Discover why choosing a Word of the Year can transform your business and life. Learn why my 2026 word is Simplify and how it will guide my coaching business, intimate events, and client connections.
As a new year approaches, it’s natural to reflect on where we’ve been and where we’re heading. It gives you a clear lens through which to make strategic decisions, stay aligned with your values, and shape how you show up every day.
While yearly goal-setting is important, there’s something magical about anchoring your year with a single guiding word OR phrase. A “word of the year” or “phrase” acts as your compass, a touchstone to return to when decisions need clarity or focus wavers. Further down I will share past words of the year with you, but one has become a motto for my business and life which is “does it bring me joy“, I use this as my guiding force for decisions. No more saying yes to people or events if in my heart the answer is no! You’ve probably noticed this in my marketing messaging?
In 2024, my word was Connection to reinvigorate the human side of my work. In 2025, I chose Collaborate with the theme Reconnect & Realign (which ended up being my retreat name!) a call to deepen relationships and bring my efforts back into alignment with my Zone of Genius. This year, I’ve chosen: Simplify.
Why Simplify? Because this year is about refining my business to its essence — fewer offers, clearer pathways for clients, and more intimate, in-person experiences that build connection without noise or flash. It’s about doing less with more intention.
It represents my commitment to work in my most powerful self. Working 1:1 and in small groups. This will include launching small intimate quarterly workshops, restructuring and launching my Freedom to Thrive Mastermind and hosting my retreat again in November. My services will be streamlined to bring forth more clarity on what transformation can be expected and the benefit of each one.
What is a Word of the Year and Why It Matters
A word of the year is more than a trend, it’s a strategic anchor for your decisions and your focus throughout the year. Sometimes a single word can help you remain focused.
- It Brings Clarity: A single word helps you focus on what matters most, cutting through the noise of endless to-do lists and distractions.
- It Shapes Your Decisions: When faced with a choice, you can ask, “Does this align with my word of the year?” This helps you stay aligned with your values and goals.
- It Creates Momentum: Your word becomes a catalyst for action, inspiring you to move forward with intention and purpose.
How to Choose Your Word of the Year
I can’t speak for anyone else but I reflect on the previous year, what went well and which areas do I feel I need to improve. I then write out my yearly goals and aspirations, from here a common theme will often emerge. Whereas your written goals prompt you on what tasks to complete and when, your word will help you remain intentional, it is your guiding light on what is possible. At times we lose focus on what is important, our word can help us determine if a particular goal serves our greater purpose. If you’ve never chosen a word of the year before, here’s some questions to ask yourself.
- How is it I want to feel as I move through the year
- What matters most to me in terms of values?
- Who do I need to become to achieve the goals I have written down?
- What word will empower me and help me keep focussed?
Why I Chose Simplify for 2026
Simplify isn’t about doing less — it’s about doing more of what truly matters. In my coaching business, that means:
I intend to continue my work of the last 2 years, building connections and collaborations. I do not want a one to many business model. I have intentionally built a boutique business and have remained strong-fast in my resolve.
- Streamlining: I will be reducing my 1:1 services, streamlining so there is more clarity in the benefit of each one.
- Intimate Workshops: Offering intimate workshops once a quarter held in Essex. Concentrating on a specific topic each time
- Business Foundations: Continuing to support clients strengthen their foundations so they can scale their business with ease. Simplifying their time, systems and goals. This is where less is most definitely more.
Why even bother with a word?
Often as the year progresses we forget our purpose, our vision as we get caught up in every day life. Having a word that you see each day can guide you throughout the year and often I find subconsciously it is guiding me, bringing me people or resources to help me progress.
Since 2021 I have had a phrase which is “Does it bring me joy?” , before saying YES to anything I decide whether this would bring me joy first! At first it is hard to say no to people or projects but over time you feel energised being more decisive with your time. So if you are struggling to choose a word of the year, what mantra will give you strength? Help you focus?
If you are skeptical give it a try, you might just be surprised but how it guides you. Stuck on what word to chose? Here are 100 word of the year options for you to consider , instantly downloadable. I suggest you print this and circle or highlight the words that call out to you.
My 2026 Theme: Quiet Precision
In 2025 my theme of the year “Reconnect & Realign” ended up becoming the name for my retreat! Totally unplanned and unexpected!
My theme for this year is quiet precision. Working discreetly with my clients, reshaping their confidence AND business, all quietly handled with precision. No loud social media posts. No belittling others. Just quiet power. So much of what I do is behind closed doors because confidentiality is key with my clients – always.
What words have I used in the past?
For me it’s how I want to be and feel that year. Do I need to be more tenacious? More brave? I put the words on my vision board and look at it every day. See below for this years and previous.
2025 – Collaborate
2024 – Connection
2023 – Disciplined
2022 – Balance
2021 – Release
2020 – Intuition and Revenue
2019 – Naughty (strange word I know, my coach challenged me to not be so “nice” all the time)
2018 – Nurture, Tenacity
2017 – Inspire
My thoughts on collaborate for 2025
I feel proud of the connections and collaborations in 2025. From podcast interviews to speaking on stage twice as wedding conferences, I feel I have collaborated with many industry peers this year.
Why I choose connection for 2024
When reflecting on 2023 something became very clear, and that is a lack of IRL (in real life) connection. I was getting too comfortable being online and working virtually, the result was I wasn’t attending networking events, seminars, workshops. I wasn’t meeting people in person. No hugs. No in person community. One of my intentions this year is to rebuild my connections by attending at least 1 event per month.
My thoughts on my 2023 word
Just like in 2022 I didn’t force my word, I was sitting quietly journaling and working on my yearly goals when all of a sudden boom my word appeared. I was writing down that now my hormones are balanced it is time to work on strength and my health, I was listing daily habits to ensure I meet my targets. I was also thinking about my mindset and how it slipped in 2022, and the projects I want to launch in 2023. I knew in order to meet my health AND business goals I need to be more disciplined with my habits and actions. So yet again my word has dual meaning.
My thoughts on my 2022 word
My 2022 word of the year didn’t come to me straight away, hence allowing myself space for the word to appear. After some reflection I realised that “Balance” was the perfect word and for me it has dual meaning. I need more hormonal balance as I navigate my way through peri menopause BUT also more balance between personal and work as I strive to spend more time with my recently widowed mum whilst scaling my own business massively in 2022.
Let’s simplify in 2026
As I embrace my word of the year and theme, I invite you to join me in this journey. Whether you’re a client, a coach, or a new connection waiting to happen, let’s explore how we can support and inspire each other.
Choosing Simplify for 2026 sets the tone for a calm, strategic, and high-impact year. It’s about clarity, intention, and deep connection with my clients.
