2013 is winding down. A whole new year is on the horizon.

Now is the time to explore the major themes in your life – and set some new ones for your next trip around the sun. Maybe that means reviewing what worked...and what didn’t.  Or reflecting on the obstacles you faced, and the odds you beat.

You might be trying to predict what’s to come, and hoping to set a new tone for 2014, filled with meaning and purpose.

Think you need a little nudge in the right direction? There’s a simple way to stay on track and get clear on what you want to achieve next year.

Let’s call it the word game.  All you need to do is pick a ‘word of the year’ for yourself.

Yep, just one word... to guide you.

No, you don’t have to choose right this second (but sometimes trusting your gut instinct isn’t such a bad idea).  Consider your life’s patterns and review the cycles you constantly repeat.

What matters to you? What do you need more of in your life? What do you want to focus on? What habits are you finally ready to break?

Then decide.

To get your mind spinning, here are a few powerful examples:

WHOLENESS – remember to concentrate on all 360 degrees of yourself, instead of honing in on just work, or just relationships, or just health.

EASE – give yourself space to breathe. Allow things to unfold in a non-stressful way. Loosen the reins, even just a little. Relax.

STEADY – instead of spreading yourself too thin over 30+ projects or goals, focus on 2 or 3 that you can see out to the end. Make steady progress.

SAVOR - this was my word last year, because I realized that savoring - the act of really, deeply enjoying your food and your life — is becoming a lost art. I even turned it into a rockin’ virtual program that I co-created with Karen Schachter.

So… what’s my word this year? (Glad you asked.)

SIMPLIFY.

Why?

Because I know that I (and so many of you!) tend to complicate things.

From the blog posts I write that are too long (not every post has to = life lesson + recipe + story), to the overweight suitcases I stuff for trips (what 50 pound limit?!), all the way to my dinner parties (the 15 dishes, the serving plates, the napkin rings)  - I have a tendency to stress out over every tiny factor.

Does it make for great blog posts, vacations, and parties? Sure... but I get so wrapped up in creating the most exquisite experience possible, I miss out on truly enjoying what I’ve accomplished!

I keep hearing over and over in my head: “Simplify, Elise. It’s not that complicated. Simplify.”

I see it with my clients, too, who believe they’ll make a 180 degree change overnight. They’re so ready to transform, they try to cover every nitty-gritty facet at once… and just end up more confused. They obsess over nutrients, percentages and calories. By turning their approach into a more complex issue than it needs to be, they get overwhelmed, frustrated, and just want to throw in the towel.

But what should they really be doing? SIMPLIFYing. Taking a deep breath, stepping back, filling up on whole, real foods and nourishing lifestyle practices… and then listening in to see what their bodies truly need.

When we focus on simplicity and the slow build, we can make the simple, sustainable steps and shifts that will genuinely stick.

So in 2014, I want to trade out over complication and over thinking for effortlessness and enjoyment.

Because, in that sense, less truly is so much more.

Now, I’m handing the microphone to you. Ready to declare it? Go...

Word.  What’s yours?  Share it in the comments below.