, making my own decisions for the first time. Every thing is new in my life
Thank Heaven for The SAVIOR in my life, He has literally carried me in the palm of His hand. The non stop blessings and tender mercies have astounded me.
My oldest daughter reminded me about “one little word “. So I️ started looking thinking and praying about it nothing seemed right then she sent me RESTORE from Deuteronomy 30:3. Is that not perfect then she sent m your link and I’m seeing how this can really be a blessing in my life, I’m so excited. Here is an idea from me I’m going to take each letter in restore and give it a word,
Example. R
Example
Serve
Time
O
R
E
These were just off the top of my head and not the words I️ will use but you get the idea.
Thanks for doing what you do it inspires me so much.
Debi
Restore sounds like the perfect word for you!! If you’re not familiar with it already, Brave Girls Club has a course called Soul Restoration that is amazing! I’m happy that we connected. <3
I just heard of the WORD about a month ago. Not sure if it was for me, but Pinned it anyway. I keep coming back to it. My word is Begin.
I pinn a lot of stuff on Pinterest but rarely look at them again. There are so many things that I want to learn/do but I just don’t BEGIN. So this is for the new “me” that I don’t expect enough out of. The “me” that I don’t push. The “Me” that wants to leave something in the world that was about me. Bullet journaling is the first that I will BEGIN. Thanks, Nancy
I love the word begin! That’s where the magic starts.
My word for 2018 is ACTION! Here is a quote I just found that perfectly describes how I feel:
It’s not intentions that matter. It’s actions. We are what we do and say, not what we intend to do.
God made it very clear to me that this year my word would be sacrifice.