Last year, I took a cue from some favorite bloggers (like InspiredRD and Danielle Omar) and chose a word for the year to guide me. My word for 2015 was FOCUS. I spent the year trying to reduce distractions, be leaner and meaner with my workday, and limit technology during family time.
How did I do? Honestly, I struggled to set up boundaries around technology and avoid the allure of my iPhone. That’s still a work in progress. But I did successfully incorporate Focus Booster into my workday. Focus Booster is an app that uses the Pomodoro technique of time management to keep you on task using a simple timer. I highly recommend it!
When I thought about a word I wanted to focus on this year, the one that kept rising to the top was CONTENTMENT, a state of happiness and satisfaction. All too often, I’m guilty of losing sight of all the good things I have and dwelling on what I don’t. My train of thought tends to goes like this:
My house is cozy BUT the couch is ripped and the carpet is worn.
My kids are great BUT they’re not competing in soccer tournaments or learning Chinese.
My blog is successful BUT my traffic could be better.
Social media worsens this tendency. While I can’t change the fact that Facebook and Instagram are necessary parts of my job, I can change my outlook. So I’m going to try to be CONTENT with what I have.
That’s not to say I’m going to be complacent. I’ll still be improving my blog, looking for new opportunities for myself and my kids–and hopefully someday shopping for a new couch. But in the meantime, I’m also going to count my blessings.
Want to choose your own word for the year? I posted about this concept on my Real Mom Nutrition Facebook page, and people chimed in with some great ones:
- RELEASE (release fears, doubts, guilt, pressure of living up to unrealistic expectations)
- RELAX
- CONSISTENCY
- ORDER (get organized)
- INSPIRE
- CREATE
- EXECUTE (ideas and plans)
- GENEROSITY (to others and yourself)
- BALANCE
- INTENTION (being more intentional about money, eating and how you spend time)
If YOU were going to choose a word for the year, what would it be and why?
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