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Last year, the intention I set for my New Year’s “goal” was very fancy, very high bar, and definitely something you’d expect from a professional organizer who should take goals very seriously.
2019: Get Dressed
I’d like to report that I definitely got myself dressed and ready for the day way more than the year before. Part of what helped this along is that I got my depression under control for more parts of the year. Maybe the two are related?! Because getting dressed every day certainly helped me feel better mentally. And likewise it was way easier to get myself ready when I felt better mentally.
Why I like the one word intentions instead of resolutions?
While I am a believer in working towards goals, I’m not always really into resolutions. I’ve found they normally become things we feel sad about, ways to beat ourselves up when we don’t reach them.
But a one-word intention?
The one word intention sets a mood for the year. It isn’t a pass fail thing, it is a try to do what you can thing. If there is improvement, you win!
Doesn’t that sound way better than resolutions? Yes, it does!
I’ve thought long and hard about my new word for the coming year. I keep my word pinned on the bulletin board that sits in the tiny toilet room in the master bathroom. This is the bathroom I use, so my little reminder is usually the first thing I see in the morning and the last thing I read before I go to sleep. It is on my mind enough to make an actual difference. The choice matters to me.
2020: The year of REST
This word, this intention for the year, is me combatting frazzled-mom syndrome with the best antidote I know: REST.
My hope for 2020 is to get more rest, but I don’t just mean sleep, though I certainly plan to do that too. I mean actual REST.
I want to rest from extra-ness, rest from noise of the world, rest from unwanted expectations put upon me, rest from all the busy-ness. I want less hustle and bustle, and way more peace.
I put this year’s word up above a row of cacti. I like to picture that REST keeps us flowing above each bristly cactus, just like rest keeps me floating above grumpy frazzled mom-ness.
Runner up: Silence
The word that wins runner-up is silence. In the end, I decided that silence is rest from noise, so I stuck with rest.
But, I think silence is important enough to mention separately. We need silence! Did you know that silence is incredibly restorative?
Getting quiet can regenerate brain cells. Although the researchers intended to use silence as a control in the study, they found that two hours of silence daily led to the development of new cells in the hippocampus, a key brain region associated with learning, memory and emotion.
Why Silence is so Good for Your Brain
I’m hoping for a year of rest and rejuvenation. I know rest doesn’t last forever. I know that when I’m rested, I’ll be ready to work, ready to get things done. But first, rest.
And you?
Will you have a word for the year? I want to hear it. Tell me below!
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My 2020 word is Transformation.
That is a great word. I wish you lots of the transformations you hope for in the New Year.
My word of the year…..RELEASE
Release the clutter
Release the grip of holding onto things that make me feel like I’m choking on stuff I don’t need
Yes! Let it go! When a little item seems tricky, ask yourself if this thing (whatever it is) is worth standing in the way of the home you want?
My word is COMPLETION. Too often start things but don’t finish them. Cross-stitch projects, knitting projects, even past year’s decluttering! I have a small 3-room “apartment” so often the tasks don’t apply to me and I lose momentum. This year I’ve designated a support buddy and there are still unpacked boxes in the pre-season porch. Since I plan moving next autumn, I will tackle individual boxes on my days off thereby (hopefully) reducing what needs to be moved as well as lower the cost!
That’s three-season porch. Maybe a sub goal should be proof-reading before sending!!!
“three-season porch?” I’m not sure what you’re referring to. I hate to say, that I DO proofread several times, but I am totally human and still miss stuff. Hopefully you can look past my mistakes.
A three-season porch is one that can be used all year EXCEPT winter. Too cold to enjoy it!
Oh goodness! I totally read that wrong! I thought you were saying I used that incorrectly in my post and I was sooo confused. That’s the problem with reading the comments out of order. As you can see, my brain is a little out of order today!!! I like your goal and I’m sorry I’m crazy, lol.
Good job getting a buddy. I wish you lots of success as you work on completing the decluttering.
My word for 2020 is patience. To treat myself with patience. I can get frustrated with me for not giving myself the patience that I feel I deserve. Patience to complete a task, sometimes a task can be enjoyable instead of just a task.
Yes, you deserve the same patience you give others. Life isn’t a race, it feels good to slow down sometimes and just enjoy what you’re doing!
Setting an intention for the year is something my husband and I have recently started. My reasonings certainly were not as clear and well thought out as your explanation, so I love that you were able to take something in my head and write it out! Here’s what my husband and I have focused on for the past couple years:
2018: good enough (to fight against both of our strong tendencies toward perfectionism)
2019: an attitude of gratitude (to cultivate a focus on positive things, rather than ruminating in negativity)
2020: still deciding, but thinking something along the lines of “peace” (creating peace in situations, peace in relationships, giving and promoting peace)
Those are fantastic intentions. I love that you’re setting one together, that’s really beautiful. I may just have to see if Matt is interested. He’s always so supportive of mine (I mean, he sees it in the same bathroom just as much as me, lol) – but it’s never occurred to us to do one together. Love it!
Not 100% committed to my word yet, but strongly leading toward PREPARE. I’m fairly good at planning, but not always at execution of my plans & it usually come down to procrastinating or flat out failing to prepare my environment, supplies or attitude for the reality of my day/week or to plan enough prep/transition/margin time. We are also expecting another baby in April, so Prepare makes sense on that level too.
My 2019 word was EMBRACE…. as in embrace the reality of my life, my season, my home and enjoy it. (The attitude shift allowed me to make change from a sense of fullness and gratitude, not chasing the next best thing/idea). Also, if helped me remember to give lots of hugs/physical affection to my kids & spouse bc that’s not my natural tendency, but is important to them and good for me too.
That is a great word too! I love it!
That’s a great word! And it sounds perfect for where you’re at right now with a baby on the way. Congratulations, by the way, babies are the best.
My word of the year is Grace! Grace for myself, my kids and my precious husband. ☺️
Grace is such a good one. You deserve it along with everyone else. 🙂
My word is OPPORTUNITY. I’ve got the Opportunity to get things done -whatever they may be – and am going for it while I can. I’m 78. The word makes me excited and spurs me on to get moving.
That word is perfect – and I love that it gets you excited, that makes it even better!
I love both of these. 2019 was a difficult year for me, one of loss and one of change. I choose “stillness” which is somewhat taken from your words, but mostly from Psalms 46:10 “Be still and know that I am God.” I need some stillness in my life and I’m hoping this challenge will help with that.
Oh, stillness is such a good one! I love that.