It’s that time of year again, a time with so much promise as people look forward to a fresh start and new beginnings. The start of a new year is a natural time to reflect on the past and plan for the future, and many people see the new year as a chance to start fresh and make positive changes in their lives. However, despite New Year’s resolutions being the traditional method of starting afresh, there is a more effective method that I’d like you to consider. Not to be confused with the ‘word of the year’, which this year Merriam-Webster announced was polarization, this annual post seeks to introduce you to the #OneWord concept, a method of self-improvement to replace the tired old tradition of setting resolutions.

For many, making a New Year’s resolution can be a way to set goals and work towards improving oneself and one’s life. It can be a way to take control of your future and make positive changes that can lead to a better life.

Some common reasons for making New Year’s resolutions include:

1. Improve one’s health and well-being, such as exercising more, getting more sleep, eating healthier, or quitting caffeine.
2. Achieve personal or professional goals, such as improving academic grades, learning a new skill, or saving money.
3. Make positive changes in one’s life, such as volunteering in the community, spending more time with loved ones, or trying new experiences.
4. Build better habits or break bad ones, such as waking up earlier, being more organized, or procrastinating less.
5. Reduce stress and improve mental health, such as practicing mindfulness, taking breaks, or seeking support when needed.

However, New Year’s resolutions are a notoriously poor method of self-improvement. This article suggests that the failure rate for New Year’s resolutions is about 80 percent, with most individuals losing their resolve by mid-February.

There are many reasons why New Year’s resolutions can fail, including:

1. Setting unrealistic goals that are too ambitious or not specific.
2. Lack of motivation or commitment.
3. Not making a plan.
4. Lacking support from friends and family.
5. Not being flexible.

11 years ago, I discovered the #OneWord concept that switched my thinking away from setting a New Year’s resolution and towards something much more straightforward, forgiving, and effective for me. So, as in years past, I will be choosing a #OneWord to guide me through the year ahead, and I’ll share with you the reasons why you should choose a #OneWord too.

Resolution. It’s a strong, demanding word. It screams, I must! It’s a demand that we place upon ourselves, and there is no room for failure. Yet, failure is pretty much inevitable. Most of us simply don’t respond to this word, and when we don’t, we feel disappointed in ourselves–even ashamed.

INC. MAGAZINE

The theory behind the idea of identifying a single guiding word is that it points us toward the type of person we want to become. And unlike a resolution, a single word can’t be broken. I visualize this as a word that sits on my shoulder and gently nudges me towards a more improved version of myself. In this article by Nicole Dean, she suggests that you decide what one thing, if applied to every area of your life, will have the most impact and bring the most positive changes into your life. Then you work to apply that word to every area, situation, and task in which you find yourself. I have had much success with the #OneWord concept and will reveal my chosen word for 2025 later in this post.

So, how does one identify the #OneWord to guide them over the coming year? You could be inspired by the choices of others. Last year, over 1000 people shared their #OneWord with me, and you might be inspired by this top 10 list. The words confidence, focus, perseverance, discipline, passion, love, courage, strength, adventure, and hope all relate to aspirations for personal growth, resilience, and a deeper connection with ourselves and the world around us.

If you are still looking for inspiration, you could take this simple quiz to help with selecting your word. After responding to a few prompts, you will be provided with ideas to help narrow down your final selection. Here are the words that I have selected since discovering the #OneWord concept, including last year’s word connect. Some have been more successful than others (calm served me very well), but ALL have moved me closer to the person that I want to become.

Once I have chosen my word, I put it into action in a number of ways. I’ve blogged many times about my #OneWord experiences and I’ll continue to share my word with readers, my students, and friends and family. I know that if I share my word widely, then I have to commit to it. Plus I’ll also have the benefit of others nudging me towards a better version of myself.

One great tip to ensure success is to keep your word prominent in your daily life. Some people turn their word into a phone wallpaper, or frame it and hang it on their wall. My reading and podcast listening will revolve around my word as I discover the ways in which it can be interpreted and applied to my life. Additionally, I like to get creative and pin quotes and artwork pertaining to my word above my desk, also adding some to my iWatch face. Keeping your word prominent will inspire you and help inform the choices you make.

Need yet more inspiration? Tara Parker-Pope of the Washington Post recommends that you consider your values before selecting your #OneWord.

Value-oriented words (such as family, love, kindness, compassion, friendship, optimism, fitness, leadership) are a good place to start when choosing a word. Browse this word list of core values for inspiration.

WHAT’S YOUR WORD OF THE YEAR?

If you share your #OneWord2025 with me via this google form, using the power of add-ons, you will be immediately sent some images like the one above, but with your #OneWord2025 embedded in it! You can use the images to save and share with others. *This might not work if your email address filters out emails from outside of your network.*

Get your personalized #OneWord image here.

And so to my chosen word of the year, BALANCE. Since the pandemic I have struggled to find the right BALANCE in life. With my recent choice of words I’ve chosen to refresh myself, I thought expansion was what I needed, then I thought I needed connection, but heading into 2025 I’ve chosen to seek BALANCE in my life.

In my professional life I might find BALANCE in my workload. I have said ‘yes’ to quite a few projects in 2025 but I will focus on prioritizing tasks that align with my goals while delegating or saying no to opportunities that won’t nourish me or leave me with little time for self-care. I will also seek to maintain BALANCE between my focus on curriculum development and the needs of my students. I can do a better job of fostering collaborative relationships with colleagues while reserving time for my own professional growth.

In my personal life I have worked hard in recent years to find BALANCE, and this year I will be more intentional. I will continue to carve out time for physical activity, hobbies, rest, and relaxation. I want to be more ‘off-line’ in 2025, and my recent purchase of a record player means that I can finally start a new hobby – collecting, and listening to vinyl. I will also seek to cultivate mindfulness by BALANCING reflection on the past with looking forward to the future. Staying present in the moment, being present with loved ones will be a focus of mine.

I’m intrigued by the opportunity to use BALANCE-themed meditations and additional resources from both the Calm app and the Headspace App, and I’ll seek out readings that allow me to explore all that BALANCE can offer me in terms of physical, mental and emotional health. My January Book of the Month selection is Flourishing Kin, by Dr. Yuria Celidwen, a title I discovered when searching for books related to finding BALANCE in our lives.

Now it’s your turn. What #OneWord will YOU choose to guide you in the year ahead?

If you liked this post you’ll also appreciate: 

Looking Back, Moving Forward: Meaningful Year-End Reflections by Andy Milne

Forge: My #OneWord Pursuit for 2025 by Dr. Neil Gupta.

Have you checked out our latest Book of the Month recommendation?