Choosing a Word Instead of a Resolution
For decades, people have set resolutions at the start of the new year. Lose weight, save money, learn a new hobby, and travel more seem to be among some of the most popular.
This year, though, I decided to do something different. For whatever reason, specific goals are feeling a little too claustrophobic, so instead, I’ve chosen one word to guide my year ahead: intentional.
So why the change after years of well-intentioned goals that didn’t always play out the way I hoped? Here’s what led me here.
From Resolutions to Reflection
I’d consider myself to have a “Type A” personality, so checklists are something I naturally thrive on. And for a long time, I treated New Year’s resolutions the same way: specific, measurable, and rigid. Train for and complete a marathon has been a frequent resolution of mine. And on paper, a goal like this makes sense.
In practice, though, these kinds of goals often leave very little room for real life. Miss a week of training because I’m not feeling well? Fall off track because I spent more time socializing with friends than planned? Change my mind and realize I don’t actually want to run 40+ miles a week every week for 16 straight weeks? Suddenly, the goal feels like a failure rather than a guide.
Over time, I started to notice the same pattern show up around other well-intentioned resolutions—especially those related to nutrition and wellness. Big, all-or-nothing goals can be motivating at first, but they’re usually hard to sustain. What I’ve found actually makes a difference are subtler habits that are, admittedly, kind of boring. Eating regularly. Cooking meals I genuinely enjoy. Staying hydrated. Exercising because is feels good. And returning to routines without judgment when they inevitably drift.
Why One Word Works
Choosing a word instead of a resolution feels like a response to that realization. Intentional doesn’t demand perfection or constant progress. It simply reminds me to pause and ask, Is this aligned with how I want to feel, work, exercise, eat, and show up this year?
Choosing My Word: Intentional
Honestly, I had never thought about choosing a “word of the year” before. It wasn’t until I listened to a podcast at the end of December and heard the host talk about her word for the year ahead that the idea clicked for me. I liked the simplicity of it and started thinking about how it might fit into my own life. I realized that I kept coming back to the word intentional.
When I landed on it, the word felt really grounding rather than prescriptive. It doesn’t come with a checklist or a finish line, and it doesn’t require me to do more for the sake of doing more. Instead, it acts as a filter—and I’ve already found myself using it multiple times this year.
In practice, using this filter means being more thoughtful about where I invest my time, energy, and attention. It means choosing commitments—both in business and in life—because they align with how I want to work and live—not because they look productive on paper or feel expected. Some days, that means saying yes to something exciting. Other days, it might mean saying no and resting instead.
Choosing a word rather than committing to a list of specific resolutions leaves room for flexibility. It acknowledges that goals and priorities can shift throughout the year—and that adjusting course isn’t failure. It’s real life, and it’s information on how you, as a person, operate.
Applying Intentionality in Life and Nutrition
This mindset shows up most clearly for me around exercise and nutrition. After years of experimenting with rigid plans and lofty goals, I’ve learned that consistency almost always beats intensity. Being intentional with nutrition and exercise doesn’t mean showing up “perfectly” or following strict rules. It looks more like:
Eating regular, balanced meals, even on busy days
Choosing foods that are both nourishing and enjoyable
Moving my body in ways that feel supportive, not punishing
Letting go of all-or-nothing thinking when routines inevitably shift
These habits aren’t flashy. And they definitely don’t promise to help you drop ten pounds or miraculously develop six-pack abs by spring break. But they are steady and reliable—which is what makes them sustainable. As a dietitian, this is also what I see work best for clients: small, intentional choices repeated over time, rather than dramatic overhauls that are hard to maintain.
A Word for Your Year
If you’re similar to me and you’re feeling burnt out by resolutions or boxed in by overly specific goals, consider choosing a word instead. Not as a rule, but as a guide. Something you can return to when things feel stressful or overwhelming.
Your word doesn’t have to be intentional. There is no right or wrong choice—only what feels meaningful to you right now.
For me, intentional feels like an invitation to move through 2026 with more clarity, flexibility, and self-trust. And honestly, that feels like a pretty good place to start.
One thought I will leave you with is this: setting measurable, attainable goals for yourself this year is not a bad thing—it can be incredibly motivating. Though I haven’t set “specific” goals for myself this year, I may very well train for and run another marathon this year—I’m just choosing to let intention guide the why, rather than following a goal for the sake of checking a box.
