This is the first year where I have set myself a reading target.
I thought long and hard before choosing how many books I would try and get through in 2018, knowing that whatever number I decided on would be the most books I would try to read in a single year.
At first I was over-ambitious, thinking about trying to read 70. That would have been some target, and I definitely would have had the motivation, but it just seemed too big a step-up for me. Then it gradually came down to 50, but I thought about the pressure of reading around one book per week, so I finally settled on 45, a number that felt much more realistic and achievable.
I try to read as much as I can – but combining it with working full-time (35 hours per week) is not always easy. Then I also need to find more time in order to do my writing/blogging and a few other things, so it’s no wonder that I feel tired a lot of the time!
But like I said, I am motivated and very much embracing my target of 45. My TBR list is getting longer and longer, so I don’t have a hard time choosing my next book, and there are a few things which I am trying to stick to in order to reach my goal:
1. Read four books per month
In the past I have chosen to read at my own pace, but I have been inspired by the book blogging community to be a bit more dedicated. The maths is simple: If I read four books during each month, I shall reach my target, and I am currently on my eighth book now. So far, so good.
2. Borrow more library books
I get most of my physical books from the library, but I used to just borrow one book at a time and swap it for a new one when I finished it. Now, I have taken to borrowing multiple books at the same time, and this has allowed me to plan ahead and decide the next four or five books I am going to read.
3. Prioritise and don’t procrastinate
I have long been a procrastinator, side-tracked by things which I have realised are less rewarding and fulfilling. My target has helped me to eliminate that and set time aside for reading. Although I have always loved books, I have never made them a priority, so that is a resolution I am hoping to stick to!
If you have an annual reading target, are there anything in particular that you do in order to achieve it? If so, please comment and let me know!
Stephen Reads Books 