I’m No Longer Setting This Goal

Simple Living

Jan 22

In 2019 I began setting reading goals so I would be mindful of adding more enjoyment in my life. I didn't meet my goal that year or the year after, but I've met or exceeded it every year since. Last year, I read 70 books!

While I'm grateful for the priority I've placed on reading, it's lately become one more thing.

I've been ending the year frantically reading to meet my goal, and intentionally choosing shorter books to speed me along.

So this year, I left my Goodreads reading goal blank.

No pressure, no expectations.

I find that I'm still reading at last year's pace, but I now have the permission to slow down if I need to.

Why we shouldn't have goals for everything

While I'm still all for setting goals, I believe that we shouldn't set goals for everything. Because goals should be inspiring, not overwhelming.

Some types of goals may be set on a consistent basis, while others are one time occurrences or even just seasonal.

My reading goal worked in that it encouraged me to make time for it, but eventually I became too obsessive.

The same thing happened when I used an Oura ring fitness tracker. While I'm grateful for the insights, I became too obsessive about meeting the goals it set for me.

I have that hyper focused personality that's effective at making things happen, but also effective at leading to burnout if not kept in check. Which has taught me that I need to be mindful with my goal setting and be ok with letting some things go.

Maybe you need the motivation of goals to keep you moving forward, and that's ok. My advice in this case is the same: Be mindful of your goals. No matter what type of personality we have, we all have a limit to our energy. Don't let goals distract you from living and enjoying life.

If you're hoping to incorporate more reading in your life, here are my top tips:

How to easily incorporate more reading into your day

• When you find yourself reaching for your phone, try reaching for a book.

During the day when I've needed a break, I'd find myself being pulled into social media. While I still spend time on social media, I've been able to replace a chunk of that time with reading.

• Read before bed.

Another way I've both boosted my reading time and reduced my screen time. Like most people, Shelby and I enjoy watching television in the evening. I limit our time to an hour or an hour and a half, do a little housework to burn off any residual energy, then switch to reading.

Tip: Be mindful of your book choice, though. If I read an engrossing fiction book before bed, I have a tendency to stay up later than I intended!

• Always have a book on hand. During waiting periods, instead of scrolling or staring mindlessly, read.

Tip: Certain books are more easily interrupted than others. This is why I have 2-3 books going at a time so I can choose between an engrossing book and one I could quickly shift away from.

My Rules of Reading

• Rotate between no more than three books at a time.

• Always include a fiction book in the weekly line-up to boost creativity and reduce boredom.

• If a non-fiction book requires more attention and processing time, limit your reading to 1-2 chapters of it a day.

• Set a reading goal, or post what you're currently reading.

While I've moved away from setting reading goals, they can be helpful if you're just getting back into reading and need the accountability. It definitely worked for me in the beginning.

Now I post what I'm currently reading on to my Instagram Stories and YouTube channel.

And I still track my reading on Goodreads, which is like a social media platform for readers. You can connect with friends and see what each other is reading. The app also helps me save and organize the books I'd like to read.

What types of goals are you setting this year? Are there any you set in the past that you've decided to release?

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