It has been my practice for several years now to forego making new year’s resolutions and instead to try and live by one major word for the entire year. I’ve been thinking about what I’m going to choose as my One Word for 2017 and I finally decided on one last month. My One Word 2017 is….. FOCUS.
Now how did I come up with my word?
Well, it really boiled down to my feeling overwhelmed and tired these past few months. My pregnancy last year wasn’t exactly easy. Then, when I gave birth last September, I had to juggle taking care of a new baby and learning how to breastfeed exclusively while taking care of the other kids and doing chores. Oh, and I had my part-time job and this blog to think about too.
Needless to say, I had a lot on my plate and yet I still felt I wasn’t doing enough. I felt bad whenever I couldn’t do everything I set out to do all in one day. I felt bad whenever I couldn’t say “yes” to an event or to a new job opportunity. It was frustrating!
In the end though, I was reminded of the fact that I wasn’t Superwoman. All I really wanted to do was relish my baby’s first year because he’s going to be our last child. I will never experience these precious moments again. I also have to spend more time homeschooling my five-year-old son because, honestly, I haven’t been as focused on that during the past three months.
Then, when my hubby told me that he was offered this wonderful opportunity at work that would be too hard to pass up, everything clicked for me. I wanted 2017 to be my hubby’s time to shine work-wise because he has been stepping aside in favor of my freelance and blogging gigs these past few years. It’s my turn to step aside and the only way I can do that is to FOCUS my time, attention and energy only on three key things: my family, my blog and my creative pursuits. It reminded me of this quote that I love, which I found in another mommy blog that I read:
Things which matter most must never be at the mercy of things which matter least.
I even came up with a simple vision board for it through an app on my phone.
This vision board will go on my planner so that I will be reminded of my One Word 2017 every day.
Yes, I will still keep my part-time job but focus on my blog more because I want to increase its income-earning potential. And no matter how nice the offer is, I will not be accepting other job offers this year. Yes, I will still make time for friends and events but I will not allow these things to cloud my focus. Yes, I will still continue with my creative planning but will do so by focusing on showing more of my personality in it and not buy planner stuff just because they’re cute. That’s because I also plan to actually save money this year. In fact, I’ve already joined a group engaged in the 52-Week Money Saving Challenge.
I’m hoping and praying that with more FOCUS, I can actually do more by doing less. I’ve been pretty successful with last year’s One Word, which was “Create”. So, I’m sure I can be successful this year too.
What about you? Do you make New Year’s resolutions or did you join the One Word 2017 challenge too?
I practice living by one word each year too. I have been practicing this since 2013 and it works like wonders!
I didn’t join the one word 2017 challenge as i have quite a few words to speak this year. Hahaha! I’ve kept my resolutions to myself except that i wanted to read a lot of books this year.. i hope i can accomplish! 🙂
God bless you and your plans this year, sis! I don’t have one word for this year yet. I guess I should start thinking of one! I want to also focus on blogging more this year.
Nilyn Matugas recently posted…Manang’s Chicken SM San Mateo
Hi Mommy Janice,
My one word for this year is courage. I need to have all the strength mentally, emotionally, physically and spiritually this year to accomplish my goal. I wish you will achieve yours too. Happy new year!
For me this year is: God is Real 🙂
I’m in the same boat as you are. Just gave birth last November and with 2 more kids to take care of, it can be just too tiring. 🙂
Good decision about you giving way to your husband. Sometimes, we have to step a few paces back to let our husbands be in front. Our goal as wives should be the helper, helping them win. : )
I stopped doing New Years resolutions years ago. I just go with on living each day as if its the last.
Juvy ann recently posted…Glam Party for Nanay’s 93rd Birthday
This is nice! It’s somehow a way to help set your goals by having a word inspiration. I’m gonna need to think about my word of the year and share it on my blog soon 🙂
I’m a very disorganized person and I usually take on so many things all at once. This is a good reminder of what I should strive for.
Rowena Wendy Lei recently posted…Unilever PureIt Marvella Water Purifier Review
Great word, sis. I could use more focus too. I’m easily distracted and tend to say yes to a lot of things leaving me too exhausted to actually do what I love to do and that is to write. Sigh. 🙂
You are a super momma! I can imagine the struggle of doing so many things at the same time.
I haven’t thought of my one word for this year. Focus seems to be a powerful word – not just in meaning but tougher to do too.
That’s a word that I have to take more seriously this year too. With all the activities here and there. Need to focus more on what’s really important. But, that’s not the only word I need to keep my year going. Lol!
I ‘ve given my One Word a serious thought, too. Then I’ve decided that this 2017, it will be Joyful. I wanted to be the Mrs. Sunshine that my family needs me to be. Motherhood depression strikes me sometimes and my one word will remind me of the goal I wanted to achieve and it is to battle depression, too. 🙂 I admit kulang din ako sa focus. Pero mas kailangan kong maging joyful muna. 😀 hihi good luck sa atin sis! 🙂
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I haven’t thought of my one word. I admire you for giving this chance/time to your husband. I think the only way one can do that is if you are already feel complete and happy. Happy new year Janice!
Badet Siazon recently posted…2016: Of travels and adulting
You have chosen well. In our home, Jay’s work and the kids’ homeschool take front lines. Yes, enjoy every moment with your baby, Janice. Mukhang malapit na mawala ang virus namin, tonsillitis na lang ako, makikita ko na rin ang inaanak ko. 🙂
May Palacpac recently posted…Planning our trip to Malaysia via eGetinzz
I like your one word to welcome and push you this year – focus. As I reflect on your one word, I guess we all need focus to achieve either our short or long term goals. I will be here to cheer for you so you will remain focused.
“Focus” is such a powerful word to live by this year. I’m sure you’ll achieve what you’ve set out to accomplish this year because you already have a clear vision of what you want to do. Good luck, Mommy!
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Wow. This one word got me thinking. I totally feel you on having a lot on the plate. I also manage being a wife, a breastfeeding mom, full-time online work and blogging. Still wondering how to fit in homeschooling in a few years. You’re doing so well! 🙂
I guess my one word for this year is BUILD. We’ve had dreams for our family for so long and this year we’re looking forward to accomplishing them. Plus I want to build more wonderful memories for us too.
This year I also wanted to focus on my blog and making makeup tutorials in Youtube plus of course spending more time with my family too. And second baby perhaps? 🙂
Mhaan A recently posted…My January Beauty Haul [Kylie, Nars, The Face Shop, etc]
“Focus” is one of the words I consider while choosing my One Word for this year. I finally chose “intentional” because I want to live more intentionally this year, and yes, focusing on what actually matters. I have also set up a couple of goals and I sure hope I might be able to achieve them this year, too! Incidentally, I also plan to save up this year and is also joining the 52-week money challenge!
Cheers to a more focus and intentional 2017! 😀
This year, I plan to focus on my blog too. The husband wanted me to slow down with freelance work since he noticed I am always stressed. Time to re-align priorities, which reminds me, I have to finish my post about my one word for this year too :))
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Hi Mommy Janice,
I still wrote few things for my New Years resolution and I joined this year One Word 2017 challenge..
and will definitely do all of it this year
Happy New Year!
September ka rin pala. Ako din! Super stressful matuto magbreastfeed full time especially nung di pa magaling sugat ko. Minsan naiiyak na lang ako kasi feeling ko napakaincompetent ko.
Very nice to see you all support to your husband and yet having a clear plan to work on your own passions. Very balanced and I admire you for that.
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I myself don’t make resolutions every new year. What I have been doing for the past few years was setting goals and targets to reach by end of year and then crossing that off before another year comes. I used to create vision boards as well (something I learned from the book, The Secret 😀 ). It was sometime last year that I got introduced to the one word concept and I am planning to try that this year. Which reminds me, I have yet to post something about it.
This is a great idea! I wonder what my one word for the year will be. I’ll give it some thought first. Hope this will be a focused year for you. 🙂
Ma.Me.Mi.Mommy recently posted…Feeling Fresh and Fruity with Kids Plus
I know its too late but I think my word for this year would be “slow-down”. I am so overwhelmed with a lot of things last year so I think its best to slow down this year. Just gave birth last January and need to re-asses things too. I also have 3 kids now to consider and time is running out. I must value the time while they are still young.
[…] For 2017, I chose FOCUS. I chose that word because we had a new baby then and as we all know, babies tend to be a LOT of work. Since our baby, Zander, is going to be our last child, I really wanted to pour as much as myself into raising him, especially in his first year. Our son, Ziggy, also started first grade. […]