Back again, back again. Setting goals, choosing a word, and a reason for a fresh start really never gets old to me. This is my 13th year with a word and I’m just as excited as when I first chose “joy” back in 2013. When I started this One Little Word journey I would have never expected play to be anywhere in my future line up – even just thinking it makes me itchy. I’m not a very playful person, preferring routines and productivity instead. A lot of my words reflect that but when I pick a word, I try to tie it to expectations I have for the year, a decision I’m trying to make, or an area where I clearly need to get out of my comfort zone. This word is definitely the latter. The words often tug at me or reappear in my life over and over until I can’t avoid it. When that happened this year, I tried to manipulate the idea of play into “fun” or “enjoy” instead, but I kept coming back to the definition:
Play (v): to engage in activity for enjoyment and recreation rather than a serious or practical purpose.
SAY IT LOUDER FOR THE PEOPLE IN THE BACK (of my mind): for enjoyment and recreation, rather than a serious or practical purpose. I need that. I crave that. I very rarely do something just for the heck of it. I’ve considered it in the past, but “play” resurfaced last year as I navigated 2024 with my word “whole”. The irony of choosing a word like whole is that it really helps you identify the holes…ba dum tss. These words feel like they are companion words of sorts, the two together allowing me to have the bigger picture of what I’m looking for. It really boils down to the structure of my life and taking things a little less seriously. I’m really excited to see how this word unfolds and how it challenges me throughout this year.
As part of my prep work (alongside my Powersheets Goal Planner), I like to outline my intentions and create a vision board that aligns with my word and goals. All of these feel so cohesive to me and I love them so much. This is overkill, but here ya go.
My Vision Board:
ChatGPT helped me create the one below and I thought it was really playful and whimsical.
My Intentions:
⭐️ Play is an invitation to embrace adventure and curiosity. I want to say “yes” to spontaneity and unexpected invitations. I want to explore new places, try new activities, and enjoy simple wonders.
⭐️ Play is an invitation to nurture joy through creativity; to dedicate time to projects *just because*. I want to experiment with art, crafts, and hobbies – letting fun guide me instead of perfection.
⭐️ Play is an invitation to look for laughter and lightness in ordinary routines.
⭐️ Play is an invitation to prioritize rest and ease. I want holistic wellness to be a non-negotiable and I want to do more things to fill my cup.
⭐️ Play is an invitation to stay present and grateful.
My Mantra:
“I embrace play, spontaneity, and joy—filling my days with adventure, creativity, and care for my whole self. Fun is who I am becoming, and wonder is the path I choose.”
Every year when I sit down to write this exact post, I’m tempted to say how incredibly quick the last year has gone and that I can’t believe we’re here again and I’m picking yet another word. Don’t get me wrong, I love a fresh new year with my whole new set of goals (I’m sure that’s crystal clear by now) but dang, I didn’t expect to be back here so soon and with so few updates in between. This spot on the internet is one of my favorites, but one that seems to fall by the wayside a bit when things get hectic. I absolutely love data, trends, and seeing how my life has looked in different seasons and this truly is the best place I can do that. Having these posts archived online allows me to see the person I was on January 1st for the last 9 years (!!) and is there really anything more spectacular than that? I just took a trip down memory lane, so leaving these links here in case you’d like to as well.
It’s hard to believe that another year and another goal setting season are in the rearview. I love Christmas and I also love November and December for reflecting on the year and planning for the next one. I used to be someone who had the mindset that there was nothing special about the new year in terms of setting goals, but I’m rejecting that notion now. I truly get a renewed excitement over the new year that gives me just that little extra motivation and drive – so why not run with it?!
I had my one little word, experiment, picked out in September and felt ready to start carrying it with me. I mentioned at the beginning of 2022 that I wasn’t thrilled about “engage”. I started to lean into it a bit as the months set in, but I didn’t feel the pull to hold onto it as tightly as I had with other words. Experiment started to feel like a bit of a companion word that was hanging on for dear life while I tried to stick it out with engage. So, all that to say, I’m ready to give it the front and center attention that it deserves.
I’m really trying to keep it simple for my 2023 goals (which fits in perfectly with Goal #1). The more I try to add to my plate, the more my priorities are stretched and I think these two are worth really focusing on.
Simplify at Home
While setting goals for the year, I kept coming back to wanting to live my life intentionally. I have found myself (I’m sure like many other working parents) feeling like time with my boy is already limited, so I really don’t want to come home and have to micromanage my home. I want to come home and play and eat and learn and explore and go on adventures. This being said, I do want our home and my mindset about our home to be one of peace and comfort (for both myself and others).
So what does this practically look like? I’m glad you asked. Here are a few ideas that I have up my sleeve to reach this goal for 2023:
Get rid of 50% of our belongings.
Meal plan by month and then recycle through meals.
Spend more time outside.
Track spending/wardrobe in a way that considers if an item is consumable and how often it’s used.
Complete our basement work.
Stick to a cleaning schedule after bedtime.
Paint trim and walls in our main living space.
Inspiration:
Declutter your mind, your heart, your home. Let go of the heaviness that is weighing you down. Make your life simple but significant. – Maria Defillo
Minimalism isn’t about owning less than you need. It’s about owning exactly what you need. – Joshua Becker
Less, but better. – Greg McKeown
Focus on my Health
I’m annoyed at myself because I’m dragging last year’s goal into the new year. Last year, I honestly made a lot of excuses in terms of how I was treating my body and I don’t want to do that anymore. I mentioned above that I get a lot of motivation and willpower from the start of a new year, so I’m running with all that positive energy in hopes that I can make habits that stick. I’m sticking to a meal plan and trying working out regularly. My thought is that I don’t have to exercise everyday, but I can’t go two days in a row without moving my body.
Inspiration:
Visualize your highest self and then show up as her. – Unknown
Below is my vision board and how I hope 2023 feels with both my One Little Word and my goals.
