Happier with Gretchen Rubin

Ep. 563: Need a One-Word Theme for Next Year? We Review and Reveal Our Words

13 snips
Dec 3, 2025
Choosing a one-word theme for the year can be transformative! Discover how such a theme fosters creativity and focus. Elizabeth shares her choice of 'bounce' for 2025, while Gretchen's 'door' symbolizes connection and hospitality. Excitingly, Elizabeth's theme for 2026 is 'x-ray', promoting self-reflection, and Gretchen opts for 'neighbor' to encourage community ties. They also discuss a unique New Year's tradition and offer a gold star to a reality show binge-worthy pick! Plus, there’s a handy gift idea generator for inspiration!
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ADVICE

Pick A One-Word Theme

  • Choose a one-word theme to capture your overarching aim for the year and make it concrete.
  • Pick a visual symbol or artifact to remind you of the theme throughout the year.
INSIGHT

Concrete Words Have More Punch

  • Concrete, visual, and multi-layered words have more power than abstract ones.
  • A word that can be visualized or symbolized sticks and prompts action.
ANECDOTE

Bounce And The Kangaroo Mug

  • Elizabeth chose bounce as her 2025 word to capture resilience, energy, and moving forward.
  • She used a kangaroo symbol and a handmade mug to keep the theme present.
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