Rethinking New Year’s Resolutions: Why I Choose “Words of the Year” Instead
Every year, as the calendar turns and conversations about New Year’s resolutions fill our feeds, I find myself returning to a different kind of practice. Instead of setting rigid goals or promising myself sweeping life changes, I choose a few words of the year.
These are intentions that feel steadier, kinder, and more expansive than the traditional resolutions many of us were taught to make.
This softer approach to the new year has become one of my favorite grounding rituals, especially when it comes to supporting my mental health in the new year.
Because let’s be honest: January can carry just as much pressure as it does possibility. And for many of us, especially if you’re carrying grief, overwhelm, or emotional fatigue, the culture of “new year, new me” can feel like too much.
So instead, I’ve learned to ask:
What if setting New Year’s resolutions didn’t have to be about fixing yourself?
What if it could be about aligning with the life you want to build?
How to Set New Year’s Resolutions That Actually Support Your Mental Health
If you’re someone who searches for how to set New Year’s resolutions each year but always feels defeated by February, I want to offer a reframe.
Traditional resolutions tend to encourage perfection, measurement, and pressure. Words of the year encourage awareness, gentleness, and growth.
Here’s why this practice supports your new year mental health:
It removes the pressure to perform. Your words guide you rather than grade you.
It leaves room for nuance and real life. You get to evolve, pivot, or redefine as needed.
It focuses on how you want to feel—not just what you want to do.
It allows spaciousness for grief, transition, and healing.
Instead of striving for an idealized version of yourself, you’re tuning into what your body, heart, and values are asking for.
My Words of the Year: Downsizing & Discernment
This year, the two words I’m carrying with me are Downsizing and Discernment.
Downsizing
This one is about being more mindful of what I own, what I hold onto, and what I make space for: physically, emotionally, and energetically. It’s an invitation to let go of things I no longer need, to create more ease in my home and my inner world, and to remember that “more” is not always better.
Discernment
This word is landing with me deeply. My children are growing every day, and time feels more precious than ever. Discernment asks me to be honest about:
where my time goes,
who gets my energy,
and what truly matters in this season of life.
It’s a call to hold boundaries with grace, clarity, and compassion. A reminder that my time and energy are my most valuable resources. I get to choose how I share them.
These words feel like an anchor for me, far more grounding than a checklist of resolutions I may or may not complete. They help orient me toward what I want to cultivate, not what I want to fix.
What Words Are You Carrying Into the New Year?
Whether you’re someone who adores New Year’s resolutions, someone who dreads them, or someone somewhere in between, I invite you to try this practice.
Ask yourself:
What feelings do I want more of this year?
What values do I want to honor?
What do I want to release?
What do I want to grow into?
Your word (or words) can be anything—soft, bold, simple, mysterious. There’s no right or wrong answer. The only requirement is that it resonates with you.
I’d love to hear what you’re choosing.
Share your word of the year in the comments so I can cheer you on as we step into this new chapter together.