How to choose a focus word for the year and use it to reach your goals
You can make this into a little art-y ritual if you like, like I do 🎨.
What's a yearly focus word?
Your thoughts become your actions and are the basis of a focus word 😊. A yearly focus word or "word of the year" is a word that can help you focus on your goals & what you want to invite more of into your life.
A focus word can strengthen your awareness and commitment to what you want in life. 💃🏽
How do I choose my word of the year?
I start with a review of my core values. Have they changed? What are they? I use a journal, write my core values at the top of the page and then ask myself some key questions.
Journaling 📓 questions that help you define your focus word
What are my core values?
Have they changed?
What's important to me right now?
Did my life last year reflect my core values? Why or why not?
What do I need more of, and what do I need less of in my life?
What are my biggest "energy drainers*," and what keeps me up at night?
*Energy Drainers are intrusive thoughts usually worries & anxieties like that bill that’s overdue, the home repair you need, the clutter in your office or that difficult conversation you keep putting off.
What are my goals for next year?
What do I need to focus on to achieve my goals?
How do I want to feel?
How do I not want to feel?
You can answer some or all of these questions to help you understand the choices you have to live the life you want to live. Next, you will start seeing the opportunities and patterns. Then, pick a focus word to help you make good choices that align with your journaling discoveries.
Don't overthink it
✓ Many focus words will work for you. There is never just one word that you must identify. So have fun.
✓ When I choose more than one focus word, I decide which of my words is the most important.
✓ All my chosen focus words will help keep me focused on what's best for me.
✓ If I draw my words, I will make the most essential one more prominent, so I remember to focus more on that one.
✓ Pick one word or more.
✓ Do what feels right for you, and remember there is no wrong way to do this.
While journaling remember: focus word is supposed to help make your life better.
Take your time and enjoy your reflective journaling 📓 sessions. The time ⏰ you spend doing this work will help you learn more about yourself 🥰 and the things you can do to make your life better.
I underline things and sometimes create mind maps.
Often I cross out things and start lists on new pages with summaries of what I feel is most important to me.
Furthermore, I might ask myself open-ended questions designed to help me understand what's most important to me if I need to focus more on my core values.
What makes a good focus word? Make it actionable!
I've worked with yearly focus words for several years now, and here are my criteria:
Make your focus words meaningful for you and easy to put into action.
Many of us find certain words inspiring or meaningful, but not all are easily actionable. If your focus word is non-specific, using it will benefit you less.
Remember, the purpose of this exercise is to bring the intentions of these words into action.
Consider how easy it is for your brain to understand how to make choices based on your focus word. How is this word actionable?
One year I picked SURRENDER as a focus word, and I knew how it translated into actions for me. I understood how to implement that concept to benefit me in my life.
An example of how you can use your focus word
If your chosen word is: "FOCUS."
And you wrote something like this in your journal:
"I am inquisitive and can get distracted easily and spend a lot of time on things that aren't important while some important things don't get done and then become big energy drainers."
Based on what you wrote in your journal, can you think of action items quickly, based on your word "FOCUS"?
If you are saying YES, then that's all that matters. If not, pick a different word. I've listed a bunch of words below for inspiration :).
Examples of Yearly, Monthly or Quarterly Focus Words
Final tips
Limit the number of words; pick one and no more than 3 - 4 max
I suggest that you not pick more than three words. This exercise works best when you can keep it simple.
Focus on maximum benefit
If you focused on only one thing this year, what would serve you best based on your reflections, needs wants and goals.
Select words that make it easy for you to take action
Make sure you cab easily understand what your word means when making choices in your everyday life.
Put your focus word everywhere - make it visible
This gentle act of mindfulness increases your awareness of what's important to you. The more you draw your attention to the important things you've decided, the more likely you are to reach your goals.
Ideas for how you can use your focus word
Draw or print your word or words and put them in a pretty frame; place the frame on your desk, or somewhere you will see it often.
Make it part of your planning rituals, Quarterly, Monthly, Weekly and Daily; add tasks to your calendar to ensure you are regularly choosing actions based on your focus word (what you’ve decided is important to you)
Meditate on them
Add them to the cover of your journal or day planner
I hope you can see how choosing a focus word can help you reflect on what truly matters with simple actions every day. When you select a word that resonates with your aspirations and reflect on its meaning for you in your daily life, a focus word can guide your actions towards achieving your goals."
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