Let’s Share Our New Year Words!
Whenever I’ve set a New Years resolution, it ends in frustration and guilt. New Year resolutions are so long and complicated and full of pressure to succeed.
So for the last couple of years I’ve chosen a simple New Year word instead of a lengthy resolution. No, it’s not an original idea; in fact it seems to be gaining in popularity. I like choosing a word for the new year, because it helps me keep things simpl yet focused on one often-overarching goal for the year.
I thought it’d be fun – and helpful – if some moms all shared their New Year Words here. Let’s get started…
Alright Moms, What are your New Year Words?
APPRECIATE
“Mine is APPRECIATE. Time moves so fast, and I want to really appreciate the time wherever we are and whatever we’re doing as family. Blogging and podcasting, I want to appreciate the information and have opportunity to use it.” Mel of Raising Playful Tots
BE LESS BUSY
“I don’t have a word but a phrase: BE LESS BUSY. Choosing wisely what I spend my time on and not over-committing or spending too much time on things that don’t matter in the grand scheme.” Alida of The Realistic Mama
BREATHE
“Mine is BREATHE. I’m being more intentional about breathing slowly, speaking softly, and slowing down.” Melissa of Fireflies and Mudpies
CLEAR
“I decided a while back that my word for 2016 is clear. It works as a continuation of simplify when taken literally, thinking about clear spaces and clear surfaces (a big goal for sure). But it also works in a business sense, to suit my need for clear goals, clear systems and clear routines. I need to get clear about what it is I really want and what I really need to be doing to get there.” Susan of Our Daily Craft
COMMON SENSE
“Mine is COMMON SENSE. I am going to try and filter everything through the lens of common sense and reasonableness. I hope this will affect my personal and business life for the better.” Rachel of A Mother Far From Home
COMMUNITY
“Mine is COMMUNITY! I want to open my home to others more readily and focus on building up the people around me. In my online community, I want to build a place of encouragement and inspiration for moms!” Jenae of I Can Teach My Child!
CONNECT
“Our focus word for the new year is CONNECT for three reasons: 1. To ‘connect’ daily with each other within our family even with busy schedules; 2. Make efforts to stay ‘connected’ with far away family and friends since we moved to a new state this past year; [and] 3. Meet and ‘connect’ with new friends in our new city.” Jamie of Hand Made Kids Art
CREATE
“My focus word is CREATE. Because I need to prioritize writing instead of it being bottom on the totem pole!” Kelly of The (Reformed) Idealist Mom & Sticky Blogging
“CREATE. My focus is to create awesome content and helpful products for my readers this year. I also want to create a happier, healthier version of me this year.” Amanda of Dirt & Boogers and Mama’s Anger Management
CURIOUS
“I choose one every year! This year my word is CURIOUS. My blog/business/life is in a state of transition,so I’m trying to keep a spirit of curiosity this year and being open to what comes forward.” Beryl of BerylAynYoung.com and Momtographie
DEVOTION
“My family’s focus word this year is DEVOTION. We need to learn to be more devoted to ourselves in order to better ourselves. When we are not devoted to ourselves, we tend to never reach our goals, and we let things just happen. We are going to focus on being devoted to each other so that we can support each other in our endeavors.” Natasha of Tiny Tots Adventures
FAMILY
“Our focus word for the year is FAMILY and this really encompasses many aspects of life, but it feels like too often we are focused on technology and need to re-focus on our most important priorities, building up and paying the most attention to the people we love.” Amanda of The Educators’ Spin On It
FOCUS
“Mine is FOCUS. This has forever been a challenge for me. I always want to go in too many directions, too quickly. I want to work on putting my attention and efforts towards only those things that really bring value and fulfillment to my life, both personally and professionally.” Kira of Sunshine and Hurricanes
FOLLOW-THROUGH
“Mine is FOLLOW-THROUGH. [I’m] so tired of having ideas slip away or get put on the back burner. Tired of having systems around the house that aren’t quite being reinforced with the kids. Even holding myself accountable with nutrition and exercise with it. I’m putting my focus on an all too familiar sports phrase I heard my entire childhood to motivate me to follow-through with my intentions and goals in 2016.” Kim of The Educators’ Spin On It
GRACE
“Mine is GRACE! Because as a busy wife, mom, friend, I need to allow myself grace every day. I’ll never have it all together or be perfect, and I’m tired of striving for the ‘Instagram filtered’ life. I’d rather just give myself grace.” Erica of eLeMeNO-P Kids
HAPPY
“Mine is HAPPY, because I want to be happy in all areas of my life. I want to be happy with me, with my family, and my work which includes my blog. I’m planning things that will make us happy, and I’ve already planned two trips away and some amazing days out.” Cass of The Diary of a Frugal Family
INTENTIONAL
“Mine is INTENTIONAL. I have struggled to find my one word this year – last year was nurture and was perfect. This year I want to be more intentional with my life. I want to be more considerate and purposeful in what I do, both work wise and home wise.” Jen of Mum in the Mad House
“INTENTIONAL. I’m trying to be more intentional with my time, my blog, my life. I feel that by going about life this way, I’ll be able to accomplish more.” Kori of Kori at Home
“My word is: INTENTIONAL. I feel like so many choices – work, family, personal, health – all come down to making a choice (being intentional)! Nicole of Imperfect Families
KIND
“KIND. I want to show my son and my students (and to remind myself) how to be kind. And empathetic. It’s hard to stop in the rush and listen to a little guy explain their feelings. They are real and true and important and need to be really listened to. I want to listen and empathize and show kindness.” Kay via B-Inspired Mama on Facebook
KINDNESS
“Our focus of the year is ‘KINDNESS. We feel that we could all be more kind to each other and people around us. Kindness is also based on many wonderful virtues: love, patience, compassion, understanding and more.” Varya of Creative World of Varya
LEMMY
“Mine is LEMMY. I will focus the important things in my life such as family, love, health and happiness. I was shocked and saddened by the quick passing of Lemmy (‘Lemmy’ Kilmister of the rock band Motorhead) late last year, just two days after [his] terminal diagnosis. It made me focus on the important things in my life (including forgiveness and letting things go), because it can all be over in a flash.” Helen of Witty Hoots
LESS
“Mine is LESS. Less spending, less stress, less stuff.” Rebecca of CraftCreateCalm
LIVE
“Mine is LIVE. I’m stepping out of survival mode and living again. As a mum I think we tend to live in survival mode, and this year I want to inspire and support others to step out of that mode and into living with kids.” Cerys of Rainy Day Mum
“My word is LIVE. My goal is to stop worrying about things I can’t change and live in the moment.” MaryAnne of Mama Smiles
LOVE WILDLY
“[Two] words… LOVE WILDLY. This is year is all about love for me. I’m continuing my journey to natural health (loving myself), getting more organized for homeschooling my children (loving my family), having monthly dinners in my home (loving my neighbor), and becoming a doula, yoga instructor and helping others (loving my community).” Katina via B-Inspired Mama on Facebook
PRESENT
“My [word] is present – which means one task at a time. Parenting with presence, writing with it, researching and studying, everything – one thing at a time. But sleep is what it should be.” Allison of No Time for Flash Cards
RISE
“My word is RISE. The past couple of years have been a bit rough and left me feeling kind of beaten up and knocked down. It’s time to stand back up.” Jo of Lasting Thumbprints
SIMPLICITY
“Our word for the year is SIMPLICITY. We just added baby number three to our family and have realized that being forced to slow down and do less because of the newborn has been really healthy for our family! We want to maintain our slower-paced, less busy, more family-focused lifestyle into the New Year.” Crystal of Science Kiddo
SURRENDER
“One morning, I woke up and knew that it was the word SURRENDER that I really needed this year. In some ways, it means the same thing as the word ‘acceptance’, but in other ways, it’s completely different. One feels to me like defeat where the other feels like rest. So I am choosing ‘surrender’. I am surrendering to God’s plan for my life.” Sharla of The Chaos and the Clutter
SYSTEMS
“Systems. I want to create systems that make life work smoother.” Dayna of Lemon Lime Adventures and Project Sensory
WONDER
“I teach part time, and my job share partner and I come up with a word every year to help unite us and set the tone for the year. This year is our year of WONDER. When a child’s behavior is difficult, we wonder why instead of reacting. Our new curriculum is inquiry based, so we start each day with a question or something the class has a wonder about. And at home, my kids are at the glorious ages where they wonder about everything, so I am immersed in wonder, and it’s a good place to be!” Megan of RoomToPlay.ca
My 2019 New Year Word:
My focus word for 2019 isn’t actually a new one. Each cold January I feel the pull toward creativity: The urge to sketch, to write, to create. Yet art always seems to get pushed to the back burner, behind the everyday tasks and monotony of life and parenting and blogging and business. I’ve used the word CREATE in the past, but I’m sticking with it. I’m not giving up!
It’s time to quit pushing that creative energy to the back of the line and give it the focus it deserves. So in light of that, be on the lookout for more creativity her at B-Inspired Mama! I’m thinking more printables, maybe some art prints, and the unavailing of a HUGE and exciting project I’ve been working on for the past couple months. I’m so excited!
Do you chose New Year Words instead of Resolutions, too? If so, share your word for 2019 in the comments below!
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