How to Choose Your 2026 Word of the Year (and actually use it).
Want to take purposeful action and direct your life rather than getting pulled along for the ride? - Try this!
Choose just one word that will be your intention for the year.
I got this idea from my friend and mentor, Michele. She chooses a word of intention each year, creates a beautiful card for it, and keeps it on display at her desk.
Why?
Choosing a word of the year allows you to move with more intention and reclaim your focus in a world that wants to pull you in a dozen directions at once.
I’ve been thinking a lot about how easy it is to overwhelm ourselves... trying to suddenly turn into the person who:
Meal preps every Sunday
Hits the gym five days a week
Reads a book a month
Is the first one in and last one out at the office
...ALL AT THE SAME TIME!
It’s plenty of motion, but it usually leads to feeling exhausted rather than accomplished. When you narrow your focus down to one singular, priority intention, you create a powerful filter for your life.
A single, intentional word of the year does three things:
It acts as a "Personal North Star."
Instead of wondering if you “should” do something, you simply ask yourself “Does this align with my 2026 word?” If your word is Rest, a high-energy invite is a "no." If it’s Connection, it’s an easy "yes."
It stops you from "straddling" your own life.
In his book Essentialism, Greg McKeown describes "straddling" as the exhausting attempt to do everything at once. By anchoring to one word, you trade scattered effort for real momentum.
It clears the mental clutter.
New Years Resolutions are often forgotten by February. A single word stays with you. On chaotic days, you can look at that word and find your way back to your path.
My 2026 Word: Clarity.
For me, this is about learning to quiet the noise so I can tap into a deeper level of insight and re-connect with my full body wisdom. This word serves as my reminder that I have to (and want to) actively do the work of creating space and staying intentional to access a higher level of clarity.
Stuck? Try this 3-Question "Word Finder"
If you aren’t sure what your word is yet, don't overthink it. Grab a notebook, set your timer for 10 minutes and let yourself write stream of consciousness while reflecting on these three questions.
What felt the "heaviest" about last month? (Your word is often the opposite of that heaviness. If life felt chaotic, your word might be Order or Peace.)
When you imagine yourself in December 2026, how do you want to feel? (Vital, Grounded, Adventurous, Secure.)
What is one thing you want to say "no" to more often? (If you want to say no to busywork, your word might be Essential.)
The 2026 Intention Gallery
I’m envisioning a collection of images—beautiful, diverse humans showing the uniqueness in each of our faces and our chosen words. I’d love for you to participate:
Choose your word.
Write it on a card. (Add as much or as little "pizazz" as you like!)
Snap a photo. You can be in it, or just a photo of the card.
Email me at alana@mydearlittleself.com. Let’s foster a sense of shared humanity as we get a peek into the goals and creativity of others.
PS: If you aren’t feeling 'artsy,' just write it on a post-it—the beauty is in the intention!
Need help? If you're struggling to find a word that feels aligned, email me for a free brainstorm session. I'd love to help you find your North Star.
The Word Bank (For Inspiration)
Play & Delight: Play, Fun, Spark, Joy, Shimmer, Delight, Celebrate
Creativity & Magic: Magical, Muse, Enchant, Create, Artistry, Awe, Imaginative, Inspire
Growth & Curiosity: Experiment, Learn, Wonder, Discovery, Expand, Try
Softness & Flow: Soft, Grace, Ease, Flow, Release, Yield, Gentle, Acceptance, Open-Space
Boldness & Action: Momentum, Courage, Leap, Visible, Ignite, Resilient, Build
Internal & Grounded: Clarity, Rooted, Stillness, Savor, Listen, Presence, Soulful, Peace
