Look Beyond Numbers: How to Stick to Reading Goals
Planning to read more is a common New Year's resolution — and like many resolutions, it's not easy to stick to.
But having a goal can make reading into a game, which helps keep us motivated when we see a skyscraper of books growing slowly on our bedside table.
Some people might try to read 50 books in a year; others might like to finish one every month, or, say, four before the last day of June.
That's one way of setting goals. But it might not work for us all. And some book lovers say if you really want to stick to your reading goals, you shouldn't just be thinking in numbers.
For example, writer Max Liu says to "read for pleasure" — don't give yourself any number to aim for.
Instead of aiming for a number, Mansee Khurana from NPR suggests aiming to just read more books in a certain genre, or by a more diverse range of writers.
Joining a book club is another good way to keep you reading, because you'll have to finish a book to be able to talk about it at your next meeting.
And websites like The StoryGraph have lots of ideas for fun reading challenges.
If you do aim for a number, then it should be to make reading a habit. This might mean reading for just 10 minutes every night before bed.
And as with any goal, sharing it with others can help you to stick to it. Some people choose to write about their reading on sites like Goodreads.
But make sure your goal is realistic, says Emily Dumas from the Everygirl website. And NPR's Khurana adds that you shouldn't be afraid to change your goal during the year.
"Reading should be a hobby, not homework," Khurana says.
