Here’s the 2021 Word of the Year post! Make sure you read my Hindsight Is 2020 post first.
I don’t believe in setting lofty New Years resolutions. Partly because when it comes to expectations I am a Rebel. (Take Gretchen Rubin’s quiz here to find out what you are!)
I like to live freely in the moment and prefer not to put pressure on myself.
But I think it’s a great idea to set some intentions, a mindset and/or a loose plan for your life when the New Year’s bell strikes midnight. A word of the year fits the bill.
I LOVE A CLEAN SLATE
New Years is one of my favorite times of the year (aside from the weather…) because I love a clean slate.
As I look back on my last five word of the year posts, I think each year was actually very well summed up by its word. It’s hard to tell it was the chicken or the egg, so I’ll say it was both!
- 2016 was Present
- 2017 was Intentional
- 2018 was Vulnerable
- 2019 was Purpose
- 2020 was Vision
So when I’m choosing a 2021 word of the year, it’s hard to tell if I’m choosing it because I’m already doing it or I’m going to morph into it next!
The 2021 Word of the Year is Foundation
Perhaps I am craving deeper roots after all that was 2020. In many ways, everything we knew was flipped on its head, and I think we are all craving stability and the feeling of being grounded in 2021. You never know what is round the bend.
Here are the ways I’m embracing Foundation this year
Foundation in Family
Obviously the love for family grounds many of us. Our families are why we work, why we make sacrifices, and why we love. Our children absorb everything around them, and the more confident and strong we are, the better they are as well.
My goal in this area is to create predictable routines and traditions that bring us closer and carry us through the years. Rhythms around chores, getting outside in nature, doing one new family activity each week, and planning special trips (even if they’re just for a local hike or picnic in the short term.)
We had so much fun on our Christmas tree hunting adventure that we agreed we needed to put more effort into planning outings together to get up and out of our house.
Foundation in Money
During the second half of 2020 I discovered the Choose FI podcast. We also watched the Playing with Fire documentary. I’ve been doing lots of research into the FIRE (financially independent retire early) movement.
Before you roll your eyes, know that I’m not trying to retire this year! But there is SO much good information in the community about how to optimize your life, spending, and time and I am eating. it. all. up. I have a whole blog post in the works about my thoughts.
All that to say, a strong financial foundation is a big goal for the 2021 year.
Foundation in Health
I have long said that I think our everyday habits create the foundation of our health. So this one is an easy one to apply!
My daily habits include:
- Getting 8+ hours of sleep
- 1 big mug of coffee
- Eating 3 meals and 1-2 snacks based on real food
- Usually having a salad for lunch or dinner
- A diverse, rainbow of different foods on rotation
- Some kind sweat session (most days)
- Time outdoors (as long as it’s not raining)
- Something sweet after lunch
- Wearing SPF
- Daily walks to and from preschool
- Maybe a glass of wine
- Taking supplements
- Using clean beauty and low-toxic products in our home
- A family dinner
- Time to unwind in the evenings
- Reading a little each day
- A tidy home (that counts for mental health, right?!)
- Wearing a mask in public and washing my hands
These habits all line up for a strong health foundation.
Some areas of improvement:
- Unplugging more
- Multitasking less
- Staying under the recommended 7 glasses of wine a week – eek!
Sidebar: Self Improvement Course Bundle
If you’re looking for a self improvement kickstart, check out this awesome collection of 75 self-care courses for $75 that launched on New Year’s Day. I purchased a similar bundle for entrepreneurs last year and it was an amazing deal. I asked to be an affiliate for their programs because I think they are such a great idea!
The course topics range from:
- Nutrition
- Finance
- Mindful eating
- Veganism
- Sustainability
- Manifesting
- Stress management
- Clean Beauty
Foundation in Business(es!)
Thanks to those of you who took my survey! I can’t wait to dig into the responses and create a content plan for the coming months. There will be a nice mix of lifestyle + evergreen topics.
I other exciting news: I am diving head first into my course these next few months!! My blogging pace might slow a touch, but once it’s built it will be business as usual around here – hopefully with another side hustle going in the background!
My vision for the future of my business overall is to have three foundations to stand on each that serves a slightly different purpose:
- The blog, which I hope always will be a place of casual mix of lifestyle and healthy eating. I don’t take things too seriously around here, and I decided a while ago I want to keep this space casual.
- Beautycounter, a side business I am passionate about that allows me to serve clients and play to other my strengths. (If you want to learn more about safer skincare, I’m hosting a 5-day email class this week that starts today. Sign up here!)
- My course, which is still mostly a concept, but I hope to bring it to life this year. I invested in a course program to guide me through – I want to do it the right way! My dream for this course is to broaden my reach and make a difference in the lives of many who want to be more organized.
Sometimes I have to remind myself what this blog is and what it is not. It’s not a stunning recipe collection full of drips and styled photo shoots (although sometimes I try!). It’s not a resource guide packed with expert-written articles or a site managed by a team of people. It’s a personal blog, written by a gal trying to figure out how to live her best life (simply!) like the rest of you.
M says
I love that you connected with the ChooseFI community and movement! My husband and I discovered it a year ago and have learned so much. Looking forward to your thoughts on the topic!
Kath Younger says
Yes there is sooo much good info that challenges conventional lifestyle! Ps. Got your email!
Katie D. says
I have been reading for YEARS and what has kept me coming back is YOU! The genuine voice, the real life look, the practical applications, the honesty and the shared love of Survivor 🙂
Kath Younger says
Haha thanks!! I am SO ready for the next season of Survivor. I hope they find a way to make one happen.
Liz says
I really enjoyed this post and your word of the year! I share many of the same goals for 2021 – Strengthen relationships that are important to me, create lasting traditions and bonds with my children and husband, and work hard on our financial and health goals.
Kim says
Will Thomas also retire early from his real job?
Kath Younger says
We both like our jobs and businesses so there are no plans to end either. But we don’t want to hustle till age 65+ either. FIRE is more about taking off the pressure and mindset and less about never working again. I have a whole post coming up on it!
Anna says
I have not heard of this movement in particular, I’m interested in learning more! I know you’ll have a post soon, but could you give me one quick place to start while I wait? 🙂 Your blog remains one of my very favorite places on the internet and has been for many, many years!
Kath Younger says
If you want to learn a lot, check out this FI 101 course: https://www.choosefifoundation.org/financial-independence-101
If you like podcasts, listen to the Welcome to FI podcast: https://www.choosefi.com/100-welcome-to-the-fi-community/
Charmaine Ng | Architecture & Lifestyle Blog says
I love the word of the year! Thanks for always being so inspiring! 🙂
Charmaine Ng | Architecture & Lifestyle Blog
http://charmainenyw.com
Meghan says
FIRE’s changed my life, too. I feel like there’s less security in being a single mom (by choice, through adoption). I probably would have opened my own business, for example, a few years ago if I’d had a second income as a safety net. But having kids and having no second income, those choices always seemed more precarious. The ability to build my own safety net and the prospect to have enough savings to take greater leaps in just five years, at age 44 is amazing to me.
FIRE has already provided a potential safety net of about 36k per year based on 4% withdrawals, which doesn’t feel like much with a 7, 2 and 1 year old. But it’s not nothing. It is room to breathe. It’s survival. It’s that safety net I was missing.
I feel like I’m “selling” it to everyone as it’s made such a difference in my life, and I’m so glad you’re on board, too! So look forward to your contributions in this space!
Kath Younger says
You have an incredible story!! Room to breathe is what FIRE is all about <3
Amanda P. says
I’ve seen the movie Playing with Fire. It is so good and gives you a lot to think about. I think it goes along with a lot of what Dave Ramsey teaches. My husband and I have been working toward financial freedom all this last year and while we are not “retiring” anytime soon….our goal is to be able to choose how we want to live and what we want to do which for us, is directed by not having any debt.
I also love your word of the year and I might borrow it! Happy New Year!
Kath Younger says
Yes they two communities have a lot of similarities, and I think it was Jonathan of Choose FI who was a Dave Ramsey follower while paying off his pharmacy school loans before he discovered FI. good luck to you and your husband as you reach the next step!
Eliza says
Happy New Year Kath. Like many Americans, we had a big financial setback this year – mine and my husband’s employer stopped contributing to our retirement, as a method to recoup losses caused by covid-19, and we were both furloughed for three months. And we’re still the lucky ones! At least we were able to return to work after three months and we didn’t lose our health insurance. All this to say that I think early retirement is probably not something many people are thinking about right now. But good for you!
Kath Younger says
“Early retirement” is not the heart of the movement. If you dig into it more, you’ll find that it’s about financial security. I think EVERYONE is concerned with financial security after this year, and I think it’s a great topic to discuss given how unpredictable this year has been. How can you make your financial foundation so stable so that unpredictable events don’t leave you in a really awful position? I’m sorry that you and your husband had some setbacks this year – and I hope 2021 is a good year for everyone.
Pam says
Thank you for the FIRE info!
You are never too young to plan for retirement. Planning means starting when you are young so you have what you need once you reach that point. Just because someone plan for retirement, it doesn’t mean you are going to retire tomorrow,i it means you are financially responsible.
Thank you always for sharing!
Maria says
It’s been a year since my husband and I “FIRED” and moved back to Virginia (cost of living here is much lower than it is CA). And while we ARE retired from working conventional jobs, we have opened up so many opportunities to really dig into what we want to do with our professional lives and have them intersect with our hobbies. This year has been about finding those pathways and working towards them. Looking forward to reading your thoughts on this movement too. 2020 was a weird year to judge how this is working for us (we didn’t get to travel like we had planned, at all), but in a broad sense, we are very very happy with this decision.
Kath Younger says
So cool! Where in VA are you? I love the whole concept behind the movement of turning work on its head so you can pursue passions, which often make money themselves (like how the Choose FI podcast is now their “job”!)
Katie peter says
Off topic question, where did you buy your laptop stand? Thanks so much, and happy new year!
Kath Younger says
This is it : )
Laura Roth says
I am surprised to read you are Rebel! I would’ve guessing you would be an Upholder. I am an Obliger and wish that I was an Upholder. That is cool you found Choose FI. I’ve been listening since Episode 1. I am almost FIRE, but not sure I can bring myself to quit, as I love my job. I just work way too much. I talked to my boss about taking one day off per week and she agreed, so I’ll see how that goes.
Kath Younger says
Congrats on being so close!!