Why I Made My Reading Goal Only 25 Books
I didn’t have the best reading year in 2024. I finished with around 84 books or so, which isn’t terrible, but I read about 150 in 2023 so it’s a steep drop. I definitely had other things going on, and it wasn’t a great mental health year so reading kind of fell by the wayside. But that’s okay! It doesn’t matter how many books you read.
I like the Goodreads Challenge because it allows me to keep track of what I’m reading in a year, but that’s about it. I don’t want it to make reading more stressful or worry about hitting a set goal. Therefore, I made my goal just 25 books this year, because that’s something I can do without much effort. Do I plan to read more? Most definitely! But again, this is just a tracker for me. I don’t need my goal to be 100 books. I just really want to read more this year, and read more GOOD books. I feel like I had a lot of 3-stars last year, and that’s not normal for me.
Are you doing a yearly reading challenge? How many books do you hope to read in 2025?
My reading has dropped off significantly the last few years. Life has been insane with a lot of challenges and life changes. I’m really, really hoping 2025 is the year I can ease my way back into blogging. Don’t stress about the number. Reading is supposed to be enjoyable. 🙂
I set my goal at 100. I know I can easily reach that. I just like seeing how much I read. Not the pressure of a challenge telling you you’re really behind.
Yes, I’m the same with Goodreads – I’m just keeping track and it’s just for me.
Having said that, I’ve dropped it down to 12. I’m 99% sure I’ll read more but it’s a lower pressure number that I can always adjust upward. I only read 17 last year and I used to read 200-ish but life happens!
I hope you have a better year Lauren!
I love your focus of trying to read more good books, instead of just reading so many books in total! My Goodreads goal is 50 – I know I can probably reach that and I’d prefer to focus on enjoying what I’m reading instead of the quantity.
Yes, having a goal is nice, but it should be stress free. I hope you love all the books you read, Lauren!
I agree, goals should not be stressful- or at least, reading goals shouldn’t be! I let random . org pick mine- I put the parameters between one and however many books I read the year before plus one. This year it was kinda rude, but alas.
84 is amazing! I started my goal last year at like…30, I think, and I kinda just kept adding along. :] I liked the no-stress way of doing it too. Hope to have you linking up when you can + that this year is better for you!! <3
I think this is a great goal and it won’t stress you out as much. I used to set reading goals for myself and now I don’t. I figure some years I have more time for it and some years I don’t. Last year was a tough year for me too! Nothing big, just a lot of little things that added up.
Carrie
curlycraftymom.com
My reading has been way down too. I hope you find lots of good books this year 🙂
I had my most productive year ever, but I also attribute it to not worrying so much about a number goal. My blog is pretty set to be A BOOK A WEEK, so that is my yearly goal. I’m at a point now where I surpass it regularly, but there have been plenty of years where life just didn’t let that happen. We read for the pleasure of it, so that’s ultimately the goal I try to stick to. Everything else is just for fun.