Word of the Month Ideas
We’re kicking off 2024 with Word of the Month Ideas including motivational activities you can enjoy all year!
In 2014, I started choosing a Word of the Year to help guide my goals, dreams, and plans.
At first, it was exciting to make decisions inspired by the Word of the Year because everything was fresh and new, purpose-filled and hopeful.
It kept me on track for a good portion of the year and helped me accomplish many things.
So, this year, I’m choosing a Word of the Year (empowered) to help me stay motivated on my big-picture goals and also embracing a Word of the Month so I can intentionally focus on cultivating specific things each week for the entire month.
Breaking big goals down into smaller ones definitely makes things feel more manageable, you know?
Plus, it takes the pressure off knowing that you can change your mind at any time during the month or year!
Ready to get started?
Grab your calendar, and let’s make this year count!
Here’s a look at our Word(s) of the Month, Activities to Enjoy, and How You Can Create a Similar Calendar Too…
January Words of the Month:
- Dream, Plan, Act
Activities to Enjoy:
- Set Goals and Intentions
- Craft a Vision/Motivation Board
- Buy or Make a New Planner
- Create Simple Systems That Work
- Set a Movement Goal
- Establish a Morning Routine
- Establish a Nightly Routine
- Find an Easy Skincare Routine You Enjoy
- Start the Quarter Challenge
- Start the 52 Weeks to a Simplified and Organized Home Challenge
February Words of the Month:
- A Deeper Connection
Activities to Enjoy:
- Send a Card or Flowers to an Old Friend, Loved One, or Someone Special
- Take an Elderly Neighbor or Friend to Lunch
- Have Dinner by Candlelight
- Pay for the Groceries of the Person Behind You in the Express Lane
- Keep Sundays Sacred
- Listen Intently Without Distractions
- Discover Your Love and Apology Language
- Begin or Discover a New Self-Love Practice
March Words of the Month:
- Cultivate Healthy Habits
Activities to Enjoy:
- Make a Healthy Smoothie or Juice Recipe
- Enjoy Movie Night with a Friend
- Go for a Walk on the Beach, the Lake, a Park, or a New Neighborhood Trail
- Prioritize Sleep
- Stretch Before You Get Out of Bed
- Fill Your Water Bottle and Place It in the Fridge Before Going to Bed or Place a Carafe Filled with Water on Your Nightstand
- Do a 15-Minute Clutter Catcher Clean-Up Each Night
April Word of the Month:
- Declutter, Organize, Simplify
Activities to Enjoy:
- Declutter
- Go On a Digital Detox
- Create a Capsule Wardrobe
- Donate One Box a Week to a Local Charity or Community Food Bank
- Safely Toss Expired Beauty/Wellness Products/Stained or Tattered Clothes
- Get a Wall Calendar or Magnetic Meal Planner for Your Refrigerator
- Find Ways to Automate Weekly/Monthly Tasks
- Hire a Personal Chef or Food Delivery Service
May Word of the Month:
- Nourish
Activities to Enjoy:
- Prioritize Self Care
- Create a Simple 5-15 Minute Makeup Routine
- Buy New Undergarments
- Sign Up for a Local 5K, 10K, 15K, Half or Full Marathon
- Take a Power Nap in a Dark Room
- Buy Flowers for Yourself and a Friend Who Least Expects It
- Put Together 10 Outfits You Feel Amazing In
- Sign Up for a Newsletter That Motivates You
June Word of the Month:
- Experiment & Explore
Activities to Enjoy:
- Try a New Recipe or Restaurant
- Experiment With Fresh Makeup/Hair/Outfit Ideas
- Ask Someone New to Lunch
- Play Tourist in a Nearby Town
- Enjoy a Concert or Play
- Cross Something Off Your Bucket List
- Visit a Farm or Botanical Garden
July Word of the Month:
- Celebrate
Activities to Enjoy:
- Celebrate Independence Day
- Hike a New Trail
- Picnic at the Lake
- Read a Book on the Beach While Listening to the Waves
- Watch an Epic Fireworks Display
- Plan a Christmas in July Weekend
- Go to Your Favorite Bakery for Coffee and Dessert
August Words of the Month:
- Listen & Learn
Activities to Enjoy:
- Watch a New How-To or DIY Video
- Take a Class and Learn a New Skill
- Rediscover Your Favorite Childhood Hobby
- Host a Mini-Retreat
- Listen to a New Podcast or TED Talk
- Make Reservations for a Random Date Night
September Words of the Month:
- Refresh & Renew
Activities to Enjoy:
- Simply Your Current Routines
- Refresh Your Bedroom or Your Favorite Room in the House
- Renew an Old Friendship, Habit, or Hobby You Once Loved
- Read an Empowering Book
- Put a Puzzle Together or Host a Family Game Night
- Listen to Classical Music
- Visit a Museum
- Get a Facial or Deep Stone Massage
October Word of the Month:
- Create Your Own Kind of Magic
Activities to Enjoy:
- Implement Cozy Routines
- Buy a New Candle, Essential Oil Scent, or Create a New Simmer Pot Recipe
- Make a Pot of Soup and Fresh Bread for a Family Member or Neighbor
- Visit the Pumpkin Patch or Corn Maze
- Pick Apples or Find an Amazing Spot to Watch the Leaves Change
- Journal on the Porch with a Warm Blanket and Seasonal Drink
- Host a Spooky Soiree or Costume Party
November Words of the Month:
- Gratitude and Abundance
Activities to Enjoy:
- Welcome Holiday Guests
- Host a Cookie Swap, Favorite Things, or Wrapping Party
- Tell Someone You Much Appreciate Them
- Make a Blessings Tree, Garland, or Wreath
- Name Three Things You’re Grateful For Each Day
- Cultivate a Mindset of Abundance
- Spray Lavender or Deep Sleep Mist on Your Pillow at Night
- Safely Scatter Candles Around the Bathroom and Take a Bubble Bath
December Words of the Month:
- Comfort and Joy
Activities to Enjoy:
- Donate to a Sweater Drive or Family in Need
- Craft Christmas Ornaments or Attend a Wreath Making Party
- Decorate for Christmas
- Host Someone New for the Holidays
- Sip on a Peppermint Mocha
- Make a Snow Angel
- Do One Thing Your Future Self Will Thank You For
- Stargaze at Night
Simple Ways You Can Create Your Own Word of the Month Calendar…
Choosing Your Word of the Month:
Before choosing a Word of the Month, look over your goals for the year, if you have them, so they can help guide you.
For example, if you’re starting to train in January for a marathon in June, you’ll want to use words that motivate you to reach that goal each month.
If you don’t have goals for the year just yet, no worries, I’ve included a list of ideas down below.
Keep it simple by thinking about your priorities and your values, how you want to feel, what you want to fully focus on, something your future self will thank you for, habits you’re excited to create, or things that have been on your bucket list for far too long.
Word of the Month Ideas:
Here are a few ideas to help get you started…
Abundant * Accept * Achieve * Act * Add * Adventure * Apply * Appreciate * Attitude * Balance * Beautiful * Begin * Believe * Best-Self * Bold * Boundaries * Brave * Budget * Calm * Caring * Celebrate * Champion * Change * Collaborate * Commit * Communicate * Compassion * Confident * Connect * Consistent * Consolidate * Contribute * Courage * Craft * Create * Cultivate * Declutter * Delegate * Design * Determination * Discover * Dream * Emphasize * Encourage * Energize * Excellence * Experiment * Fearless * Finish * Focus * Forgive * Fun * Future-Self * Give * Goals * Gratitude * Grow * Habit * Happy * Heal * Healthy * Honor * Imagine * Implement * Improve * Inspire * Intentional * Joy * Kind * Lead * Learn * Less * Listen * Love * Manage * Master * Meditate * Mindful * Motivate * Move * Nature * Nest * New * No * Nourish * Nurture * Open * Organize * Overhaul * Overcome * Participate * Passion * Patient * Peace * Plan * Practice * Prepare * Present * Prioritize * Progress * Prosper * Purpose * Rebuild * Reclaim * Recognize * Redesign * Rediscover * Relax * Release * Renew * Repair * Repurpose * Rest * Reset * Resolve * Restore * Ritual * Routine * Self-Care * Shift * Shine * Simplify * Slow * Steward * Streamline * Strengthen * Success * Support * Talent * Time * Transform * Travel * Trust * Try * Upgrade * Value * Vision * Wealthy * Wise * Wonder *
Making it Visible…
Once you’ve decided on a word for each month, make it visible!
Write the words in your calendar, stick post-it notes on your refrigerator, create a folder on your phone, listen to podcasts or read books on that topic, set reminders with Alexa, or create a vision board.
Creating a New Soundtrack…
If you’re the type of person that has great intentions, but little follow through (not judging at all, I’ve been there too) set yourself up for success by creating a new soundtrack.
I can’t tell you how many times I’ve stopped doing something I wanted to do for the sake of something I felt like I had to do.
Guilt and obligation seem to go hand in hand sometimes, don’t they?
The thing is, it’s not selfish to take care of yourself.
After all, you can’t pour from an empty cup.
And if you don’t make time to do the things that lift you up, it’s tough to lift others up.
You don’t have to do an activity every day or even every week.
But I urge you to give yourself something to look forward to each month.
It might not be easy at first, but I promise, the effort will be worth it.
Cheering you on as you choose a Word of the Month or Word of the Year and create a life you love!
Other Motivational Posts to Enjoy:
7 Tips for a Successful Week (one of your Top Ten Favorite Blog Posts)
Finding Clarity With Journaling Prompts
Many blessings,
CoCo
This is ingenious! I quit choosing a word for the year, because they always fizzled out after a month or two. This is such a great take on the idea! Thanks for sharing!
You are so welcome, Susan! This is a brand new approach I’m excited to try as well. It was so much fun to go through the list and pick words and activities for each month. I think having something to look forward to/focus on will definitely help take the pressure off too. 30 days seems totally doable 🙂 Cheering you on as you choose your words and activities. Big hugs, CoCo
Great idea, a word of the month!
I will give it a try. The focus might help me organize. Thank you
You are very welcome, Maywyn. Breaking things down by month not only helps us stay organized and keeps focused, it also gives us something fun to look forward to each month as well. Cheering you on as you choose the words that resonate with you most this year, CoCo
I love this idea! I cannot wait to try it! Thank you for sharing this ingenious idea! Happy New Year.
I love this.
I chose SIMPLE, SIMPLICITY, SIMPLIFY.
I’m now on day 5 of using those words in my daily life.
That is so cool, Carol! I love that you are finding ways to incorporate those words into each day. It helps so much. Sending you tons of hugs and cheering you on! May this year be your best year yet, CoCo
I have never chosen a word of the year. I knew I would forget it after the first two months! Life changes so quickly, I love the idea of having a word of the month! I’m going to try this! Wish me luck! Blessings, Donna
This is the first time I’ve done the Word of the Month as well, Donna, so we can cheer each other on! I wrote my words and activities down for each month in my calendar for the entire year so I’ll have it right ready to go and something fun to look forward to every month. Can’t wait to hear what words you choose! Big hugs, CoCo
I love this idea! Have you ever noticed that during certain periods of your life, certain words just keep popping up? A couple of years ago, I kept seeing the word GRACE everywhere. On the back of trucks, on menus, in newspapers. I took it as a sign. All of this is to say that words are powerful things. Thank you for sharing your words for 2023. Some great tips and ideas too!
CoCo, I LOVE this post! Very much like a book I have enjoyed for many years now, Simple Abundance. Thank you so much for sharing all of your ideas and inspirations with us at the TFT party. I’m featuring you, again, this week!
Oh my gosh! I love this so much! As always, you know just the thing to keep your readers inspired in a sustainable way.
If I end up adopting this properly, I’ll design planner sheets to match the months, and I’ll send the sheets to you, of course!
(I’m still super sick with pneumonia, so I’m not sure what I’ll be prioritizing in the coming weeks/months.)
I really enjoyed all of your word of the month ideas. These are such a great way to intentionally make the most of each day!
I am going to have to keep this post in front of me throughout the year. I love the way you have the practical ideas to go along with the word of the month. So many times I’ve picked a word but never planned how to follow through with action.
Such a great idea! I’m sharing this in my weekly newsletter on Saturday! Happy New Year!