The new year brings new goals and new opportunities. It’s important to set goals that are realistic yet still push you to achieve more. Setting reading goals isn’t just another resolution, it’s nourishment for your mind and soul. Setting proper reading goals isn’t just a numbers game of how many books or pages you’ve read. It’s a gateway to a myriad of benefits that extend beyond the mere act of turning pages. From honing cognitive abilities to discovering diverse perspectives, the rewards of a well-crafted reading goal are as vast and varied as the books themselves.
Why is setting reading goals important? Well, in this ever-changing world, the act of setting reading goals goes beyond the mere tally of a book read. It can guide us through the literary terrain with purpose and intent. Now let’s dive into the ways you can set proper reading goals
1. Determine what type of reading goal you have
What exactly is your reading goal and how will you track this? Your goal could be to read X amount of books this year. Or it could be to read a certain amount of genres or books by certain authors. It could also be measured by things such as speed and critical analysis.
No matter what your goal is you’ll want to have it clearly defined before starting your reading venture. Always make sure to clearly define your goals so you have something specific to strive for. For example instead of saying “I want to read more books next year” instead say something like “I want to read 15 books in the romance genre next year” or just “I want to read 15 books next year.” This falls under setting SMART goals which we’ll go over in this post.
2. Curate A Reading List
Curate a list of books you want to read throughout the year. Don’t worry you can always add to this list, this will work more as a baseline. It’s also ok if you have more books in your wishlist than your actual goal is.
If you’re not sure what books you want to read try asking friends or family what they recommend. You could also browse books on review sights such as Goodreads to see what others recommend.
3. Utilize Reading Challenges
In the world of the internet, it’s never been easier to find a community of people with similar interests. You can join online forums and discussion books or even online book clubs which have become recently popular. Many creators do well in building a community of like-minded readers eager to discuss their favorite books.
Online isn’t the only avenue. In-person books are still widely popular and can be a great way to meet accountability partners. One of the best things about book club is it also gives you a deadline on when you’ll need to finish the book hence giving you that little push you might need.
4. Track Your Progress
It can be easy to forget which books you’ve read as the year progresses. Keeping a reading journal can be a great way to help keep yourself organized and on top of your goals. You can also jot down notes, thoughts, and important quotes throughout each book.
It’s also important to celebrate each milestone as you go. For example, if your goal was to read 3 books in March and you hit that goal then celebrate with a small reward or share your accomplishments with your fellow reading community.
Tracking your progress will also allow you to edit your goals if needed. Life happens and if you no longer find your initial reading goals align with your current schedule or lifestyle then don’t be afraid to change them. After all, this should be an enjoyable journey. Be flexible and reassess your goals periodically.
5. Try Audiobooks
For those with hectic schedules (like me) or people who like to multitask, audiobooks are a great tool to bridge into the world of reading. This is a perfect way to get more reading done whether you’re commuting, working out, or just tackling household chores.
One thing I found extremely useful with audiobooks is just focusing. I have ADHD and so I find it hard to focus on reading or even listening to audiobooks. What I found is if I combine the audiobooks while I read the physical book it helps me focus immensely.
Another thing I love about audiobooks is a lot of the time the professional narrator will often bring the characters to life with distinctive voices, inflections, and emotions. This immersive experience can draw you into the story and offer a fresh perspective on the characters.
6. Set SMART Goals
I’m a huge advocate for setting SMART goals in any aspect of life. (This could really be its own blog post but I’ll keep it brief)
SMART stands for Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound. Using this method can really help you when defining your goals and setting yourself up for success.
Specific: Set specific goals that aren’t vague. Similar to the example we talked about above, instead of saying “I want to read more” define what you want to read more of such as what genres you want to explore. You could say something like “I want to read two adult horror novels per month”
Measurable: Define your goal with a specific number to reach for. For example, you could say “I want to read 20 pages a day” or “Finish one book every two weeks”
Achievable: Make sure you’re realistic with your goals otherwise you’ll just be setting yourself up for failure. If you’re a busy person it may not be feasible to set aside hours every day to reach so instead your goal could be to read 30 minutes every day before bed.
Relevant: Ensure your goals align with your broader life goals. If you’re aiming for personal development then maybe your books of choice will be self-help or educational. On the other end if your goal is just to find joy in reading then you’ll pick out books that you truly get joy out of.
Time-bound: Set deadlines for your goals such as finishing five books by the end of the quarter. With a deadline, you can strategically analyze how you’ll achieve it such as how many pages you’ll read per day to get to that goal.
In the end, whether you’re turning pages of a classic, listening to the mellifluous narration of an audiobook, or engaging in spirited discussions with the reading community, may the joy of reading be your constant companion. Here’s to a year of literary exploration, where every goal becomes a milestone, every book a cherished companion, and every page a step into the enchanting realms of storytelling.