3 Simple Ways to Begin the Year Gently (With or Without a One Word)
{One Word 2026 January Linkup}
Some people arrive at January with a clear word in mind. By the end of the month, others may wonder if it’s too late—or have already decided the idea is not for them at all.
All choices are welcome.
On the 26th of each month this year, I’ll be sharing no-pressure ways to notice what’s shaping your days—maybe it is through your One Word. Or maybe it’s just what you’re happening to notice in your life. Take what works. Leave the rest.
If you do have a word, these ideas can help you begin.
If you don’t, consider these ideas simply as possibilities to just pay attention to your life.
3 Ideas to Try
1. What does your word (or theme or month) look like?
If you have a word, play with seeing it visually.
If you don’t, notice what keeps catching your eye lately.
You might:
- Snap a quick photo of something that feels meaningful right now
- Write or type a word (or phrase) in a few different fonts
- Doodle shapes, symbols, or images in a notebook
No art skills required. Curiosity is enough.
Here is the logo I created to represent my word SHIFT.
2. Where can you see reminders of what matters?
If you chose a word, place it somewhere obvious.
If you didn’t, notice what’s coming up frequently for you—a question, an image, or a feeling.
Ideas of where to put your reminders:
- Phone lock screen
- Planner or calendar
- Sticky note on a mirror or desk
I printed my logo and put a copy on my mirror in my bedroom so I can see it daily. (A few of my other words are still there as well. I like remembering them, too.)
3. Why this word . . . or why not?
If you have a word, answer just one question:
Why this word, this year?
If you don’t have a word, ask this instead:
What feels unfinished from last year or what seems important to me right now?
You don’t need a full essay. A sentence or two is enough.
And if you’re willing, share that sentence with someone else.
Community has a way of multiplying insight—and easing the load.
I’ll share with you two sentences I wrote about “Why Shift?”
I want to be more aware of the subtle daily changes that occur in each day. As I pay closer attention to how everything changes, I hope to be more appreciative of who I am in this moment, in this body, doing these things.
Worksheet to Download
If you like a little structure, here is a simple 2-page worksheet to help clarify a One Word or theme.
I use it every year—and I love looking back at old ones to see how they rang true or else surprised me in ways I hadn’t imagined.
Download the “My One Word” worksheet here
January One Word Linkup (Now Open)
You’re invited now to:
- Link blog posts you’ve written about your word
- Leave a comment if you’re not a blogger—your words matter
- Visit a few posts if you can; everyone appreciates encouragement
Throughout the month, I’ll also be sharing links from the linkup in our One Word Facebook group—another easy way to stay connected to each other.
Have you chosen One Word for 2026? Have you seen it pop up anywhere? Share in the comments.
Looking ahead: February’s linkup opens Thursday, February 26.
If you’d like to receive our monthly One Word emails and ideas for 2026, join here.
Link Up About Your One Word
- A Small Shift: Learning to Notice Instead of Fix
- Noticing the Shift: What Keeps Blooming When We Pay Attention
My word for the year is Light. It began by me observing how the light falls at our home, especially during the winter months. The subtle shifts (yes, your word!) remind me that each day, each moment, is different from the last. All of this prompts me to be more observant. Blessings, Lisa!
What a beautiful and relevant choice, Martha! Light is so fascinating to me for so many reasons, so I’ll look forward to how it plays out in your life this year. Lots of intersections between Shift and Light!
Great word, Lisa! We do have to shift. Life is change and we must change with it; of course, there are things written in stone that we should never change. May the Lord help each of us to see the non-negotiables AND the ways to make peace. God bless!
Thanks, Jerralea. I can see a lot of “shifts” that comes with “publish.” I’m interested in publish too. It’ll be fun to me to see the parallels between the two as the year goes on!
Thank you for hosting this linkup and for all your ideas. I really like your word Shift — it feels very gentle and thoughtful. I appreciate the no-pressure way you invite us to reflect and notice what matters.
Liefs van mij,
Aritha
Thank you, Aritha. I’m glad you’re here with us. Definitely no pressure regarding our One Words! You’ve chosen a word close to my heart–Patience. I’ve been thinking about it more and more this month as I realize how much I need it. ha.
You always give us such wonderful ideas for reflection Lisa!
To answer your question I have seen one of my words ‘Sanctuary’ recently in a Newspaper article which actually surprised me!
Your 2025 word Ripple came to me this past week as I was writing my post, as there’s been a big Shift in our family as you’ll read.
blessings, Jennifer
Yes, I would have been surprised to see Sanctuary in a newspaper article too! But glad you found it there and I hope it keeps surprising and delighting you all year round. I read your post and saw that ripple – I hope all goes well for your family members with this big change. I’m not always a fan of change, especially if I like things the way they are. 🙂
2026 is a year to explore, shift, and see what the Lord has for us. Thanks for hosting this wonderful community, Lisa.
I appreciate you being such a faithful part of the community, encouraging us on, Lisa! I’m looking forward to another interesting year too with our words.
Thanks for the ideas Lisa, you are very good at sharing your thoughts with us! I like the idea of shift and wish you well for the year ahead. Thanks for the linkup too.
My word is SILLINESS and I’m enjoying the ease of it – I have carte blanche to do anything really!
Debbie from debs-world.com
Thanks, Debbie. I think Shift will end up being a great word. I’m still over-the-top happy about your word Silliness! 🙂 I’ll live through it vicariously through you. ha.
I just want to add how excited I am to see so much participation this month!
I agree, Barb! I like walking this journey with other people alongside us.
I’m back to blogging after walking through a season of grief, and I found your link-up party. 🙂 I like your One Word, and I love the suggestions you’re offering to help others keep their words front and center for the year. I’ve chosen Invest as my word for this year–invest in my faith, my family, my friendships, my health, and my career. I also partner my One Word with a One Verse, and this year, I’ve chosen Colossians 3:17 NIV.
Good to have you back in the blogging word, Lisa. But I’m sorry about the season of grief you’ve been walking in. That’s never easy. Invest is a powerful word (and action!) that can be applied in so many areas, like you mentioned. Great choice!
Lisa, I’m been thinking about antonyms, and hadn’t when I felt God give me the word AWAKE after months of thinking it was TRANSFORM! How inconvenient! Ha! BUT what has been interesting to me, despite all the verses in the Bible I’m reading using AWAKE (or similar words like wake, awaken, etc.) is the word ASLEEP! That of course is the antonym, so I’m finding these meaningful as well, showing me the downside of being asleep, further encouraging me to STAY AWAKE!!!
Love you so. Thank you for your constant encouragement. That never shifts, unless you just get better and better at it, b/c you encourage us constantly!
xo
L