What is your 2026 word?

How prepared and ready are you for this year? Are you by nature a planner, who likes time to look ahead, take stock and have a general overview? Or are you more likely to take each day and week as it comes, and see what happens?

For some, too much planning and advanced structuring seems constraining and leads to feelings of being shut in. For others, a lack of planning and a sense of what is coming next brings a sense of panic and chaos.  Uncertainty in the face of sudden change or spontaneity.

There is no right or wrong – we are all wired differently. And thank goodness for that, the world would be a very dull place otherwise.

Having a theme.

But be you Planner or a Wait-and-See-er, what can help is to have a theme. Having a word for the year is becoming popular, as it allows greater scope that New Year’s resolutions. Setting resolutions at the start of the year can have the opposite effect to that intended, if we don’t keep them and slide into self recrimination, apathy or frustration. But a theme word feels less punishing and sets the tone for more intentional living.

What is your 2026 word?

This is a commonly used coaching practice. To look at the year ahead, and select a word or phrase for the year, based on the kind of year you want to have and what it would mean to end the year well. This ‘word’ then becomes the theme for the year, and helps the individual align their decisions, time management, business efforts throughout the year.

Words like ….

FOCUS – BALANCE – GROWTH – CONNECT – RESILIENCE

– ADVENTURE – LET GO – NURTURE – PRESENT – SIMPLIFY

That word can then be made into something creative, written somewhere prominent, put as our screen saver – whatever floats our particular boat. But the idea is that we regularly see and are reminded of our chosen theme as to what is most important to us that year. There are even websites now that can generate a word for you, based on the themes you want this year to be about.

If we are a planner and like to set goals, action steps, and have a structure for the next season, then that theme serves as the anchor point for our decisions and our focus.

If we live more freely and spontaneously, then that theme is the updraft to our wings, giving us energy and lift but always from the same starting point.

Either way, being intentional about having a focus word as a theme can prevent us diving off down distracting rabbit holes that take up time, effort, energy and lead us away from where we otherwise want to be.

My theme this year?

Pay attention.

For me this is about stopping each day to focus at the start of the day on what is most important that day, and therefore how I direct my time, efforts, energy. Noticing my motives, my responses, my needs and those around me and paying attention to what I am learning about myself so that I continue to grow as coach, mum, wife, friend – me. Stopping in the moment and enjoying the present, rather than rushing on to the next thing.

What about you?

What is your 2026 word?

If you like the idea but are not sure where to start, I might have a word for you.

Life coaching.

• Perhaps you know how you want the year to end – you know what has to change in your life – but have no idea how to get there.
• Perhaps you want things to be different but have no idea what you could do and your confidence and self belief has taken a battering.
• Perhaps you are going through a major transition this year – with work, family, house, finances – and are overwhelmed at the idea of navigating this alone.

Well – this is where Life Coaching comes in! Life coaching will enable you to be clear on who you are and your strengths, skills and values. This builds confidence and self belief, and empowers you to create dreams and goals for the life you want. Add accountability and encouragement to stick to clear action points, and having a raving fan along side you, and it is a potent and powerful tool!

So – contact me to arrange your FREE taster session to find out more!

And if you like what you read here, sign up for my newsletters, receiving a FREE Self coaching guide in the process. Another 2026 word –

Bargain!