My One Word for 2025: Overskud

The new year is here, and with it comes the familiar temptation to create an exhaustive list of resolutions. Eat better. Exercise more. Read 50 books. Grade faster. Plan better lessons. Be more patient.

By February, most of those resolutions are abandoned, and we're left feeling like we failed before we even got started.

There's a better way.

Why "One Word Intention" Instead of Resolutions

I don't do resolutions anymore. I prefer intentions.

Intentions allow for mistakes and resets.

When you set a resolution and slip up, it's easy to feel defeated. You break your streak, miss a day, fall short of the goal, and suddenly the whole thing feels ruined. The all-or-nothing thinking takes over: "Well, I already messed up, so why bother continuing?"

But an intention is different.

An intention is a direction, not a destination. It's a compass, not a map. When you drift off course—and you will, because you're human—an intention gives you permission to simply recalibrate and continue. There's no failure—just redirection.

A one-word intention becomes a lens through which you view decisions, a filter for priorities, and a gentle reminder of what matters most. It's not about perfection. It's about returning, again and again, to what you've decided is important.

That's why I choose one word every year. And this year, after considerable thought, my word is Overskud.

My Word: Overskud

Overskud (pronounced roughly "OH-ver-skood") is a Danish word that doesn't translate directly into English, but it captures something essential that I need more of in my life.

Overskud means having surplus energy, mental capacity, or bandwidth to handle what life throws at you.

It's the opposite of running on fumes. It's the feeling of "I can handle this" rather than "I'm barely surviving." It's having enough energy left over after your responsibilities to actually be present, patient, and purposeful.

When you have overskud, you have:

• Mental space to think clearly and make good decisions
• Emotional capacity to respond instead of react
• Physical energy to show up fully for the people and work that matter
• The resilience to handle unexpected challenges without falling apart

When you don't have overskud, everything feels harder than it should. Small problems become crises. Patience runs thin. You're depleted, reactive, and just trying to make it to the weekend.

I've spent too many years operating without overskud. And this year, I'm committing to building and protecting it.

Overskud in My Classroom

As a teacher with 26 years in the profession, I know what it's like to run on empty. To give everything to my students and have nothing left for myself—or even for my family at the end of the day.

This year, overskud will guide how I approach my classroom and my work.

Here's what that looks like practically:

I will protect my planning time. Instead of filling every spare minute with one more task, I'll build in buffer time. Margin creates overskud. Cramming every moment with productivity destroys it.

I will leave school at a reasonable time. Staying late doesn't make me a better teacher. It makes me a depleted one. I can't have overskud if I never recover.

I will say no to commitments that drain my capacity without serving my purpose. Not every committee, initiative, or "opportunity" deserves my yes. Overskud requires discernment about where my energy goes.

I will prepare for predictable challenges. The Stoics called this premeditatio malorum—anticipating difficulties so they don't deplete you when they arrive. If I know Wednesdays are hard, I can plan lighter that day. If I know March is exhausting, I can build in recovery before and after. Planning for reality creates overskud. Pretending everything will be fine destroys it.

I will prioritize physical practices that build capacity. Rucking. Cycling. Consistent sleep. Movement. These aren't optional. They're how I build the surplus energy that overskud requires.

This isn't about doing more. It's about creating the conditions where I have enough energy to do what matters well.

Overskud and Why Edify

The more I think about overskud, the more I realize it's the foundation of everything I'm building with Why Edify.

Why Edify exists because teachers are operating without overskud. They're exhausted. Depleted. Running on empty while being told to give even more.

The STRONG Framework is about building overskud systematically:

• Successes: Recognizing what's working builds mental capacity. Gratitude creates energy.
• Thoughts & Takeaways: Extracting learning from experience prevents repeated depletion. Wisdom creates overskud.
• Recovery & Renewal: You can't have surplus energy if you never recover. Rest isn't optional.
• Optimize: Efficient systems free up bandwidth. Complexity drains overskud.
• No to Perfectionism: Perfectionism is an energy vampire. "Good enough" preserves overskud.
• Gratitude & Growth: Appreciation and continuous improvement both create capacity for what's next.

Everything I teach is about helping teachers build and protect overskud so they can be excellent without burning out.

This year, I'm going to model it even more intentionally. My word—overskud—will guide how I show up in the classroom, how I lead the Why Edify community, and how I make decisions about where my energy goes.

Your Turn: Choose Your One Word

Maybe overskud resonates with you. Maybe you need a different word entirely.

The beauty of the One Word practice is that it's deeply personal. Your word should capture what you need most, what you're working toward, or what you want to embody this year.

To help you discover your word—and to use this practice with your students—I've created a resource page with everything you need.

One Word Reflection | Teaching and Learning Resources

This resource includes:

• The book and video that inspired this practice
• Activities to help students (and you) select their One Word
• Examples of how other teachers use this in their classrooms
• Technology tools and lesson ideas
• Ways to build classroom culture around One Word reflections

This practice works for teachers and students alike. When you choose your word, you're modeling intentional living. When your students choose theirs, you're teaching them that growth doesn't require perfection—just direction.

A Question for You

What's your word for this year?

Maybe it's a word that captures what you need more of: rest, focus, joy, courage, boundaries.

Maybe it's a word that describes how you want to show up: present, steady, curious, kind, intentional.

Maybe it's a word from another language that captures something English can't quite reach.

Whatever your word is, let it be your compass. Not a rigid rule, but a gentle guide back to what matters when you inevitably drift off course.

Because you will drift, we all do.

And that's okay.

Intentions allow for mistakes and resets.

My word is overskud.

This year, I'm building the surplus energy, mental capacity, and bandwidth to handle life well—not barely survive it.

In my classroom. In my work with Why Edify. In my life beyond teaching.

I'm choosing to create the conditions where I can be excellent without being exhausted.

What's your word?

P.S. — If you choose your word and want to share it, I'd love to hear it. Reply to this post, send me an email, or share it in The STRONG Teacher's Lounge. Words are powerful when we speak them into community.