• Recipes
  • Lifestyle
  • Fitness
  • Nutrition
  • |
  • About
  • Work With Me
    • Brand partnerships
    • Nutrition Coaching
purple flowers on the banks of the Potomac river
March 15, 2022

2022 Word of the Year

33 comments
share this post:
  • Pinterest
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Email

Yes, it’s March already and I’m just now posting my Word of the Year.

It makes sense, though, given how hectic and disorganized life has been feeling lately! I actually started this post back in January, but then we all got covid. Womp, womp. 

Between all the childcare inconsistency (see also: snow days, covid closures and quarantine, Riese needing to leave school right after lunch every day now because she had been acting out a lot in the afternoons, our planned summer camp getting cancelled so I’ve been scrambling to find another option and everything is waitlisted or for older kids, etc. etc.).

I am counting my blessings because I know we have a lot to be thankful for, and have it easy compared to many. AND I’m also trying to allow myself to feel how I feel right now – burned out – without guilt or judgement.

Anyway, that brings me to writing a Word of the Year post in March.

Posts like this require some spaciousness and time for introspection and that has unsurprisingly been really hard to find lately.

Let’s do this. 

purple flowers on the banks of the Potomac river

Looking Back

Something I enjoy doing (and reading about on other blogs) is choosing an intention, or a word, to guide my year.

I was trying to remember what I chose for 2021 and searching around on the blog for the post… and realized that I never actually chose one last January!

See also: pregnancy + pandemic… not the greatest combo for being super insightful, clearly.

37 weeks pregnant

2021 was a big year for us as a family, as in June we welcomed baby Wes into our arms and our lives. (See also: his birth story if you missed it.)

The year went by slowly in some ways (especially the end of pregnancy, oof… and those early newborn sleepless nights) but in other ways it felt like I blinked and 2021 was over. 

Did that year even happen?! Where does the time go? 

As a parent I feel like I constantly want time to either speed up or slow down. It’s a work in progress for me to stay in the moment and just be right where I am. 

In January of 2020, the only other year I’ve officially written about a “word of the year” on the blog, I was feeling really energized and ready to make some big moves with the blogging portion of my career. 

dc running bloggerPhotography credit: Rachel EH Photography

I chose the word “Growth” that year, and shortly after writing that blog post I hired a virtual team member to help me behind the scenes of my business. 

Taylor, the contractor I hired back in February 2020, has been working with me ever since, and I’m happy to report we’ve made HUGE strides with the blog since then. 

Not only did I launch my newly designed site in early 2020, but I also got all my recipes into a consistent format for said redesign launch, and then Taylor has spent a lot of her time every week working on updating and optimizing my old recipe blog posts so that people can actually find them when searching for relevant terms on Google. 

The health of the blog in general is much better than it was when we first started the process and I’m proud! It feels like a massive accomplishment.

anne mauneyPhotography credit: Rachel EH Photography

2022 Word of the Year

I’ve been thinking a lot about what word might resonate the most for me this year. 

It’s certainly not “growth,” like it was in 2020 – I feel so far away from the energetic and expansive person who wrote that post.

What has felt more right this year is something that will ground me and allow me to get back to feeling more stable.

My mental health has not been great the past 2 years, to be honest. I know I’m not alone in that.

Between the pandemic, pregnancy and postpartum, extreme sleep deprivation for many months (until we finally hired a sleep coach in December), and super hectic days, it has just felt like a lot.

(Again, cue me trying not to feel guilty because I really do know we have it so good comparatively.)

I often find myself missing the person who wrote that post in 2020.

I miss feeling excited and energized and passionate, and like I have the space mentally and logistically to take more than 30 seconds to think about things, be strategic, get in a flow, and come up with ideas. 

I have felt glimmers of that start to come back in the past few months, as we’ve gotten more sleep in particular, and as I’ve started exercising more and getting back into running again. But it’s definitely still a work in progress. 

So – given all that, I’ve decided my 2022 Word of the Year is:

Recalibrate. 

I went back and forth between Recalibrate and Rejuvenate, and ultimately I found Rejuvenate felt a little more upbeat than I’m ready for. Recalibrate feels like what I need right now. 

The definition of recalibrate is to change the way you do or think about something, and I want to determine how to make my/the kid’s days feel less hectic and rushed and more ease-filled, intentional and mindful. 

The word recalibrate also makes me think of small tweaks that will add up to something big. Nothing overwhelming, just little adjustments here and there that together end up making a difference overall. 

c&o canal trail near cabin john maryland

There’s a lot of good in my life, and I want to free up some mental space to better be able to see that. I don’t need a whole life overhaul, I just need a bit of reconfiguring. You know? 

It’s just so easy to lose that sense of mindful flow in the day with all the kid chaos.

I want to slow down, focus on bringing more fun back into my days (both with and without the kids), and just generally figure out how to feel more like myself again – the version of me that is excited and passionate and not so easily overwhelmed. 

I will say that one good thing that came out of the pandemic is that I’m a lot more intentional about what I add into my days now.

I’m better at protecting my time, and only saying yes or initiating things that I feel will really positively impact the day.

When thinking about whether to say yes to something or add it to the calendar, I often ask myself: “Will this add stress to my/our day or reduce it?”

Meaning – will this feel stressful logistically or be too much? Will the payoff in terms of it bringing joy or fun to me/the family be worth it?

And if not, is there a version of it that makes more sense (e.g. only some of the family goes vs. the whole family), or does it just make sense to say no? 

I’m curious – do you set a word of the year? And if so, what is your word of the year for 2022?

I’d love if you shared! 

- anne
share this post:
  • Pinterest
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Email

join the list

Sign up for my e-newsletter and I'll send you a meal plan packed with a week's worth of healthy meals, snacks and a shopping list. Happy eating!

you might also like:

how to make money as a blogger

How I Make Money As a Blogger

anne mauney

2020 Intentions + Word of the Year

orange leaves on a tree

Virtual Coffee Date

vbac birth story featured image

Wes’s Birth Story

leave a comment

Cancel reply

33 comments
  • Rachel March 15, 2022 · 7:39AM:
    I love this word! I’m a mom of two little kids too and this really resonates with me!
    Reply
  • Kath
    March 15, 2022 · 9:42AM:
    I love recalibrate!! I can relate to a lot of what you wrote today. Having kids turns your world upside down and it does take time to find a new normal. <3
    Reply
    • Anne
      March 15, 2022 · 10:23AM:
      It really does!
      Reply
  • Lauren March 15, 2022 · 9:46AM:
    What a great word! Recalibrate. So glad to hear you can do some running again to help get there. Lots of love to you! This was the first year I’ve done a word of the year. I participated in the Gretchen Rubin 22 for 2022 list, and ended up with “here” as my word of the year. I do so much mental gymnastics worrying about where I’ll end up, that I forget to focus on the things shortly ahead of me. Can’t say I’ve had “here” guide me as much as I’d hoped, but I’ve been better about taking things one week at a time!
    Reply
    • Anne
      March 15, 2022 · 10:23AM:
      I LOVE that - "here". What a great word!
      Reply
  • Haley March 15, 2022 · 11:21AM:
    Thanks for the honesty and vulnerability! It’s refreshing when a lot of what you see in the internet (and in real life!) is people just wanting to seem like they have it all together with boundless energy and enthusiasm, when I’m sure they don’t or not to the degree they show! I can relate to a lot of what you say as well. My older is Riese’s age and my younger is older than Wes. Getting better sleep will be huge and I found when my younger got more mobile it was actually easier. They’re starting to see each other more as playmates. Here’s to recalibration!
    Reply
    • Anne
      March 15, 2022 · 2:23PM:
      Riese and Wes are just starting to play together a little - crawling around together - and it's SO cute!
      Reply
  • Jackie March 15, 2022 · 11:57AM:
    Recalibrate is a perfect word for 2022 and resonates with me too. I’m always here for a play date or kid-free outing for both of our attempts to recalibrate! Maybe we need to bring back our pre-kid nacho tour :)
    Reply
    • Anne
      March 15, 2022 · 2:10PM:
      Haha I do miss our nacho dates!! Play dates are always fun but as we know it's so hard to have an actual conversation ;)
      Reply
  • Melanie March 15, 2022 · 12:03PM:
    I love this word and need it as well. I am older..my kids are grown and I have grandchildren. In the past few years my life has gone through a lot of major changes and while I am grateful for my life I have lost my joy during the pandemic. I want to find what makes me truly happy. Thanks for sharing.
    Reply
    • Anne
      March 15, 2022 · 2:23PM:
      I feel that. I hope you find it too <3
      Reply
  • Catherine Laplante
    March 15, 2022 · 12:18PM:
    Hi Anne!! Jackie’s mom here!! Love your blog! We are expecting grandson number 4 and granddaughter number 1 this year( not Jackie sad to say) wondering what method of sleep training did you use and how old was Wes when you started? I’m asking for my son and DIL but they live in Brazil so obviously couldn’t be the same company. Just wondering if you could share if there was a particular method or book? Not a fan of cry it out!! Thanks!!!
    Reply
    • Anne
      March 15, 2022 · 2:25PM:
      My sleep coach works virtually - we did all of our sessions with her virtually! It was incredibly helpful. I'm not really sure what official method she uses and there is a little crying but it's a compassionate approach overall which I appreciated. Honestly Wes cried MORE when we tried our previous methods to get him to sleep (aka someone else trying to rock him down, etc.) Here's her website, I hope it helps! https://apresthebump.com/
      Reply
    • Anne
      March 15, 2022 · 2:26PM:
      Also, please tell Jackie I say hi and I miss her :)
      Reply
  • tm March 15, 2022 · 1:41PM:
    Keep hanging in there, it does get easier then harder then easier. As you know, as soon as you adjust, a curve ball usually comes. You are doing a great job! You got this!
    Reply
    • Anne
      March 15, 2022 · 2:25PM:
      It really does feel like as soon as we start to catch our breath we get a curveball. Hoping some feelings of ease return soon! Thank you for the kind note. :)
      Reply
  • Ana March 15, 2022 · 2:13PM:
    Good choice!!
    Reply
  • Roadrunner March 15, 2022 · 10:08PM:
    Recalibrate is wonderful, thanks. (But so might be Renew! ?)
    Reply
    • Anne
      March 16, 2022 · 10:50AM:
      Renew is a great one, too!
      Reply
  • Meghan March 17, 2022 · 10:38AM:
    Anne, you articulated so many sentiments I have been feeling but couldn’t put to words. Thank you. This year I chose, “Slow motion gets me there faster,” as my effort to slow down, stop an artificial sense of urgency and try to focus on learning what matters to me, and then take my time with them.
    Reply
    • Anne
      March 17, 2022 · 1:39PM:
      Love that. Thank you for sharing - I'm definitely feeling that desire to slow down and remove the artificial urgency, too. So much of that in our culture!
      Reply
  • Heidi March 17, 2022 · 11:04PM:
    It will get so much easier. You are truly still in survival mode. I had four little boys in 4.5 years (all 1.5 years apart) and the baby and toddler phases are just all consuming. My youngest is 4 now and the oldest is 9 and it’s a different world as they all become more and more independent. Just to say, if you feel overwhelmed by the day to day, it won’t be like that forever. I don’t miss the baby phase at all. Big kids are so much fun! Love playing tennis and board games and riding bikes with my almost 9 year old.
    Reply
    • Anne
      March 18, 2022 · 9:49AM:
      Thank you, Heidi! I appreciate hearing this. Also WOW four boys in 4.5 years - talk about survival mode!
      Reply
  • Marta March 18, 2022 · 1:54PM:
    Anne thanks for your candid words! At times we all feel this way. I wish I could hug you and encourage you, that “ this will pass “ but I try and look back from where I have been and we all make progress, look how far you have come. Knowing it is okay to not “slay” every moment or event. That’s fine for others but not for me. You have to do what right for you and your family first. Not be frustrated. I hate being / living like that! Guard your time, family, and future . Your going in the right direction.. recalibrating/ recalculating/ redefining areas of your life. Forward is my word this year. Ever Forward!!
    Reply
    • Anne
      March 21, 2022 · 9:31AM:
      Thank you, Marta! I appreciate this.
      Reply
  • Kylie
    March 18, 2022 · 6:19PM:
    Yep, I miss feeling excited, energized and passionate too. Sometimes I wonder…maybe I’ve had the great career of my life and I won’t get that again (a decade of blogging that was SO fun and I enjoyed so much). I imagine there will be other passions I find that will feel that effortless and playful…hopefully. I’m pregnant with number 3, which I’m so excited about, but how different life feels.
    Reply
    • Anne
      March 21, 2022 · 9:33AM:
      I wonder that too. I miss the days of lots of blog-related travel - that was so much fun. I hope I can find something that lights me up as much as blogging did in the early days! It was so different then. Much more of a community. Big congrats to you on number 3 - sending lots of love.
      Reply
  • Kris S March 21, 2022 · 2:34PM:
    I love it! I think a lot of us could use some recalibration right now, myself included. Great choice :)
    Reply
    • Anne
      March 22, 2022 · 1:18PM:
      Absolutely. Thanks!
      Reply
      • Josie March 27, 2022 · 9:31PM:
        I can do relate to you here. My kids are close in age to yours, and it can be hard to enjoy motherhood some days (I think that’s probably a mild way to say it 😆) one thing I’ve been doing to “recalibrate” with them lately is to try and stop pulling so much. It seems like I’m always tugging them along, literally and figuratively, and when I slow down just a bit to walk alongside them, everyone’s attitudes are better. It’s tough when my mental load is weighing me down and I want to move quickly, but the kids respond so much better if I just slow down a beat.
        Reply
        • Anne
          March 28, 2022 · 1:18PM:
          I completely agree. This is something I am working on, too!
          Reply
  • SArah
    March 27, 2022 · 12:14PM:
    Recalibrate. What a great reminder that what we need to get back on track are often not big changes, but faithful little ones.
    Reply
    • Anne
      March 28, 2022 · 1:18PM:
      Thanks Sarah! It feels so much more manageable to make those little changes, doesn't it? But they really do add up to something big.
      Reply
- next post
previous post -

about Anne

anne mauney fannetastic food
Hi, I’m Anne! I'm a Washington D.C. based Registered Dietitian, mother, runner, and lover of travel, adventure, and the great outdoors. I've been blogging since 2009, sharing a mix of lifestyle content, recipes, and fitness tips. Come for the recipes – stay for the fun!
Learn more

fannetastic reads

Top Posts
01

My Top 9 Most Popular Recipes + Posts

02

Why I Don’t Recommend Whole30

03

What Causes Sugar Cravings (+ How to Stop Them!)

04

How I Make Money As a Blogger

05

Blog Recipes We Make Again and Again

06

What to Eat Before and After a Long Run

07

What to Eat During Long Runs

08

7 Common Nutrition Myths

09

How to Love Veggies

connect with Anne

Email me
anne mauney

I’m Anne, a Registered Dietitian and mother. I've been blogging since 2009 and love showing others that eating nutritious foods and staying active can actually be fun rather than overwhelming!

When I’m not writing or cooking for fannetastic food, you can find me running, coaching nutrition clients, or on an adventure with my family. Feel free to reach out - I'd love to hear from you!

follow anne:

join the list

Sign up for my e-newsletter and I'll send you a meal plan packed with a week's worth of healthy meals, snacks and a shopping list. Happy eating!

back to top
  • About
  • Contact
  • Recent Posts
  • Privacy Policy
  • FAQ

© copyright fannetastic food - site by kc - exclusive member of mediavine