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Happy New Year!
For some time now, I’ve been considering goals, mentally cataloguing them. Today, the first in 2017, is the perfect time to more formally (and publicly!) set down goals for the year. I would not under any circumstances call them resolutions because I don’t believe in those. In my opinion, resolutions are just ways of setting yourself up for failure! Goals, on the other hand, are more suggestions, things to aim for, kinder somehow.
Reading Goals:
- I feel like I’m pretty good at selecting books I’ll enjoy and want to continue to refine that skill. I never want to forget that I read for pleasure above all else. At the same time, I want to be open to what others tell me about books they’ve enjoyed and tap more often into their wisdom.
- According to Goodreads I read 68 books in 2016 and I think that’s about right. My goal had been 50, so I exceeded it by quite a lot. For 2017, I’m setting my Goodreads goal at 75. I’d really like to do 100, but also want to be realistic and don’t want to find myself shying away from longer books.
- I’d also like to read more nonfiction in the coming year. Last year I only read a couple and know that I’m missing out in being reluctant to take on nonfiction. So, for 2017 I hope to read at least 6 nonfiction books. I already have several upcoming nonfiction releases in my TBR pile, so I think this will be a fairly achievable goal.
- Audibooks are something else I’d like to work more into my reading life. Last year I only did 2, and will try to listen to at least 6 this year. I think spring and summer are easier times for me to do this because I’ve found I really enjoy listening while going on walks, so good weather helps.
Blogging Goals:
- My blog is still a baby at 6 months old, so I want to give it (and myself) the freedom to work out some of the growing pains. I’m still figuring out how all this works and what’s best for the blog, its readers, and me.
- Connect more with other blogs and book bloggers. I’ve done some, but not enough and I know that’s good for me as a blogger AND as a reader!
- To be selective in the books I request for ARCs and not to get overcommitted in that area. I want the freedom to move into reading books on the spur of the moment.
- Be. More. Organized. This is something that I’ve already been working on. I’ve set up spreadsheets to keep track of the books I’ve read and those I plan to read. (Thank you to Sarah@sarahsbookshelves for advice in this.)
- Plan further out than the next week! I know this won’t always be possible, but think I can take a closer look at where I’m headed and what upcoming events I’ll want to be a part of.
- Try to avoid getting hung up on the numbers! Sometimes I find this quite difficult, but I know that stressing about growth, comments, followers, etc. just isn’t healthy.
That seems like enough for the first day of a brand new year! What are your goals for 2017?
Happy 2017 😀 I hope you get to 75…and 100!
Thanks, Annie! You’ll blow me away in the numbers department!
Great set of goals! I remember the first year I started to take blogging more seriously, I had a similar goal of being more planful. And, I did that, then set a goal the following year to allow more freedom. It’s a delicate balance – ha!
Thanks for the shout-out!
These are wonderful goals! And isn’t Sarah the best!
I can’t believe I didn’t know you were still so new – for some reason I thought you’d been doing this blogging thing for quite some time! You’re reviews are so thorough and engaging and I love all the white space in your blog design. Here’s to a 2017 in which you meet all your goals and blogging dreams! Happy New Year friend!
Thanks so much, Stacy. Sarah really has been fantastic and has answered a lot of questions for me. One (of many things) I didn’t realize when I began this journey is just how welcoming the book blogging community would be. I can’t tell you how much I value being a part of that. Happy New year to you, too!
Your goals are very wise. Remembering that you read for pleasure, keeping in mind that it isn’t a numbers game, and being open to step out of the box and try something new are all wonderful goals for the year.
I am aiming for more nonfiction this year too. I am not too good at planning ahead with reading and blogging because I am too much of a mood reader/writer, but I am trying to at least do better with keeping a shortlist of books on Goodreads and putting them in order. This seems to help keep my mind on the books that I have for review as well as helping me to not forget about the books that I have been wanting to read the most.