It’s time for the 2020 word of the year, a tradition I’ve done for the past few years.
- 2016 was Present
- 2017 was Intentional
- 2018 was Vulnerable
- 2019 was Purpose
2020 Word Of The Year
2020’s word is VISION.
I’m looking far out, past January and even 2020 and asking myself: Where do I want to go?
Advice From Smart Women
I’ve been listening to a lot of great podcasts by smart women – Jenna Kutcher, Brooke Castillo, Gretchen Rubin, and their guests. They emphasize quality over quantity. They encourage working smarter, not harder. They recommend outsourcing what you don’t love so you can focus on what you do. Jenna Kutcher in particular has been SO inspirational. I want to be more like her. I’m not saying I desire a multi million dollar empire, but I’m asking myself what lessons I can take from Jenna and apply to my own business.
SEO Is The Best And Worst
In the last quarter of 2019, I hired HashtagJeff, a leading Search Engine Optimization guru, to perform an audit on KERF and give me some advice on how to clean up my site. I have 12 years of posts – over 7,200!! Let me tell you it has been a process. The internet has drastically changed since I first started blogging (as you guys know!) Blogs used to be diaries. Now we are expected to have resource centers and write long form content that covers every angle of a topic. The kind of posts that KERF was founded on, and the kind I enjoy writing, like a weekend recap, are considered “fluff.” They’re fun for long-term blog readers, but they do absolutely nothing to help your website grow.
The good news is I have a lot of older posts from 2013-2019 that have practical and helpful information. The bad news is no one ever sees them because they are buried in my archives and not written so Google can read them well. One of my goals this year is to upcycle some of those posts, add a 2020 spin based on my current mindset, and give them new life. Another goal is to make KERF more user friendly so readers both new and old can more easily find my content. I repeat: SEO is the best and worst!!
What direction will KERF go?
KERF was built on quantity over quality. I used to write 21 “fluff” posts a week. People used to be shocked when I said I published three times a day, but I always replied that my content was auto generated – I was always eating more food! The internet revolved around banner ads back then, so quantity was king. The more you posted, the more pageviews your site received, the more money you made. (My pageviews peaked the week Mazen was born hitting over 2 million that month.)
These days, SEO aka quality, is king. Writing about daily life is easy. Creating the kind of quality content that is helpful and provides value takes so much more time. You can’t do both at the same time without maxing out your working hours or hiring a team to help you. I don’t want to outsource my posts because you guys are here for my voice not someone else’s. Therefore, I have to slow my posting pace in order to be able to provide both quality content and catch KERF up to speed. I’m not going anywhere; I’m just shifting and evolving with the online word.
Those of you who have been reading about my life for 12 years – not to worry – I will still be writing about our lives and adventures. Just maybe not as frequently as usual. We will see. Plus there is always Instagram for daily life stuff. You can’t get much more real than the kinds of things found in Instagram Stories 
My Future Focus
I’ve taken a lot of time these past few months to consider what my niche is. If it’s not sharing every.single.meal. anymore, then what is it? I’ve also asked myself what I like writing about the most. The two themes that I’ve settled on are: healthy mindset and simplicity.
Healthy Mindset
This is where real food and nutrition come in. What I have always been drawn to is the psychology of wellness. What motivates us and how do we turn choices into habits? Before becoming a Registered Dietitian, it wasn’t the micronutrients or physiology that interested me most. It was the side of nutrition that affects behavior change and motivation. How does our mindset influence our health?
Simplicity
This is the umbrella term for all of my other favorite topics: Home Neat Home, parenting, life hacks, budgeting, clean beauty, work-life balance, leisure time, even fashion. My brain craves simplicity like I crave kale and oatmeal. How can we balance simple with the chaos of everyday life? How can we work and play smarter, not harder? How can we create a home space that feels calm and orderly and relaxing? How can we cook and meal plan without spending all day in the kitchen?
How I Plan To Work Smarter
Usually when I sit down to my computer for a period of time, I am looking ahead to the next week and see five days of posts to fill. Often I’m so focused on a posting schedule that I rush through posts, eager to check them off the list. I find myself overwhelmed and behind, which spills into time with my kids. Rather than creating a list of posts that have to go up on time to fill a calendar week (deadlines I created with no real vision), I’d like to sit down to a 3-4 hour block of work time and work on whatever flows. If that means three posts for the next week instead of five, then that’s what I will publish.
I also want to have time to work ON the blog as well: cleaning up my site, making posts easier to find, SEO optimizing and upcycling older content. Plus side projects: creating thoughtful emails for my lists, possibly writing an e-book on home organization, mentoring my Beautycounter team.
V I S I O N
All this boils down to: we work to make money. But also to give our lives purpose. Where do I want to be in 5 years? 10 years? I have considered letting KERF fade away, but I decided that would be such a missed opportunity. I am in the thick of parenting young children right now, which makes balance a bit more tricky, but I LOVE THIS BLOG. And I love all of you. And to step back would be fun for a minute and then I am 100% sure I’d regret it. So instead of stepping back, I’m stepping forward, with new sparkly glasses, and saying: Where can I go that will be exciting, meaningful, helpful, purposeful, and fun?
Louise, RD says
Sounds like a perfect plan, emphasizing quality over quantity. I’m thrilled that your focus will be healthy mindset & simplicity as they are the main reasons I continue to follow you – keep up the great work! You’re an inspiration 🙂 XXO
Jenny E says
I don’t know when you began KERF, but I started following in approx. 2010. I was an overweight working mom who drank a little (lot) too much alcohol, and I was really struggling not to miss out on the best years of my family’s life. My changes began with reading your nutrition journey. As you studied to become an RD, I cleaned up my diet. You posted about running, and I took up yoga. You wrote about moderation, and I found mine. I began to forge my own path and my own voice, and I even won a bento box from KERF. That made lunches fun!
What has inspired me the most has been the consistency of knowing that balance is attainable, seeing it in action week after week. I’m not alone. Even if KERF were to completely disappear, I’ve learned tools (Hello, oatmeal whipped with banana. Hello, micro-organized home) and have been successful maintaining my tools while navigating life’s ups and downs. I’ll continue to be successful.
Thank you for sharing your fluffs and your journey. You’ve really inspired me, and I am living my best life.
Kath Younger says
Thank you so much for sharing all of this!! Warms my heart <3
Kristen says
I really like your daily life posts. I can google a recipe….;)
Lisa says
You are so smart and inspiring! I really love how you are not afraid to adapt, yet stay true to yourself, your family, and your followers. You go, girl!!! All the best I’m 2020! Been reading your blog for a very long time. This is my first post.
Sandra Arcus says
What a wonderful comment for Kath to of received, good on you for taking the time to write it and also congrats on living your best life.
Anna Allen says
I’ve been reading since before Mazen was born. I definitely don’t want you to leave so I’m glad to hear that you won’t! I’ve always appreciated the realness of the space you have created. Not every blog out there is so authentic. I also appreciate your blog so much because we are in the same season of life and we have a lot in common. I always look to you for inspiration in all aspects of my life from nutrition to organizing/decor to kids games! I’m glad you are modernizing and freshening up and the internet is changing and all BUT I want you to know that I LOVE your blog and I always have! Keep being you! I love the idea of an e-book btw 🙂
Kath Younger says
Thank you! Authenticity is always one of my top priorities : )
Debbie says
I’ve been a reader since 2009 and always loved your real time food blogging, and later your “lately” posts as inspiration for my own meal planning. I hope you continue those 🙂
More recently I have also found myself drawn to your “mindset” posts (squiggly line, organization, alcohol consumption) and hope to see more of those as well! As someone who at times struggles with balance and moderation, you have a great outlook that helps get me thinking about those things in different ways.
I look forward to hearing your thoughts on ALL of the above as time goes on (and you and your kids grow!)
Kath Younger says
Glad to hear the mindset ones are helpful!
Pat says
I love your post! Glad that you will continue to share many things with us. Peace and Blessings.
Jill Hampton says
Yes! Great vision. I have been reading your blog for years and always find it inspirational. I love your daily life posts and I also have a passion for food and better eating. I really liked how you want to create a “calm, orderly, and relaxed” home space. I have been focusing on mindfulness the past two years and have always loved lists and organization. I never though to put creating a home environment into those words but yes. Wonderful!
Blair says
I love reading your meals, as a vegetarian it is nice to see so many whole foods. While I don’t eat what you eat exactly you often give me ideas and inspiration for week night meals (the rest of the family is not vegetarian). Your organized home is also such an inspiration, I attempt it and each year plan on being better at it. This is the year for simplicity 🙂
Charmaine Ng | Architecture & Lifestyle Blog says
I love that you keep up with this tradition! You’re an inspiration, Kath! 🙂
Charmaine Ng | Architecture & Lifestyle Blog
http://charmainenyw.com
Sam says
Long time blog reader over here!! I’m glad to hear that you won’t be going away, and please don’t feel like you’ll lose us if you post less. I actually really enjoy posts like this one, where you go deeper into mindset and thoughts about your work and life. They hit close to home and feel relatable. I guess one of the things I’ve always enjoyed about your blog is how “real” and authentic you come across. Perhaps that’s in part to the “diary” type posts you built the blog on 🙂
Kath Younger says
Thank you!
Debbie says
I am a long time blog reader and have always found such inspiration and insight from your blog posts! So happy you will continue, and I love your goals with the blog. Perfect!
Kath Younger says
: )
Denise says
I’d much rather see fewer posts than have you fade away! It’s funny that you mentioned simplicity – I saw a meme on IG this morning that says “Keep your diet simple. Keep your workouts simple. Be consistent with both.” That really struck me! It’s not about big, elaborate plans. Keep it simple and easy and save your mental energy for other things. These are just a good foundation. My word for 2020 is Wisdom, so I’m taking credit for having some when I read that and shared it lol.
Kath Younger says
Haha – I love that! I want simple EVERYTHING!
Kori says
You already know this, but you have been an integral part of my blogging journey! Your blog was the first I ever stumbled upon, and I began to learn about this blogging world. Thanks to you for helping me to get mine started, I am now 4.5 years into my baby space on the world wide web, and while mine is a casual online journal of sorts, it has been so much fun to share. Not only do I feel immense gratitude when someone shares that I have inspired them, but I am thankful I can look back and see my own growth and changes too. I love how you’ve brainstormed your vision, and I’m excited to follow along. <3 I've been reading since 2009, and it blows my mind that I've followed your life for this long! Here's to many more years of KERF.
Kath Younger says
Thank you for being one of my most loyal and enthusiastic followers!
Emily says
I think part of the reason I come back to your blog over and over again is because of the closeness you’ve shared with us with family posts etc (especially since two of my kiddos are close in age to your boys). I’ll be sad to see those less but I understand you still have to “compete” in the market of bloggers and what people nowadays come to blogs for. I look forward to the simplicity posts and I, too, enjoy when you talk self development and house projects/cleaning too. Best to you in 2020!!!
Kath Younger says
I’m sure I will still do them – and perhaps just with more of a theme? And there is always instagram : ) I want to continue to show real food + real life, just in a more organized way. Might take some time to figure that out!
Lindsay says
Emily, I too feel a little sad about Kath moving away from the day in the life personal posts because honestly that is why I have kept coming back to the blog. I feel like once one major blogger moves away from something (ex. 3x a day posts) then all of the bloggers start moving towards that too! I know that Carrots n Cake has done the same thing as Kath is doing and I personally think I might stop reading because I don’t really enjoy reading the sponsored posts because I am not really interested in buying more “STUFF”! 🙁
p.s. Kath if you read this, can you consider keeping your day in the life posts?
Kath Younger says
I read all comments! I most definitely will do SOME of them just not quite at the same pace of “every Monday has to be our weekend and every Friday is our week.”
Haley says
You should make an ebook with Della of Plenty! I think that would be a hit! I also think product reviews, round ups of favorite baby items at different ages, and follow ups on products like your PB couch would bring traffic to your blog. Also, being something who is interested in building/wannabe carpenter it would be neat if Thomas did a post sometime! Maybe about your patio, a simple project that might appeal to readers (I’ve been wanting to make a basic book book for my toddler’s books), or about using the Big Green Egg! Just some ideas!
Kath Younger says
LOVE the idea of an e-book with Della!! And you have some great ideas : )
Christin J Slyngman says
AW, love the direction you’re going! I’ve been following your blog for YEARS and your journey has been so very inspiring to me! It was the gateway, so to speak for me falling in love with healthy ating, and despite how may new blogs pop up in my feed, I continue to read yours. You certainly have that longevity factor, and your dedication is truly inspiring. Looking forward to seeing where your “vision” for 2020 takes you!
all the best,
Kath Younger says
Thank you!
Amanda P. says
Ive been a reader since 2012. I was randomly googling oatmeal recipes and found your blog. I had never read a blog before and I was intrigued. I’m so glad you’re going to continue blogging because it is an important part to my week and I’m sure many others. What we get to see is the final polished product and not all of the behind the scenes work that it takes. So know that we appreciate it.
I love the organizational posts and would love an e-book!
Thanks so much for letting us in on your life!
vicki says
I love the topics you’re planning to focus on. I started reading when I was Googling ‘sleep training’ and found your post for Mazen. He was just a baby at the time(like my son) and I started exploring your blog. Read weekly ever since.
Wellness and organisation/simplicity are two of my biggest interests so looking forward to more on.those.
I’m going to Keep reading as long as you’re writing!
Mom says
I am honored to be one of your very first readers and fans, long before the blog was even born!
Kath Younger says
Haha I read the comment before I read the name and was like “oh!”
Chelsea says
Me too and I’m NOT your mom!
Kath Younger says
Hahaha yes!!!
Kimberly says
I really have enjoyed reading your blog for about five years now. I, too am a huge fan of oatmeal and kale
Kelli @ Hungry Hobby says
Love it! So much that resonated with me here! I dropped down when Baby K came along to four posts per week. I like how you aren’t setting a ridged goal for yourself. Like do what works and what comes naturally, that’s a fantastic mindset!
Kath Younger says
I’m thinking of it kind of like a salaried job where when business hours are open I’m working on something and when they’re closed I’m not. I used to have a set list of tasks (5 posts, other things too) and if I didn’t get to them I was working overtime to get them scheduled. So it’s more of a productivity shift in conjunction with content shift that I’m leaning towards : )
Sarah says
Usually we draw our goals for the year on NYE. It worked so well the first year we did it – we started construction on the surf camp in Guatemala that we had been dreaming about for years. A big goal realized. This year we celebrated down at our surf camp and are working on growing the business over the next 3 months with 2 kids in tow. I didn’t get to do my goal drawing this NYE so am going to draw inspiration from you and choose MOMENT as my word for 2020; to make sure I am enjoying the process of building our tropical dream.
I love reading your blog and find it very positive and a relaxing read. Totally with you in terms of focusing on what we love this year in work.and outsourcing the rest. Happy 2020 Kath and fam!
Keep up the good work.
https://www.instagram.com/sarahmroe/
Kath Younger says
Wow what an exciting dream!!
Rebecca says
I’ve been reading your blog since my oldest was a baby, and he is 11 now! I remember my first stay at home baby filled days excited to see a new post pop up through the day as some connection to the outside world, and I now with 4 kids am happy to ever have a moment to jump on and see what you’re up to. My husband owns an SEO company so I understand doing what works for you and will happily support you on your journey 🙂
Kath Younger says
11 years!! And maybe I should hire your husband 🙂 Feel free to email me!
Ann says
Keep going!! You’re blog is such an important part of my life. Thank you, thank you!!
Kelly says
I love your blog! I am a newer reader… maybe 2 years? Maybe 3? It’s one of the few I read ! As a fellow dietitian I relate whole heartedly to your messages of wellness. I am a big fan of the squiggly line approach and have gone back to that post more than once! I am glad you are sticking around!!
Kath Younger says
Thank you!
Liz says
I have been reading since almost the very beginning (I want to say December of 2007?!?) and while I started following a whole bunch of healthy living bloggers back then, you are just about the only one I still follow. I feel like you have struck a really good balance between altering your content to cater to changing preferences of readers and still remaining truly authentic. And I guess by that I mean that you have never followed the wellness crowd into sketchy or pseudoscientific stuff just to be trendy. I appreciate that you have the qualifications to back up your nutrition advice (not easy to come by amongst “influencers” these days it seems) and that you strive for simpliciy and balance over the next “big thing.”
I feel like the whole world of wellness/nutrition/healthy living blogging can be so fraught because so many well-meaning people truly just end up posting content that (however well-intentioned) makes women feel bad about themselves, or like they have to hold themselves to some impossible, restrictive standard in order to be “healthy.” I really feel that your blog demonstrates a body-positive, healthy mindset towards both food and exercise that is so lacking on social media today. Sooo…thanks! 🙂
Kath Younger says
Thank you! Really appreciate all the kind words and helpful feedback!
Julie says
Maybe I’m not a typical blog reader, but I tend to read blogs less when they have inconsistent posting schedules. I don’t mind when blogs post less, but if I never know if there will be a new post or not when I visit, I start to visit less and find other blogs to read instead.
Kath Younger says
That is my worst fear – lol!! I find the opposite for myself, but I do need some kind of alert on IG or a newsletter to the new posts if they are intermittent. Because I agree with you about checking daily only to be disappointed.
Ali says
Please don’t stop posting! I look forward to reading every morning with my smoothie and coffee. You are part of my morning routine!! 🙂 I love reading how you can make complicated and messy things simple. Your home organization tips are also a favorite. I also love the behind the scenes blogging posts. How do you decide what to post/what not to post? Do you have to ask permission from Thomas or other relatives whether or not you can include certain stories or photos. Is there anything you have ever regretted posting? As others have said, your authenticity is what keeps us coming back. Please don’t turn salesy/”pitchy” 🙂
Kath Younger says
I have no intention of turning salesy!! I just am taking a step back to look at the whole picture instead of focusing on drumming out 5 posts a week. I would actually LOVE to get back to 5 posts a week that are all high quality and helpful! I might have to just wait until Birch is in school, but that would be the goal!
LM says
What an exciting time! I can’t wait to see where you take it. The number of blogs I read has lessened over the past 6 months and yours remains a daily check in for me! It is great to know you’re not going anywhere and instead, making my visits even more valuable. It seems like an easy time to fade and amp up your other social platforms and I love that you’re staying true to yourself and your roots and making them stronger! I’m here for it!
Julie says
I think this is awesome! I have been reading since before I was pregnant and now my oldest is almost 11! Time flies. I feel like I have grown up with you. I think your loyal fans will follow you no matter what your format and I think it is cool that you are changing with the times. I just launched a new service called SkySquad which provides a helping hand to moms in the airport. If you ever fly in or out of Dulles Airport, let us know if we can give you an extra hand!
Kath Younger says
Oh that’s awesome! I am flying out of Dulles in March but won’t have the kids. Maybe a spontaneous trip sometime this winter 🙂
Philippa says
Dear Kath, I’ve been reading since 2008 (!!) and even though we’ve never met, you feel like a friend 🙂 It’s been lovely to see you blossom and evolve over the years, and I’m sure I’m not the only reader who appreciates the very generous window you offer into your world. Whatever direction you go in will be the right one, I’m sure. I look forward to seeing where 2020 takes you and KERF! Happy new year from Australia xx
Kath Younger says
Thank you for your loyalty! And we are totally friends!
Philippa says
Aww!
caitlinhtp says
Still reading after all these years 🙂 I like organization posts the most!!
Kath Younger says
<3
Tracy says
I’ve been loyally reading for most of those 12 years! Glad to hear you’re planning to stay 🙂 Please keep sharing your life & adventures! I do enjoy reading all your posts though. They always feel like I’m talking to a friend.