The Power of a Word

How Choosing a Word of the Year Can Lead You to a Happier, More Organized Life.

By Beth Nordby, Custom Order Organizing

As 2025 gets underway, many people are busy choosing personal resolutions or setting business goals. Those can be very effective for many people, but I want to share another option that can be incredibly powerful in helping you shape your decisions and actions throughout the year. Instead of a resolution or goal, consider choosing a Word of the Year. This word will serve as a guiding light for you throughout the year to make it easier for you to focus on what matters most to you and make everyday changes to prioritize what you value most.

When organizing, I encourage my clients to eliminate the “noise” in their lives. That can be physical clutter, yes, but it is also any individual thing, action, activity, mindset, or even relationship that does not align with the life they wish to live. A Word of the Year can help you more easily identify those sources of “noise” in your life that get in the way of whatever that word represents for you. In today’s blog, I’ll explain how all of this works and the steps you can take to choose your Word of the Year for 2025.

Why Choosing a Word of the Year is Better Than a Goal or Resolution

Resolutions often come with a sense of obligation and pressure. They are typically specific, measurable targets we set for ourselves, such as losing a certain amount of weight, saving a specific sum of money, or selling a certain amount of product/services. While setting tangible goals can be beneficial, they can also feel rigid and unforgiving. Life is unpredictable, and when we run into obstacles, failing to achieve these resolutions can lead to feelings of guilt and inadequacy.

The Pressure of Perfection

One of the main issues with resolutions is that they can lead to an all-or-nothing mindset. For instance, if your resolution is to exercise every day, missing a few days might feel like a failure, leading you to abandon the goal altogether. We have to let go of this perfectionism mindset so we can adapt and reset throughout the year.

The Negative Cycle of Resolutions

Many people set the same resolutions year after year, only to find themselves in the same spot 12 months later. This creates a negative association with goal-setting. Instead of focusing on what we want to change about ourselves, what if we find a way to celebrate who we are and what we can achieve?

The Power of a Word of the Year

A Word of the Year acts as a guiding principle rather than a strict goal. It offers clarity and focus without the pressure of rigid expectations. What’s more, this word can touch on every aspect of your life and decision-making, where a specific and narrow goal only addresses one part of your life. Here are several more reasons why this approach can be more effective and fulfilling.

Flexibility and Adaptability

A Word of the Year provides a flexible framework that can adapt to the ebbs and flows of life. For example, if your word is “balance” you can apply this concept to various aspects of your life, from work and family to personal well-being. If one month you have a heavy kids sports schedule, focusing on “balance” reminds you (and gives you permission) to ease up on another area of your life. Maybe that means ordering a meal service for that month to save yourself the time of meal planning, shopping, and cooking. You can see how this word vs a rigid goal allows you to make adjustments as needed, without feeling like you’ve failed if circumstances change.

Encourages a Positive Mindset

Choosing a Word of the Year shifts focus from what you need to change to what you want to embrace. This can help you feel empowered and motivated. Words like “growth,” “courage,” or “joy” serve as constant reminders of your aspirations, helping you to prioritize actions and decisions that align with these values.

Integration into Daily Life

A Word of the Year can be seamlessly integrated into your daily life influencing your ongoing decision-making and actions, helping you to stay aligned with your core values and aspirations throughout the year.

How to Choose Your Word of the Year

Okay so now that I’ve sold you on the concept of a Word of the Year, how do you choose yours? First, don’t put a lot of pressure on yourself. Whatever you choose will be helpful to you. We’re looking for progress, not perfection. Here are a few steps to help you choose a word that resonates with you:

1. Reflect on the Past Year: Consider what you’ve accomplished, what challenges you faced, and what you learned. Think about what you want to carry forward into the new year.

2. Identify Core Values: Reflect on what truly matters to you. What values do you want to prioritize in the coming year? Words like “authenticity,” “connection,” or “resilience might resonate with you.

3. Envision the Future: Picture your ideal year. What do you want to achieve or experience? How do you want to feel? Let these visions guide your word choice.

4. Keep it Simple: Choose a word that is simple, clear, and meaningful. It should resonate with you on a deep level and be easy to remember.

5. Trust Your Intuition: Sometimes, the right word will simply feel right. Trust your instincts and choose a word that speaks to you personally.

Embracing Your Word of the Year

Once you’ve chosen your word, embrace it fully. Here are some ways to incorporate it into your life:

• Visual Reminders: Create visual cues around your home or workspace. This could be a decorative sign, a screensaver, or a piece of jewelry that symbolizes your word.

• Daily Journaling: Incorporate your word into your journaling practice. Reflect on how you are embodying it in your daily life.

• Goal Setting: Use your word as a filter for setting specific goals. Ensure that your goals align with the essence of your word.

• Mindful Practice: In moments of decision-making, pause and consider how your choice aligns with your word.

By choosing a Word of the Year, you are setting an intention for how you want to live, rather than what you want to achieve. Allow yourself flexibility in applying this intention to any and every aspect of your life. So as this new year begins, consider trading in your resolutions for a single, empowering word—it might just transform your life in ways you never imagined.

Want some support as you put your Word of the Year in Action? Need a little help setting up some systems and eliminating “noise”? Contact me at CustomOrderOrganizing.com.