My Bookish Plans for 2019

1/15/2019

It's a new year! Time to set some goals for myself! However, I am going to be much more laid back this year - or at least, I'm going to try to be. I usually set myself some pretty ambitious goals, but I'm discovering that having two little kids is finally catching up to me. I just don't have the amount of reading time that I used to, especially since their napping schedules don't match anymore. I try to remind myself that this is just for a season of my life and I will soon be reading as much as ever, but it's hard when all I want to do is escape for an hour and read. Someday!

Finish My TBR Bingo

So yes, this was also one of my plans last year, and I didn't complete it. I made the bingo card in August 2017 and read 6 books off it by that December. In 2018, I read another 13. That means I have 6 left to go. I'm hoping to read one book a month and have the bingo card completed by the end of June. But if it takes me longer than that, then that's okay!

My Yearly Newbery Goals

I have a long-term goal to read all of the Newbery winners (and hopefully all of the Honor books). I'm chipping away at this little by little. Each year, I read one decade of winners (this year, I'm reading the 1960s). I read all of the books that win in the current year, which will be announced on January 28 this year. And I read at least one year of Honor books (2013 this year). It'll take me a while, but I'll read them all eventually!

Read My Own Books

For the past two years, I've set myself a goal of having at least 50% of the books I read be ones I own. I achieved that goal both years, but it has been occasionally stressful - especially towards the end of the year when it's coming down to the wire. I'm trying to eliminate stress from my reading this year, but I still want to make sure I'm reading my own books. So I'm aiming for 33% of the books I read being ones I own. That's one book I own for every two library books. That should be doable and pressure-free. And hopefully I can end up with a higher percentage than that!

Relax and Enjoy What I Read

You've probably gotten the gist from the rest of my post, but I'm making this an official goal this year. No pressure to read all the books. No shame for not fulfilling reading challenges. No guilt for taking my time or reading only a couple books a month. My reading time is shorter than ever, which is why I want to be able to enjoy every bit of it!

6 Comments

Jenna @ Falling Letters link

1/16/2019 08:57:08 pm

It seems like a lot of people are making relaxing and enjoying rather than stressing about reading a priority this year - I think that's a great idea!

Julie @ Smiling Shelves link

1/25/2019 02:49:53 pm

I knew it would be essential for me this year. Now I just hope I can live up to it! :)

Christine link

1/23/2019 07:48:08 am

I love these goals and the focus on no stress! Little kids really do make it tricky — and I’m about to find out just how much more tricky a second kid is! I’ve been trying to break some of my bad phone habits though and (for the moment) seem to have reclaimed some extra reading time — but we will see if it helps with baby #2 in the house!

Every time I read about your Newbery reading, I’m always soooo tempted to try reading year by year like that, but I’m too much of a mood reader! I do hope to read the soon-to-be-announced winners, but every year I seem to miss a couple! I’d suggest a buddy read again of the winner if you’re interested, but I’d have to wait at least a few weeks — the announcements are something like 3 days after my due date LOL

Julie @ Smiling Shelves link

1/25/2019 02:53:21 pm

My yearly Newbery goals only work for me because they're middle grade and therefore fast reads. It would be way too much of a commitment if they were full-length adult novels!

I'd love to do a buddy read of this year's winner again! And it's totally fine if it's months from now. We've got all year to get it done. Let me know when you're ready, and I'm in! :)

Jade @ Reading with Jade link

1/25/2019 06:32:02 am

I think relaxing and enjoying what you read is one of the best reading goals to make... Especially as mama to two little ones! Happy reading in 2019 Julie!