They say most New Year’s resolutions fail by the first week of February. About 80% of them to be exact!
If that’s you right now… welcome! You’re in good company!
Every January, I convince myself this will be the year I meal prep every Sunday. I picture those nice matching glass containers, and a fridge that looks like a Pinterest board. And then life happens. My schedule piles up, work gets crazy, my energy dips, and suddenly I’m back to deciding between takeout options “just this once.”
And you know what? That’s okay.
If your resolutions already fell apart, it doesn’t mean you’re lazy, or unmotivated, or incapable of change. Sometimes, it just means you you need to look at things from a different perspective.
So instead of carrying around that “I already failed” guilt, try this instead.
Set a word for the year
Not 2 words. Not 5 words. Not 10 words. And not a phrase. Just one word.
Pick a word, and it’ll serve as an intention, a heart posture, a mindset shift, or an orientation for the year.
For example, if resolutions like “lose 2 pounds a week” or “no more junk food” feel overwhelming, you could choose a word like “wellness” instead. From there, that word can guide smaller, more realistic choices, like taking the stairs more often, walking on the treadmill while watching your favourite TV show, or finding healthier sweet treat recipes.
I like doing this, because well, a year is a long time, and a lot can change within that year. But with just one word, it’s easy to keep it in mind, revisit it, and let it guide you throughout the year.
Don’t get me wrong. I still set some New Year’s resolution goals (you can check out that blog post here!), but I also LOVE this exercise, because it’s flexible, but still intentional and meaningful.
Plus, you can make this a yearly tradition with your friends, your family, or even your partner!
My word of the year
I started doing this about 3 years ago, and it completely changed how I approach growth.
In 2023, my word was “gentle.”
After everything 2022 threw at me (and that’s putting it lightly), I knew I needed a year of softness and patience. I focused on being gentle with my body, my feelings, my expectations, and gentle with myself when things didn’t go according to plan.
2023 was the year I started going to therapy more regularly, and learned to let myself cry, scream, and really feel.
In 2024, my word was “open.”
I started the year having just been laid off from my corporate job, but I wanted to remain open to everything life had in store. Open to new opportunities, open to trying new things, open to making new friends and meeting new people, open to letting go of what no longer fit, and open to wherever life would lead me.
This was also the year I first started working freelance, first traveled to Maine (this was also my first friends road trip!), and first went to a rave!
In 2025, my word was “behold.”
I felt like my life was moving very quickly (also, turning 30 really made me aware of just how fast time was passing!), and I wanted moments to just stop, so I could gaze, admire, and rest in them. I wanted to be more present and truly notice and bask in both the little and big things as they unfolded.
And I’ve got to say, there was a lot to behold last year!
Now, my word for 2026 is “build.”
This year, I’m hoping to build more and more on everything I’ve already learned so far. I want to keep building the friendships I already have, building more personal projects that matter to me, building myself into a stronger, healthier, better version, and building toward the future I want to live in.
Why this works
Unlike resolutions, a word doesn’t ask you to perform perfectly. It doesn’t break when you miss a day or fall off track. It simply gives you something to come back to.
What I loved most was that the word didn’t stay flat or one-dimensional. As the year went on, it grew with me, and it showed up in unexpected ways: in friendships, work decisions, and even the way I talked to myself.
That’s the fun part about choosing a word for the year! It can take on new meaning, and meet you where you are.
And at the end of the year, you can even look back and choose a different word to describe the year you lived. I’m definitely going to start doing that this year!
So if your New Year’s resolution already failed, don’t throw the whole year away. Try this instead!
You’d be surprised by how far one small word can take you! đź’«
The Lilac Blog 