The “One Word” Method Is the Life-Changing Productivity Trick You Need in 2025

Welcome to the second week of the January Cure! Last week, you made strides in cleaning and conquering clutter. Today, we’ll be taking a step back to figure out how you want to feel in your home this year. 

The “how” could not be simpler. In fact, it only takes one word and a few minutes of thinking. That’s why we’re calling it the one word method. Here’s what you need to know.

So much happens in your home — between making dinner, trying to catch some quality sleep, filing taxes, finding time for romance, working from home, and about a zillion other things — it can be easy to lose track of how you hope to feel within your four walls when just trying to cross half the things off your to-do list. 

While homing in on one word can’t instantly erase all of the chores or stresses of everyday life, it can help ground and recenter you throughout the day and year. Similar to the four-word rule for curating your own design sense, this single word will be a lens through which you can look at your daily life. When you notice you’re moving away from that concept, you can find a way to realign (this will be especially helpful when you make your “intentions list” tomorrow).

So, say you’re looking to embrace creativity this year. That could mean making a basket for crafting or hobbying supplies that you leave in easy reach, framing a piece of art that makes you feel inspired, or setting aside some time in your morning routine to listen to an album or podcast that gets the right side of your brain going. The word can be a descriptor, a noun you really connect with, a verb that motivates you — anything, really, that you can use as a guiding principle for the time you spend at home.

Unsure where to start? Here are some words you can take as your own, or use to inspire a word that feels right to you, along with some small ways to put them into practice at home. 

• Peaceful. Refrain from doom scrolling before bedtime. 
• Joyful. Make a point to romanticize daily tasks around your home. 
• Powerful. Use the “unexpected red theory” to add some bold color to your space. 
• Rejuvenated. Try playing some white (or pink, or brown, or green) noise to lull you to sleep. 
• Thankful. Add the practice of gratitude journaling to your nighttime routine. 
• Invigorated. Add a bundle of eucalyptus to your shower. 
• Clearheaded. Do a deep declutter of your most chaotic space.

PRO TIP: When you choose your word, write it on a piece of paper and put it somewhere you’ll see it often — on the fridge, computer monitor, nightstand, or even make it your phone background — so you can refer back to it as much as you need. It may sound woo-woo, but when you spend so much time at home, helping all of those mundane moments ladder up to a bigger life goal can help you feel more in control and fulfilled. 

What’s your one word? Share it with us in the community forum.

• Sign up for email updates.
• Visit the 2025 January Cure page and catch up on assignments.
• Download the January Cure calendar.
• Join the conversation by checking out the Cure board in our community forum.
• Check off that you’ve completed this task and track your overall January Cure progress here!

The Cure Program is a tradition here at Apartment Therapy — it happens every January, April, and September. Click here to learn more about the year-round program and when to sign up.