Are writers the only ones who pick a word of the year? No, writers pick many words of the year! And if your 2024 was anything like mine, you might have LOTSA words you’d like to blurt out.
Your Word of the Year
Picking your Word of the Year or motto of the year is inspiring after a full holiday season and start to a brand new January. For me, beginning a new year is always a little daunting and, I’ll admit, stressful. Some people love the fresh outlook, but I’ve always tended to worry at the start of something new. Plus, Christmas is my favorite holiday and, when it’s over, I get a smidgen melancholy.
So, if you can relate, I’m glad you’re here! We can figure out this fresh era together.
Below, you’ll see my suggestions for words that help you meet your personal goals or just give you an anchor for the next several months.
After reading, I hope you find a word you like or think of one that’s not listed that’s just right for you!
This post is all about finding your Word of the Year.
But, first. More words.
This page contains affiliate links, which means I may receive a commission if you make a purchase through my affiliate link at no extra cost to you. My recommendations are always items I buy or totally want to buy!
How to Pick a Word of the Year
Decision fatigue is real, especially after the holidays, so you might be like, just pick a word for me already, woman! Though, as much as I’d love to dole out random words to random people (and, oh, I do have some words for certain people!), your Word of the Year will be what your heart says it will be.
So, what’s your heart saying, friend?
If that’s too vague for you, here are some questions to ask yourself:
- What is my biggest goal for the upcoming year?
- What is something I don’t want to do anymore?
- What is one thing that would make me extra happy?
Write down 1-3 ideas for each question to get a better view of what your heart is telling you.
Here are my answers:
- What is my biggest goal for the upcoming year?
- Publish my first self-published book.
- Eat healthier.
- Grow my blog.
- What is something I don’t want to do anymore?
- Overthink EVERYTHING.
- Worry about people who don’t worry about me.
- Say yes to things I don’t want to do anymore!
- What is one thing that would make me extra happy?
- Save more money.
- Play piano and sing more frequently.
- Spend quality time with my favorite people and dogs.
Wanting Change or a Newfound Purpose
This can be anything from changing careers to changing your brand of laundry detergent. I recommend Earth Breeze, by the way, because it’s changed my life!
- Possibility
- Refresh
- Empowered
- Openness
- Perspective
- Transform
- Seek
- Learn
- Explore
- Shift
- Modify
- Refocus
- Simplify
- Promise
- Reset
- Progress
- Faith
- Serendipity
- Triumph
- Powerful
- Strong
- Launch
- Recalibrate
If I chose “promise” as my Word of the Year,
this might mean I’m keeping a promise to myself,
to be true to what I need in the moment
or what I want for my long-term goals.
I might promise to take more time for myself
or say “no” to attending an event,
even if there’s pressure to go.
Seeking Rest, Peace, or Less Complexity
We live in a wild and unruly world sometimes. Okay, pretty much all the time. Maybe you need to schedule more me-time or get some help around the house. Think of things that would take some of the burden off of your shoulders.
- Pause
- Breathe
- Slow
- Streamline
- Sleep
- Honor
- Reflect
- Meditate
- Pray
- Calm
- Rejuvenate
- Lounge
- Relax
- Pamper
- Shed
- Unfetter
- Unburden
- Boundaries
- Indulge
- Humor
- Health
- Ease
- Blessings
- Comfort
- Tranquility
- Declutter
- Silence
If I chose “tranquility” for my Word of the Year,
it might take me to the ocean,
where I find so much peace.
And that could mean a literal trip
or a trip down memory lane
where I make an album of my photos.
It’s all about being creative and feeding your soul!
Making a Dream Come True
Your dreams are manifestations of your personality, talents, and faith in yourself. You know which word will help you make them all come true!
- Accomplish
- Focus
- Prioritize
- Achievement
- Strive
- Engage
- Believe
- Inspire
- Confidence
- Try
- Persevere
- Persistence
- Desire
- Trust
- Succeed
- Continue
- Passion
- Grasp
- Wisdom
- Prosperity
- Endure
- Organize
- Destiny
- Consistency
- Prepare
- Reach
- Fortune
- Brave
If I chose “passion” for my Word of the Year,
this might remind me to sing and play piano,
learn new songs,
and get my music out into the world.
Strengthening Your Relationships
It’s important to spend time with those who are good for our souls. If you’re making a conscious effort this year to connect with people and animals that bring you joy and bring out the best in you, here are some word ideas. At the same time, remember that it’s okay to protect your time when it comes to those who aren’t so good for your mental health.
- Listen
- Empathize
- Care
- Respect
- Admire
- Gentleness
- Thoughtfulness
- Kindness
- Forgiveness
- Devotion
- Generosity
- Presence
- Mindfulness
- Communication
- Share
- Express
- Adventure
- Memories
- Enjoy
- Notice
- Connection
- Gratitude
- Thankfulness
- Contentment
- Volunteer
- Family
- Friends
- Love
- Cherish
- Treasure
- Appreciate
- Encourage
- Savor
If I were to pick “savor” for my Word of the Year,
I might think of enjoying the tiniest details of beauty
that I come across each day.
I might get lost in the moment
or stop being distracted
and really appreciate the faces I love so much.
(This is the Hallmark writer in me!)
Learning a New Skill or Rekindling an Old Talent
There are so many resources available to us for learning or relearning skills, which makes things so much easier than before. I grew up reading sheet music in order to play piano and sing. But a few years ago, I started something new. I decided to switch from classical music to popular music, and I did this by finding tutorials online. Sheet music has always hurt my head, but my muscle memory has always been my strength. It seems simple for most musicians today, but it wasn’t always that easy to gain access to songs when you were born in the 1900s!
I also played and sang songs concurrently. This was something I never thought I could do. And they were songs I liked! (Not just songs my professors liked!) Now, my chord knowledge and cover song repertoire has grown from memorizing “Shallow” to performing all sorts of music from Coldplay to Evanescence.
I’m boring you with this story to really say: You can follow your passions, too!
- Discover
- Dream
- Travel
- Delight
- Recharge
- Play
- Tinker
- Experiment
- Beauty
- Marvel
- Create
- Imagine
- Grow
- Reconnect
- Redefine
- Plant
- Artistry
- Envision
- Revisit
- Nostalgia
- Joy
- Happiness
- Wonder
- Magic
- Nurture
- Courage
- Sparkle
- Glow
- Unique
- Original
- Inimitable
- Enrichment
- Noodle
- Doodle
- Sing
If I chose “glow” for my Word of the Year,
then I might interpret this as perfecting my art
at my own pace
and brightly shining in my own way.
Getting Into the Habit of Being More Altruistic
It’s fun to help others and, if that’s where your heart is leading you, then here are some words to keep you motivated.
- Compassion
- Goodness
- Helpful
- Understand
- Uplift
- Optimism
- Positivity
- Advocate
- Champion
- Change
- Meaning
- Dedication
- Voice
- Roar
- Contribute
- Lead
- Serve
- Pioneer
- Beyond
- Inquire
- Observe
- Speak
- Hear
If I pick “pioneer” for my Word of the Year,
I might think of creating a project
that benefits an organization I’m passionate about.
And this is something I’m actually doing!
Stay tuned for more news on that front and in the meantime,
check out this-is-houston.org!
Letting Go of What’s No Longer Good For Your Soul
Up to your own interpretation, of course.
This can mean people. This can mean Pinot. This can mean pie. Whoever or whatever is giving you irritability OR indigestion, you can reassess how much is too much. I’m not necessarily saying you should suddenly ghost everyone. Instead, I’m suggesting you notice how certain personalities and experiences make you feel…or even the THOUGHT of how those things make you feel. Then, adjust accordingly, y’all!
- Farewell
- Surrender
- Swagger
- Acknowledge
- Accept
- Revolution
- Nonconformist
- Heal
- Flourish
- Bloom
- Reinvent
- Renegade
- Rebel
- Start
- Motion
- Momentum
- Freedom
- Independence
- Unleash
- Strut
- Sashay
- Bye! Bye! BYE!
If I chose “accept” as my Word of the Year,
it wouldn’t mean I’d accept bad behavior,
but that I’d acknowledge that some people
probably won’t ever change
and that it’s my choice to change
how much I spend time with them!
Word of the Year Conclusion
These words are, of course, suggestions to get started. You may need something even more specific. For instance, your goal may be to try a bunch of new French fry recipes, so possibly, your word could be FRIES. (Note: I’m not condoning any unhealthy diets, per se. That’s up to you, friend!) Or perhaps you like to keep things pretty vague, so maybe you come up with something like BLUE-SKY. That’s actually two words, but adding a hyphen technically makes it one, so feel free to use your own brand of trickery!
Word of the Year FAQs
Is there a deadline to pick a Word of the Year?
Goodness, no! Take your time! Think about what you really want and really need. You can make a list of your goals and then see if there’s a word that perfectly summarizes your journey.
What if I can’t decide on just one word?
There is no rule that you have to pick one word. Pick two! Or five! Or write an entire sentence. Your Word(s) of the Year is about creating the kind of life you aspire to in the next 12 months. And if you pick one and your goals change, your word can change, too! It’s flexible! Flexible: also a great word for Word of the Year!*
Story Time:
When I was in the 4th grade, I lost the spelling bee to “flexible.”
Afterwards, feeling sorry for their little spelling ingénue,
my parents took me to Walmart
and bought me a California Sun Barbie.
Maybe I should’ve misspelled more stuff
and gotten a Ken, too!
What if my nemesis picks my word, too?
Tell them to go right ahead! The same word can be interpreted in a variety of ways. Because your story is different from your nemesis’!
For instance, say you both pick MOTIVATE. You might be motivated to read more, start a band, and learn to cook. (Okay, you’re not super busy or anything!) And they might need motivation to study more, organize their junk drawer, and pull the laundry out of the washer before it molds. (See how you guys are already thinking about it differently?)
What if I become an overnight success and don’t need my Word of the Year anymore?
Your magical unicorn powers impress me, indeed! Bravo, YOU! You have made your Word of the Year work for you. This is very good news, dearie.
*
What will be your Word of the Year? Please let me know in the comments!
Wishing you a healthy and peaceful 2025.
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My word is love. I love it!
Perfect word choice! I love it, too! Thanks for sharing, Domii!
Never considered having a word of the year before. Going to pick one now!
That’s awesome! Would love to know what you end up choosing! Thank you, Liv!!