My Word for 2020: Mindfulness
When I set my goals and plans for 2020, there are certainly many things related to creative work, but the overwhelming theme is that I want to rest and s l o w d o w n. More specifically, I want to enjoy rest and breaks without feeling guilty. Usually I find that when I settle in to read a book or knit or even just watch a movie, my mind is elsewhere and I’m dwelling over work-related tasks that I need to complete. I often set ambitious to-do lists and then feel down on myself when I can’t complete everything. I want to rid myself of this guilt-work-reward cycle and just feel a better sense of peace and security surrounding my professional commitments.
My word for 2019 was “manifestation,” and I think that accurately sums up this past year. 2019 was very much a year about work and bringing ideas to fruition — big ideas for a big audience, which required me to be very conscious about everything I was creating and sharing with the world. The years before that were also very much about work and building and growing. I’m really proud of the groundwork I’ve laid to set myself up for the future, but I’m also, admittedly, tired. Most of my lows this year were related to burnout and I know that I can do better about balancing the creative work that gives my life purpose with taking more care of myself.
True to my character, I couldn’t stop stressing about the word I wanted to use to define this new approach and declare as my “word of the year.” A friend of mine on Twitter (shoutout to Kelly Knox!) suggested “mindfulness” and I think that’s perfect! I’ll fully admit that I don’t always proceed through day-to-day life with mindfulness; I’m usually fixated on being productive and efficient despite my personal needs.
Mindfulness, to me, represents living in the present, treating rest as a restorative necessity and not a reward, and saying yes to fewer commitments so I can focus on one project at a time. It’s less about giving things up and more about incorporating fun and leisure and to enjoy life and the fruits of my labor. I do feel like I deserve to relax more and live a slower life, and I look forward to letting mindfulness guide the way!