My one word for the year

I love and hate the idea of new year’s resolutions in equal measure.

New year, new you.

Time to take stock.
With the perspective of the 365 new, fresh, beautiful days ahead.
They can be anything you imagine.

Lovely.

So why don’t they work then?

Because we get busy. Inertia takes over.

A few years ago I decided that rather than avoiding new year’s resolutions entirely, because “they don’t work”.
Instead I’d change the format to give it more chance of working for me.

Rather than prescriptive goals, I simplified the concept down to the bit I like the most.

The intent.

It’s the underlying intent I care about.

Let me explain how this works, with the best example ever.

Here’s how the traditional method works...

I need to lose some weight. I’ve been eating out loads, not getting to the gym enough.

I’m 14.5 stone, and I should be 12 stone. So the new year’s resolution is to lose 2.5 stone. I’ve got a year to do it, and I’m going to join a new gym in January, and I’m gonna go 3 times a week at 6am in the morning.

Sorted.

Except no.

It doesn’t happen.

Instead, if you pull out the underlying intent, it’s deeper.

To get there, just ask why a lot (kids are amazing at this).

I want to lose 2.5 stone.

Why?

Because I don’t love the way I look when I see myself in the mirror.

Why?

Because I want a six pack.

Why?

Because I want to be strong.

Why?

Because I want to be healthy. In good shape.

Why?

Because I want to feel good, and age well.

Got it.

That’s the underlying intent.

That’s the magic bit.

So now let’s throw out the goal and agenda, because that doesn’t work anyway. Instead, let’s replace it with a few words that amplify the underlying intent.

Real food. Movement. Strength.

Three words.

Simple, easy to remember, easy to tell other people about.

They become your compass.

Every decision you make, that ultimately ladders up to you being “busy”, you bias the decision towards those three words.

When you’re ordering lunch. Real food.

When you’re thinking about going to the nearest sandwich shop to grab something so you can get back to your desk. Movement. What if I take another 15 mins, and go somewhere new, somewhere further. Strength. I’ll take the stairs. I’ll carry that suitcase for you.

Lovely.

I introduced this concept for myself a few years ago, and it really works for me.

I tell everyone.
That helps me embed it, remind myself, and get others to remind and support me.

My first set of words were: active, mindful, outdoors.

And that’s exactly what happened. I spent loads of time outside, walking, exploring. Often bringing other people with me and giving them the benefit of that space too.

Over the years I’ve simplified further.
Down to a single word.

I wouldn’t suggest jumping straight to that.
You have to be really thoughtful about the word.
But after a few years of practice, I’ve got the hang of it.

Last year my word was FAFO. As in, fuck around and find out.
It sounds flippant, but the intent was serious.
Experiment more. Try things. Stop overthinking and just see what happens.

So I took adult skateboarding lessons and learned to drop in again. I brewed kombucha with Rob. I learned knife making with my best mate Russ, proper blacksmith stuff with a forge and everything. I cooked a sausage risotto underneath an ancient Roman viaduct with Tom. I walked over 60,000 steps in a single day, Forrest Gump style. I was walking.

None of that was on a plan.
None of it was a goal.
But all of it happened because I had a word that gave me permission to say yes to weird, interesting things.

The year before was creativity. That one led to more writing.

So my word for 2025, after lots and lots of “whys”, is...

Drum roll please...

“Ritual.”

This one’s an evolution for me.
I’ve noticed that FAFO is made easier through ritual.
I love shiny new things.
But most of the best things in my life come from consistency, from honing something over a long time.

Tomorrow I’m hosting all my school mates for our Christmas meal.
We’ve been doing it for about 20 years.
It started off as a bog standard Christmas meal out somewhere. Now the ritual has evolved.
We rotate who hosts.
If you host, you do the best turkey and gravy you can.
Everyone else gets another part of the meal.
There’s positive competition in how seriously you take doing your best.
Secret santa has evolved into dirty secret santa, plus a more standard secret santa where the gift is something you’ve made, or something you can do for someone else. The more thoughtful the better.

The whole thing is beautiful. It’s a highlight of our year.

Because it’s a ritual that’s been developed and honed.

That’s what I want more of in 2025.

What’s your word?