For the last several years now, I’ve chosen a “word of the year” as part of my annual goal-planning process.

While I haven’t always posted my word on my website, I thought it would be helpful to do so again this year…for posterity, if nothing else. What’s more, quite a few people have expressed interest in this process and find inspiration in other people’s words. So here you go.

In previous years, my words have been:

• 2018: Connection
• 2019: Rhythm
• 2020: Freedom

Ready for this year’s word? Drumroll please…

2021 Word of the Year: Rooted

Disclosure: this post may contain affiliate links, which won’t change your price but will share some commission. See here for more information.

Why Choose a Word of the Year?

While I resisted this practice for a long time, I finally came around when I discovered that it is helpful to have something to focus on when I’m making plans and setting goals.

I keep my word somewhere visible, like on my phone’s lock screen, stuck to the refrigerator or in the front of my journal. Whenever I sit down to work on my goals, it reminds me about what’s important (and also what’s not).

You can learn more about my planning and goal-setting processes and tools here:

How Moms Can Set Meaningful Goals (with Examples!)

Are PowerSheets Worth It for Planning Goals? An Honest Review

The Ultimate Time Management Guide for Moms

How I Chose “Rooted”

I spent some time at the end of 2020 reflecting, journaling and praying. (And what a year it was to reflect on!). Using the prompts in my PowerSheets Goal Planner, I assessed what worked well for me last year, what didn’t, and what’s important to me going forward.

2020 will be remembered by many as a year of chaos and uncertainty, and it was all the more so for our family. Not only did we have the stress of the pandemic and the social and political instability that many faced, but we also brought home a long-awaited adopted child from overseas and then found out I was unexpectedly pregnant a few months later.

The word “rooted” reminds me of stability and perseverance. I think of old trees that withstand chaos like storms and drought. They might lose branches and take a beating from time to time, but if they’re deeply rooted, they still stand.

It’s not surprising to me that Bible contains abundant metaphors of plants and roots, in both the Old and New Testaments. A quick word study revealed a pattern: being rooted in good things leads to good fruit.

I chose a theme scripture to memorize: “So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness” (Colossians 2:6–7).

My hope is that everything I do this year is rooted in love, beauty and truth (all of which are embodied in Christ himself). I will strive to maintain that focus as I work toward my personal goals.

My Big Goals for 2021

In general, I don’t like to get too specific about goals more than about 90 days out. Many productivity experts suggest that quarterly goals are more effective than annual ones anyway, since we humans apparently have short attention spans.

This year, I whittled down my ambitions to what might be more appropriately called focus areas or themes. (I talk about this in more detail in the Take a Deep Breath video series, if you’re interested.) I wrote out a general statement about how I want to focus on each area.

1. Build an Emergency Fund
2. Beautify Our Home
3. Grow Deeper with God
4. Empower My Kids’ Growth
5. Help My Online Platform to Flourish

If you look closely, you can see these words can be easily linked to the idea of being rooted in love, beauty and truth.

Now, if you’re a fan of systems like S.M.A.R.T goals, don’t cringe because I’m not done. Using these larger ideas and the word “rooted” as guidance, I set “micro” goals and chose habits to work on in 90 days or less.

Micro Goals and Habit Ideas for 2021

With my focus areas in mind, I brainstormed more specific goal ideas and action steps. I’ll share some of them in categories below. I’ve simplified my lists so that I don’t bore anyone (and plus there’s some personal information I’d rather keep private). Hopefully you’ll get the idea.

Build an Emergency Fund

• Track budget daily
• Talk with Marc about budget in weekly/monthly meetings
• Monthly income goals
• Monthly savings goals, increasing as year progresses

Beautify Our Home

• Organize different areas of the home (listed out)
• Minor updates in various rooms (listed out)
• Prepare for new baby action items (listed out)

Grow Deeper with God

• Study the book of Ezekiel, possibly other prophets
• Read one theology book/quarter
• Daily prayer/meditation
• Record Spirit-led acts of generosity each month

Empower My Kids’ Growth

• Weekly family game nights
• Help kids study for “Memory Masters” in our homeschool program
• Explore my daughter’s options for preschool and/or therapy
• Quarterly nature adventure
• Assist kids in county fair 4-H projects

Help My Online Platform Flourish

• Run new Facebook ads to cold audience
• Run new Facebook ads to warm audience
• Reach 10,000 email subscribers
• Prepare 6 weeks of maternity leave content
• Minor website updates
• 2 new blog posts/month
• Major website redesign

Once I finished brainstorming, I chose the items that I will focus on in the first quarter, and then I loosely scheduled out what I want to focus on each month.

I’ll track my goals and habits as I go, do a minor reassessment each month, and then do a major reassessment after the first quarter. At that point, I’ll add, adjust or remove goals based on my priorities at that time.

Summing It Up

If you’ve never done something like this before, I know it can look a little overwhelming. Just remember that I’ve practiced this process a lot, and what I came up with this year is what works for me. It has also evolved over time.

I shared quite a few resources in this post if you’d like to do something similar. Beyond that, if you’re not already subscribed, be sure to sign up for resources to help you live more intentionally this year and beyond:

So let’s be clear: I think traditional New Year’s resolutions are dumb.

Here’s why: the numbers vary depending on which source you look at, but statistically less than 10 percent of people actually follow through with the ideas they get so excited about come January 1st.

So for the other 90+ percent, what’s the point? For most people, resolutions are just wishful thinking.

For a long time, I just didn’t bother. I figured if I wanted to change something in my life I would just…do it.

And while that works to an extent for me, I nonetheless hit a wall a few years ago. I was exhausted and overwhelmed with three small kids, drowning in mental and physical clutter and feeling purposeless. While I didn’t exactly know where I was going, I made a decision at the end of 2015 that I was going to be more intentional with my life:

• I started decluttering my home.
• I turned my hobby blog into a professional one, got certified in stress management coaching and developed digital products.
• I embraced my purpose in motherhood.
• I started taking better care of myself and embraced biblical rest.
• I started praying powerfully and with purpose.
• I learned how to control my daily schedule rather than letting it control me.

And it all started with a process called goal-setting. A.k.a New Year’s Resolutions—but the kind that I can follow through with because I’m working on them year-round.

So while I still think that New Year’s resolutions as I used to understand them are dumb, when you do them right, they can be incredibly effective and life-changing.

Related: How Moms Can Set Meaningful Goals

I’ve learned a lot about this process of the last several years. There’s a lot of great advice out there, but if I do have one nugget of wisdom to offer about resolutions it’s this:

Choose rest.

While the rest of the world is wrapped up in being skinny and self-improvement and getting rich, imagine if you chose to do something a little different?

Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.
—Matthew 11:28–30.

To rest is to be faithful. To stop and let God fill in the gaps. To trust the Spirit’s guidance. To be content with less…and to feel fuller in the process.

Sound good? Then check out these alternative New Year’s resolution ideas anchored in rest that you can get excited about.

10 Restful New Year’s Resolution Ideas

Photo credit: Cristian Escobar

1. Practice Sabbath

It’s an ancient practice: set aside a 24-hour period each week to REST. Up until pretty recently, I had never done this.

But now, I can’t imagine my life without it. One day a week, I do my best to let go.

I don’t check my social media or email. I don’t do any household or work projects, even when I know there’s stuff to get done. Instead, I spend time with those I love, I worship and I relax. And I face each week refreshed.

2. Sleep More

Again, up until recently, my mentality was to sleep the minimal amount without feeling completely wrecked each day, to maximize the amount of time I had to get stuff done.

It’s a terrible way to live. I had to adjust my morning and evening routines, but now I regularly get the 8.5 hours a night I need. And of course, I’m way more productive.

Give yourself permission to get more sleep. Go to bed (perhaps earlier) at the same time each night after a relaxing evening routine. Take short power naps during seasons when your nighttime sleep is interrupted. Ask for help taking care of the kids wen you’re feeling run down.

3. Create Meaningful Memories

One thing I have wanted to grow in is being more mentally present with my husband and kids. I want us to look back with memories full of meaning and love.

There are many ways you can approach this. What has worked well for me is getting one-on-one time with one of my kids each week, as well as a date of some kind with my husband every week. I also try to take photos weekly—in everyday life, not just the special occasions. I’ve worked hard to stay on top of my digital photos, which means sorting and editing then within a week of taking them. This makes it much less overwhelming to organize them.

4. Cultivate Your Friendships

This is another area I’ve grown in recently. Even during the recent social distancing period, I’ve been grateful to have deep friendships and great conversations

I know it’s tough for many of us in the season of motherhood because we lack the time. If that’s the case with you, I encourage you to be creative with this resolution.

Be bold and initiate (that other mom is probably lonely too). When you can’t meet, talk on the phone. You might be surprised just how little extra time those friendships can take if you simply take the effort to invest in them.

5. Enrich Your Prayer Life

In the past, this has been a weakness but now I’m proud to say and think is becoming a strength. Over the last couple of years, I have gotten more disciplined and focused and have seen a lot of the fruit.

For me, it took some digging and journaling to get there. Can I suggest starting with this prayer journal?

6. Say No to Your Phone

I think I’m pretty conscious about this, and still, I find myself getting sucked into checking my notifications whenever I get a free second.

Some ways to combat this include setting up screen-free times into your schedule as well as only allowing yourself to check notifications at specific times of the day. Otherwise, it’s all too tempting!

Related: Social Media Addiction: 20 Strategies to Break It

7. Spend Time in Nature

There’s something spiritual about the sky, the sea, the mountains, the fields. As someone who grew up in the Pacific Northwest and now lives in the Midwest, I can find my present opportunities…lacking. But that just means I’m not looking hard enough.

Studies show that being in nature is good for your mental and physical health. So let’s get out there regularly and make it a priority!

Brainstorm some ways you can enjoy nature, whether it’s sitting out on your back deck every day, taking a long walk once a week, or planning a trip out into the wilderness.

8. Explore Healthy Food You LOVE

Weight loss is on the brain for many people at this time of year, and that’s necessarily not a bad thing…but we can go about it the wrong way.

I find that I’m healthiest when I’m not thinking in terms of how I’m limiting myself but rather embracing what I love.

I finally admitted to myself that I don’t love salad. Plus no one else in my family likes it much. I’ll eat it because I know it’s good for me and that’s enough of a motivator…but I’m a lot more excited about a plethora of other vegetable-rich dishes that I’ve learned how to make. So rather than forcing myself to limit my food to something I’m not wild about, our family is getting adventurous with healthy, whole foods we love and can be thankful for. See the difference?

What nourishing food can you get excited about discovering in the coming months?

9. Find a Mentor

There’s a phrase that has stuck with me through the years: “You don’t know what you don’t know.” Sometimes you don’t even know what you are doing right or wrong unless you get some perspective.

If you’re feeling stuck in any area of your life, why stay in a rut if the strategies you’re using aren’t working? Get some help: a coach, an advisor, an accountability buddy, a counselor, whatever. It’s biblical and it helps.

10. Practice Gratitude

This is almost too cliché nowadays but I’m gonna write it anyway. Gratitude is proven to change the way you think. Make it stick by writing it down daily.

Okay friends, now it’s your turn: what restful New Year’s Resolutions ideas would you add to the list? And which ones do you want to try this year?

If you want some guidance putting those goals into practice, be sure to check this the mini goal-setting workbook I offer in my free resources collection:

It’s no secret around here that I’m a big fan of setting goals. 

It’s a concept that many people often associate with their jobs. My husband shares with me the business goals he sets for work each year.

But what about for your personal life? Is it worth it to set goals for just…yourself? And your family?

And furthermore, how does one go about that, exactly?

I’ve been setting personal goals for myself for several years now, and I’ve tried quite a few tools. One of the most unique ones is a workbook called PowerSheets.

Disclosure: this post may contain affiliate links, which won’t change your price but will share some commission. See here for more information.

What Are PowerSheets?

PowerSheets are a collection of goal-setting pages in a beautiful workbook. I like to think of them as having a paper life coach. They help you think through your priorities, get a vision and make goals, and then work towards them in practical steps.

Here’s how the Cultivate What Matters shop describes its popular product:

Thousands of women all over the world have made their goals happen with PowerSheets. Created by Lara Casey, best-selling author of Make It Happen and Cultivate: A Grace-Filled Guide to Growing an Intentional Life.

• A proven process that works.
• 12 months of intentional goal-setting worksheets to help you make your goals a reality.
• The signature PowerSheets Prep™️ process to uncover the right goals for your season of life.
• Trusted goal coaching on every page so you stay motivated and on track.
• Exclusive seasonal worksheets to refresh and refocus your goals each season.

Sounds pretty cool, right?

I thought so. So I jumped on the Cultivate wagon in 2018 and dug in. I liked PowerSheets so much that I’ve used them every year since (yes, especially in this crazy year of 2020).

Getting Started: Brain Dumping and Life Assessment

If you do not know where you come from, then you don’t know where you are, and if you don’t know where you are, then you don’t know where you’re going… – Terry Pratchett

If you’ve ever tried setting goals before, one easy way to get stuck right from the start is having no clue what direction you want your life to go.

So the first step is assessing where you’ve been.

The first several pages in the PowerSheets workbook are life assessment pages. They consist of open-ended questions about your personality, your hopes and dreams, how well the past year went and some ideas for what you want to do in the coming year.

There’s also a lot of open space to get messy, which I always appreciate.

This is one of my favorite parts of the workbook because you have permission to get to know yourself a little better. Why do you think those online personality quizzes are so much fun? I think it’s because we like to understand the way we think and act so that we can make the best use of our preferences and talents.

By knowing your strengths, weaknesses, who you are, how you’re motivated and where you’ve been, the future becomes a lot clearer.

Related: How to Be Motivated: The Four Tendencies from a Biblical Perspective

The next step is to prioritize what’s most important. You start out by thinking about what you want your life to be like when you get to the end. What’s going to matter most then?

With that in mind, you work your backward. What can you focus on in the coming year that can push you towards that long-term vision?

My only critique is that this timeframe feels like a bit of a stretch. I hope I’ve got a few decades in between now and then!

I personally like to add intermediate steps, such as where I want to be in 5 years, as well as major milestones like when my kids graduate high school. But the PowerSheets workbook provides the space and flexibility to do that.

Choosing a Word of the Year

I’ve heard of people that use a “word of the year,” and honestly I’ve always thought it was a bit hokey. I mean seriously, summarizing an entire year of your life under one banner word or phrase? How is that practical?

But, since I was so impressed with the process already, I decided to run with it.

Based on the personal assessment pages, the word I landed on in 2018 was connection. I felt like it applied to the areas of my life where I was lacking.

Surprisingly, I found it extremely helpful. Not because the word in itself was so amazing, but because with all of the other tools in PowerSheets, I was able to stay rooted in it.

I posted this word in my kitchen where I keep all of my household paperwork. While I didn’t think about it constantly, it was a good visual reminder about my priorities. It was also useful whenever I revisited my PowerSheets on a monthly and quarterly basis.

What surprised me most was how much God led me to grow in connection throughout the year, in ways I didn’t expect or plan. I became more comfortable in getting vulnerable, crying without shame and giving my heart in scary ways.

In the years that have followed, I never regretted choosing a word. While I don’t think about it constantly, it does help me stop, reflect and focus on what matters to me.

My words for the past several years have been:

• connection (2018)
• rhythm (2019)
• freedom (2020)

Getting Intentional with Goal-Setting

After clearing up where you’ve been, where you are and where you want to go in a general sense, the PowerSheets workbook walks you through the nitty-gritty of goal-setting.

To start, you write out several specific goals you want to work on in the coming year. Then you break them down into smaller steps.

I used to do ten goals, and it felt really overwhelming to me. I can’t focus on that many big things at once. In the 2021 edition, it encourages you to do eight MAXIMUM (and you can always adjust later).

Whatever the number of goals you set, the targeting questions in Powersheets help you focus on the most important ones first, based on your current priorities, and then work on others later.

Looking book at the goals I set at the beginning of 2018, I was a little surprised that I only met two of them completely. That hurt my perfectionist heart a little bit.

But that didn’t mean I didn’t accomplish anything! I ended up dropping one of my goals completely, as it didn’t make sense anymore. As for the rest, I made progress significant progress on every one. Furthermore, as the year went on, I got better at defining my goals in a way that was realistic and relevant.

Each quarter in PowerSheets, you either recommit to your original goals or change them. As life shifts, so does your focus.

Overall, what really impressed me was that the process helped me appreciate the journey more than the destination. This phrase has helped me a lot:

In the following years, I haven’t felt like I HAD to fill in all of the spaces. I must be getting over my perfectionism

What I’ve loved over time is that I can tweak my PowerSheets to suit my needs. They’re here to serve me, not the other way around.

Staying Focused Day After Day, Week After Week, Month After Month

You know how it goes; you can get really excited about making some big changes and focusing on goals at the beginning of the year, only to lose momentum after a month or two. You then spend the majority of the year drifting through life, until you start all over again.

To combat this tendency, the PowerSheets workbook has the tools to keep you focused on your goals all year long:

• Seasonal reflection: Every three months, you can hit the “reset” button on your goals and on your life, as you monitor your long-term progress.
• Monthly reflection: Before you make your plans each month, you can reflect on how the last month went. You also look at your big goals and prioritize what you want to focus on next. There’s lots of space for brain-dumping so that you can clear the clutter and let go of the things you’re worried about that won’t really matter in the long-run.
• Tending list: This is a perforated sheet that you can tear out and keep wherever it’s convenient. You keep track of your progress, including monthly goals, weekly goals and daily goals that help you work towards your big goals.

This system is brilliant. It’s simple, not overwhelming, and motivating all year long.

I admit, I haven’t been a perfect student using the tending list. I sometimes go over a week without glancing at it. Nevertheless, it still keeps me a lot more focused than I would be without it.

Another cool thing about the PowerSheets workbook is that it is not a daily calendar planner.

Say what?!?

I love this because it’s versatile enough to use with the planner of your choice. I use a combination of Google Calendar and bullet journaling, and PowerSheets help me get the most out of them. (I explain my planning system more in the Ultimate Time Management Guide for Moms.)

The 2020 and 2021 editions do have month at a glance calendar pages, but to be honest I don’t refer to them much (I’d rather look at my wall calendar). But if you like to have everything in one place, those are handy.

Additional Features

Beyond the very thorough worksheets, you get several other perks with PowerSheets:

• A beautiful design and stickers galore: This is not a big deal to me, but if fun and colorful aesthetics are important to you, you won’t be disappointed.
• Wildcard pages: You can download customizable pages to insert into your PowerSheets, including budget pages, meal plans, grocery lists, health worksheets…you name it! I didn’t really take full advantage of these but would like to try more of them in the future.
• Support community: There’s an active PowerSheets Facebook group with over 12,000 members. So if you feel stuck or unmotivated you can just pop in there for two seconds. The Cultivate What Matters team also has a lot of resources that help you get the most out of your workbook.
• NEW in 2021: more robust quarterly goal planning pages. I’m thrilled with this feature, as I find that rehashing my goals quarterly helps keep me on target.

Are PowerSheets Worth It?

It’s obvious that I’m fan. But are PowerSheets a good choice for everyone?

The one-year PowerSheets workbook is not cheap, at $60 plus taxes and shipping. If your budget is tight, you may need to save up or ask for one as a gift.

To get the most out of it, you also should make a commitment to actually use it. And I’m not gonna lie; it takes time. 

I personally need several hours to complete the assessment worksheets at the beginning of the workbook, and about an hour or two each month as I reflect on my progress.

PowerSheets are not for you if you’re not committed to investing time, energy and money in your personal growth. They are not magical and will not help you if you’re not willing to do the difficult work of self-examination, setting goals and following through.

If you’re the type of person who buys cool things but doesn’t use them, then you might want to think twice before ordering. Make sure you’re ready to put in the work.

PowerSheets are for you if you’re eager to live more intentionally and are committed to the investment that process takes.

Not Quite Ready for PowerSheets?

If you’re intrigued by the goal-setting process but not ready to invest, you may like the simple goal-setting workbook that you can download from my collection of free resources. This can point in the direction of living more intentionally until you’re ready to take the next step.

Leave a comment: What do you think about PowerSheets? Do you have any more questions about them?