Choosing a Word for the Year: A Grounded Way to Begin 2026

Sadie Hunter
Jan 2
4 min read

I’ve learned the hard way that I don’t do my best thinking when I rush straight into planning.

I used to start a new year with lists, goals, calendars, and expectations—only to feel unmoored a few weeks in. The goals were right, but I hadn't taken time to pause, reflect, and reconnect with how I wanted to move through the year.

That’s where this practice came from.

Before the plans, before the structure, before the “what’s next,” I choose one word to use as a touchstone for the year.

A word I can come back to when things feel noisy or heavy. A word that helps me recalibrate and align decisions.

Over time, this has become one of the most grounding annual practices I have—and one I now share with clients, friends, teams, and even my household. It's aligned with values-based leadership and living.

One word. That's it.

Why a Word (Instead of a Resolution)

One of my favourite sayings is "Words create worlds"- and they really do. Try removing the word "just" from your vocabulary and see what happens. Instead of "I was just thinking...or just an idea...simply say "I was thinking...or I have an idea". You are immediately communicating with clarity and confidence.

This translates directly into this practice. A word does something goals often don’t.

It creates orientation, not pressure. It invites practice, not perfection. It travels with you—into decisions, conversations, rest, and change.

When I’m unsure how to respond, what to say yes to, or what to let go of, I come back to my word and ask: What would honour this right now?

This question has saved me more energy than any productivity system ever has.

My Framework: Reclaim · Rebuild · Rise

I move through this reflection in three phases. Sometimes in one sitting. Sometimes over a few quiet walks or journal sessions. There’s no right pace.

1. Reclaim — Returning to Yourself

I start by looking back before I look ahead.

What felt heavy this past year? What drained me more than I expected? What parts of myself felt rushed, muted, or stretched thin?

For me, this phase is about naming what I’m done carrying—expectations, habits, and energy drains.

Often, my word begins to show up here—not as something I want to add, but as something no longer serving me or the space I want to create.

2. Rebuild — Creating Supportive Structure

Once I’ve reclaimed some space, I think about rebuilding.

This isn’t about optimization or hustle. It’s about support.

I ask myself:

What would help me feel steadier this year?
Where do I need structure instead of overwhelm?
What would “enough” actually look like?

Some years, this leads to very practical shifts—clearer boundaries, simpler routines, fewer commitments. Other years, it’s more internal: rebuilding trust with myself, rebuilding confidence, rebuilding patience.

My word needs to fit into real life, not an idealized version.

3. Rise — Living the Word

Then do I choose the word itself.

This phase is about embodying something intentionally.

I ask:

If this year were successful, what would be true?
What quality do I want to practice—especially when things get messy?
What word feels both grounding and expansive?

When the right word lands, it doesn’t feel sharp or urgent. It feels steady. Like something I can grow into.

Using the Practice in Different Ways

One of the things I love most about this framework is how flexible it is.

Individually

You can work through this alone with a journal and a cup of coffee. Choose your word. Let it be enough. Come back to it when you need clarity.

As a Household or Team

This can also be a household or team practice—invite everyone to choose a word or talk about how they want to move through the year together.

It opens up meaningful conversations:

How do we want to show up for each other?
What do we need more (or less) of as a family?
What would support us collectively?

There’s no pressure for everyone to align perfectly. The value is in the shared reflection.

For Planners (Optional, Not Required)

If you love planning, this framework can also scale.

I sometimes pair my word with:

a visual vision board (images, textures, places, feelings—not goals),
and a 365-day calendar, using my word as a lens to map intentions and goals seasonally. If something comes up and it's not aligned with either of these, it doesn't make the calendar.

This is completely optional.

If all you want is a word you can return to when life gets busy, that is more than enough.