Easy Tips for Tracking Your “Word of the Year” in Evernote…and Beyond!
Do you have a word for the year?
We've been having a lively discussion about this inside the Academy.
I had already chosen mine (keep reading), so I was delighted to learn that it's not just me who picks a word of the year — lots of people do!
A common thread I see in the productivity space:
People focused on improving their productivity habitually choose a word of the year.
For over a decade, I’ve been teaching about simple habits to boost productivity. Here are just three:
Recently, I’ve connected the dots that picking a word of the year is a productivity best practice — and it’s the easiest of all the habits to implement.
A word of the year is something I’ve been embracing for years — and now I’ve seen just how effective this super simple habit of weaving it into our daily life using Evernote helps take our goals, peace of mind, and ability to get things done up several notches.
If you love productivity tips, you’ll appreciate how effortless it is to take something as uncomplicated as a word and turn it into your daily productivity powerhouse.
What’s a word of the year?
New year’s resolutions are out, and words of the year are in. A word of the year sums up how you want to “do” life in a calendar year. It’s like a North Star or ideal feeling for the next 12 months. Language is powerful. It’s one of the most important tools we have to communicate — with ourselves and others.
All words carry a certain meaning and energy to them. Once we select a word (or even a phrase) of the year, it gives us a filter for which to review everything that comes our way:
Does this opportunity help me achieve the essence of this word?
Will this habit support me in feeling how I want to feel this year?
What changes do I need to make to align with this word?
Just like any idea we have, our word of the year is only meaningful if we remember it — and keep it front and center all the time.
I framed my 2019 Word of the Year.
Picking a word of the year is something I've done several times. This helps me bring clarity and focus to my goals. A carefully chosen word acts as a mental mentor. It helps me stay motivated and productive as I plan and move toward my annual goals.
Keep your word of the year front and center for your productivity and focus.
I used to keep my word of the year strictly to paper and physical reminders. In past years, I've purchased wall art with my word, or I've printed out and framed my word.
Here are some fun ideas to integrate your word into your physical life:
Write it on sticky notes and place them around your home
Put your word on a physical object that you’ll see daily. Make it yourself by creating a Canva graphic with your word, printing it, and framing it. Or use a site like Etsy to explore creative options. I ordered this mug with my word to remind me with my first cup of coffee each morning.
Write it on the cover of your favorite journal or notebook
Dust off your watercolors and craft a unique work of art using your word
Arrange a vision board with images that represent your word
Interestingly, I hadn’t been logging my word of the year in Evernote over the years. I’m fixing that in 2023.
Here’s some ways to weave your word of the year into your digital life:
Create a note in Evernote titled "Words of the Year" and log your word each year, along with any notes and reflection. Seeing your past words in one place helps you remember them and is a great starting place for kicking off any journaling exercises you use to help you find your word for the following year.
Upload a custom background image to Evernote Home that includes your word of the year and has graphics/color(s) that reflect the feeling your word evokes (as I’ve done here):
Feature your Word of the Year on Evernote Home use the Pinned Note Widget.
Notice here how I created a square Canva graphic with my word, put it in a note, and used the Pinned Note widget (subscription required) to feature it on my Evernote Home. This makes my digital world more visually appealing than merely typing the word into the note.
You can also add an audio message to this note. Record yourself talking about your word, its meaning, and how you see it supporting you throughout the year. Replay it daily — preferably first thing in the morning and before going to sleep. This is when your brain is most receptive to suggestions.
Change your desktop background and your phone lock screen wallpaper to your word. This is another great use for Canva!
Update some of your passwords and pass-phrases to incorporate your word. For example, I could change the passcode for my Evernote account to be LiveW*thE@se (obviously, I won’t do this now that you’re reading this).
Make a playlist of songs with your word of the year and listen to it often.
I use Evernote to support me in accomplishing my goals all year long. So, my word of the year acts as the tip of my productivity iceberg.
By seeing it regularly, I keep my word of the year in focus — in my physical and digital life, so I remember to apply it to everything I’m doing.
Don’t have a word of the year yet?
You can always embrace a word of the month, choose your word in May, change your word halfway through the year, or select a phrase. This is the simplest productivity habit to weave into your life — give yourself permission to change it anytime and have fun with it!
If the concept of creating a word of the year is new to you, here are a few resources to help you out:
Here's an article that walks you through a process to discover your word (Google, "How to find your word of the year" for more help).
Find lots of word inspiration in the comments here.
Check out some words of the year from Academy members:
Discipline (this one came up a lot — inspired by Jocko Willink)
Freedom
Elevate
Simplicity
Focus
Relentless
And my word of the year for 2023: Ease. Visit this Instagram post to see the personal meaning behind this word for me and share yours in the comments.
Academy Members: Add your 2023 word of the year to this discussion thread.
Join a community to support you in achieving your annual goals
Enroll in the Academy and get all the on-demand Evernote education you need, access to a coach (me!), live training events, and even more productivity best practices — the GTD Book Club, the Practically Paperless Challenge, and more.
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