How to Choose Your “Word of the Year” (+ What to Do With It)
Choosing a “Word of the Year” is more than just picking a trendy buzzword—it’s about setting an intention that shapes how you show up in the world. This word becomes a guiding light, a filter, and a reminder of what truly matters to you. In this guide, you’ll learn how to choose your word, what to do with it, and how to let it gently lead your year.
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1. Reflect on Your Past Year
Before you can move forward, pause and look back. Consider the recurring themes in your life. Have you noticed any patterns? Reflect on the challenges you’ve faced. What obstacles stood in your way? Think about what you craved but never prioritized. Were there any desires you placed on the back burner?
Picture This:
You’re curled up with a warm drink, journal in hand, flipping through the highlights and lowlights of your year. Some lessons sting, others make you smile—but they all point somewhere.
Ask Yourself:
- What felt heavy?
- What lit me up?
- What do I want more (or less) of?
Our Pick: Try using a guided journal like the Five Minute Journal to simplify your year-end reflections.
2. Identify the Energy You Want to Embrace
Your word should capture the feeling, vibe, or direction you want to move toward.
Picture This:
You close your eyes and imagine the best version of your year. It’s not about the specific goals—it’s the feeling that lives behind them: ease, strength, clarity, joy, softness.
Examples of energies to explore:
- Calm
- Momentum
- Expansion
- Groundedness
- Radiance
- Curiosity
- Depth
Choose the one that resonates on a soul level—not the one you think you should pick.
3. Brainstorm Words That Reflect That Energy
Now that you’ve identified the energy brainstorm words that represent it. Don’t filter or overthink yet—just let them flow.
Picture This:
You’re writing a spontaneous list in your journal or digital planner, letting your intuition lead. You circle or highlight the ones that give you a little spark.
Some example word ideas:
- Nourish
- Elevate
- Brave
- Trust
- Bloom
- Simplicity
- Align
- Embody
Our Pick: Use a beautiful bullet journal like this one to capture your ideas.
4. Define What Your Word Means to You
Your word can mean different things to different people—what matters is how you define it.
Picture This:
You create a vision page in your planner or on Notion titled “My Word of the Year: Radiate.” You fill it with meanings, quotes, intentions, and goals that align with your unique definition.
Why It Works:
This clarity keeps you anchored when life gets noisy. It becomes your compass.
Try This:
- Write 3–5 ways you want to embody your word.
- Choose a quote or mantra that reflects it.
- List habits, goals, or themes that align.
Our Pick: Consider printing your word with a custom wall art decal for a daily visual reminder.
5. Display It Where You’ll See It Often
Your word isn’t meant to live in your journal and collect dust. Please bring it to life by putting it where you’ll see it often.
Picture This:
Your word is printed on a bookmark, pinned to your vision board, and saved as your phone wallpaper. It keeps whispering to you, gently nudging you back to your path.
Ideas for where to display it:
- Your desktop or phone background
- A framed card or sticky note near your mirror
- In your planner, habit tracker, or Notion dashboard
- As part of your password (clever, right?)
Our Pick: Grab a motivational desktop calendar that reflects your chosen theme.
6. Revisit and Realign Monthly
Your word is a living thing—it grows with you. Revisit it each month to see how it’s showing up (or where you need to reconnect with it).
Picture This:
On the first Sunday of every month, you light a candle, open your journal, and ask, “How did I live this word this month? What’s next?”
Why It Works:
Regular reflection deepens the impact and keeps your words from becoming background noise.
Prompt Ideas:
- What surprised me about my word this month?
- Where did I resist it?
- How can I recommit to it?
Our Pick: Use a monthly check-in template or planner to stay on track.
Final Thoughts: Let It Lead You Gently
Your word of the year isn’t a rule or a rigid expectation. It’s a soft guide, a whisper, a source of strength and intention. If you let it, it can transform how you move through life, moment by moment.
Would you like a printable Word of the Year worksheet, a Notion template, or a list of journal prompts to support this practice? Let me know, and I’ll create one for you!
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