Easing into the new year

Setting the tone for 2024

I've been talking to everyone I know about their ‘word’ for the year. 

Some people find their word straight away, while others take a bit more time.

I found my word in December on a long walk with Matteo. We were in Paris for the weekend, celebrating our second wedding anniversary, and I was absolutely exhausted, battling a never-ending sinus situation. Not quite the chic French energy I had hoped to bring to the weekend.

While walking around the Tuileries Garden, I reflected on why, after such a great year, I felt so foolishly burnt out. Was it the winter blues, the physical demands of finishing my new collection, or just the usual December rush, where there never seems to be enough hours in the day? 

After some serious pondering, Matteo and I kept coming back to the idea of ‘pressure.' So many of us pile on the pressure to always do more, be more, and achieve more. And the end of the year, with its looming finish line, seems to crank up that pressure even more—’It must be done by Christmas!’

But sometimes, chasing after more comes at the expense of what truly matters—sleep, health, creativity, learning, quality time with family and friends.

So, I landed on ‘ease’ as my word for 2024 because I want to learn how to keep growing without burning out. I want to focus on what's truly important instead of getting caught up in the never-ending pursuit of more.

I think January is the perfect time to ease into the new year. To be a “human being, not a human doing” (to paraphrase Deepak Chopra). Time to consciously slow down, simplify commitments, and take stock of what really matters before diving into the year ahead.

If you haven’t picked a word for 2024 yet, I encourage you to carve out some time this month to think about the direction you want to move in and consider which word will help guide you there.

Matteo’s word is conviction, my mum’s word is excitement, my siblings words are boundaries, determination, routine and release, some of my friends' words are intentional, energy, patience, action, offline, let go, levity and deserving.

And your words, so far, are:

What is your word for 2024?

JYK x