Not a proponent for setting resolutions in January, I instead choose one word as my anchor for the upcoming year. This helps me focus my intentions in a specific area over the next twelve months. Doing this often produces profound life changes.
Believe—2024’s word—served to foster faith, trust, and surrender. It became an inspiration of sorts, opening insights, allowing me to better understand what’s underneath past actions and thought processes. And I believe my relationship with God has grown as well.
While our “word” doesn’t stop impacting us on December 31st, the New Year is a fabulous time to choose a new word, one that promotes expansion in another area of life.
What word did I want I want for 2025? Unsure where to begin, I asked myself a few questions … What’s been holding me back? Where did I want to grow? What felt out of alignment?
The answer was crystal clear. My new word needed to address prioritizing and getting it all done. Lately, I’d fallen into the habit of “over doing.” Rarely was there space in my meticulously scheduled days. Feeling an urge to do it all, I struggled to just be. Whether it was overdoing physical activities or cramming in extra tasks, my days were jammed packed. There was no opportunity for spontaneous, unanticipated adventures. You know, the ones that bring unexpected joy.
However, it was more than overcommitting myself and feeling a lack of downtime. The internal chatter—that I wrote about in my last blog—had put my mind into overdrive. Constantly analyzing, anticipating, and postulating, I found it hard to relax. Even when my body was exhausted, my brain was raring to go.
That’s when it came to me … SIMPLIFY. That would be my word for 2025!
Thrilled to have “my word,” I then needed to figure out ways to implement it. After all, that’s the purpose of this exercise.
What was a simplified life? How far did I want to go with this concept? What were the necessary steps to make my life feel simpler?
I toyed with various possibilities. From the start, I had no intentions of adopting an austere lifestyle. I love stimulation, challenge, activity. But there had to be ways to allow more time and ease in my schedule.
Quickly, I pinpointed 5 areas where I could make simple changes:
1. Limit time spent on emails and social media
I’m at my laptop a lot. But am I always writing? Absolutely not! I spend a ton of time reading emails and scrolling Instagram, Facebook, and X. I could easily shift this behavior. So, I unsubscribed (and continue to do so) to emails that weren’t enhancing my life. Then I made myself a promise … I’ll post on social media and utilize it for information, but I’m done with scrolling as a remedy to boredom.
2. Daily Routines
Over the years, I’ve “adopted” daily routines designed to “make me better.” I learned about many of these “highly recommended activities” through retreats and workshops. But then I found more on social media. Whether it’s a way to calm your mind sharper, add a glow to your skin, or make your body fitter, I was trying to do too much. At times, I felt like I was merely going through the motions, trying to get it all done.
And so I streamlined my daily routine, choosing the most beneficial practices and tossing the rest. Now, my mornings flow with more ease instead of being filled with to do’s.
3. Exercise and Health
Constantly inundated with information about healthy lifestyles, we can find ourselves searching for promised methods to create stronger, flexible, youthful bodies and minds. From supplements to intermittent fasting, there’s no end to habits we should adopt to get in shape, be our physical best, and prevent aging. No wonder we’re tempted to keep adding what the experts say to our daily schedules.
But when is it too much?
Working out has always been a priority. But as I’ve gotten older, I’m learning the importance of varying my exercise routine and building in rest days. Daily cardio isn’t necessary. Instead, strength training is now non-negotiable. Admittedly it’s not my favorite form of exercise, but it’s necessary for bone and muscle health. But there’s more … I love to walk, spin, do yoga. How do I fit everything into my schedule?
The truth is I can no longer do it all. But I can create a workout routine that’s both fun and good for me. The “no pain, no gain” days are over. Instead, I’ve committed to listening to my body… what she needs. Surprisingly, there’s freedom with giving myself a hall pass not to “do it all” at a high level of intensity. An added bonus is that I’m not so hungry. By reducing excess exercise, I don’t crave as much food. Maybe less is more?
4. Clothing
Much of what I once wore in Pennsylvania now feels out of place in central Oregon. Plus, I’ve changed … and so has my body. Things don’t fit the same way as they used to. On top of that, I let my hair go to its natural color—dark gray/brown with streaks of white—and now shirts in hues of gold, corals, and greens make my skin look yellowish.
Shifting from wearing what I like to choosing what looks good has been an incentive to purge my closets and drawers. Still, it’s hard. I’ve become attached to favorite dresses, blouses, and skirts. Whether it's the memory, the feel, or what I paid for it, letting go of clothes can be difficult. However, there comes a time to say goodbye. And when you do, everything is simpler—there’s less debating about what to wear and more confidence that what you choose will work.
5. Control
This is a BIG one. When control looms in our heads, it creates worries, fears, and expectations. It prevents us from being fully present in the moment because we’re overly focused on others’ lives or situations, neither of which we can truly control. Even though our rational mind understands this, surrendering control can be a struggle. But when we do, our lives become simpler. Attempting to control causes mental chatter. By stopping—or reducing—these obsessive thoughts, we can lower our cortisol levels, leading to greater peace within.
Of course, there are other ways for me to simplify my life. I suspect more ideas will magically surface throughout the upcoming months, often when I least expect them to. But for now, I think I’ve got enough to work on.
My hope is that by simplifying my days, my body and mind will unwind, allowing me to better live in “the now.” Perhaps my muscles will be less tense, I’ll experience deeper sleeps, and an unexpected wave of creativity will spur my writing. And I suppose I’ll find there’s more time in the day, allowing me space to just be.
Choosing an anchor word provides inspiration. I like knowing I’m not too old to welcome change and broaden my perspectives. When we invest time and energy into our personal development, not only do we better ourselves, but we also positively impact the world around us.
May you find your word for 2025. And if you’re not sure which word you want to adopt, feel free to borrow mine. That might be the simple approach.
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