Time to set your reading goals!
Hello friends. Welcome to 2021. It’s January which means it’s time to make resolutions and set goals. Do you do either of these things at the beginning of each year?
I used to make an extensive list of resolutions that looked more like “things I want to do this year,” but now I’m a pretty busy person and try not to get too ambitious with that stuff. There are a few things that I am going to try to keep in the back of my mind this year (remember the things I am thankful for, try to be a more understanding parent, get back to bullet journaling), but the one thing that I have done consistently over the last few years is setting a reading goal and completing a reading challenge.
As I’ve mentioned in at least one previous post, I am so thankful for Anne Bogel at Modern Mrs. Darcy. For several years I was stuck in a reading rut. I was so discouraged when looking for new reads… I could rarely find books I enjoyed when visiting the library or book store which led me to only reread a few of my favorites each year. I happened to find Anne’s podcast What Should I Read Next while searching for free audio books on Spotify, and let me tell you, it changed everything for me. I was able to identify with some of her guests and got some great recommendations. And then I found out she puts out a reading challenge each year. I am a bit competitive. So her reasonable challenge sparked something in me. I finished the 12 book list in 5 months (and I even got through Anna Karenina on audio - 30 hours of torture!). I blew my 12 book goal out of the water!
The Modern Mrs. Darcy reading challenge provides 12 categories in which you choose the books. I find this to be fantastic as not everyone has the same reading interests. A lot of the reading challenges I’ve seen out there are just a huge list of titles you should read. This year’s Modern Mrs. Darcy reading challenge is a little different in that you also choose your categories. If this sounds like a good fit for you, click here:
Modern Mrs. Darcy Reading Challenge
This year I also discovered Janssen at Everyday Reading. She is more geared toward children. So if you need ideas for your kids she is a great resource! That being said, she also has a lot to share for adults as well. I love her printable advent and reading calendars, and she just came out with a 2021 reading log printable. You can color it and write in the titles you read. It also includes a reading challenge for you to check off. If you are a visual person, this might be a great option for you! Click below to find the reading log:
Everyday Reading 2021 Reading Log
My goal for 2021 is to read 60 books. That may seem like a lot, but I’ve built up to it! What are your reading goals for this year? If you haven’t been an avid reader, I challenge you to set a small goal of 6-12 books. Check out the challenges above for inspiration. Once you start figuring out what you love you won’t be able to stop reading! I promise!
Cheers!