Let’s Talk Bookish is a weekly meme that was originally created and hosted by Rukky @ Eternity Books starting in August 2019, and was then cohosted with Dani @ Literary Lion from May 2020 to March 2022. Book Nook Bits has hosted since April 2022.
Let’s Talk Bookish January 12th:
Are Reading Goals Worth It?
Prompts: Did you set reading goals for 2024? Have you set reading goals in past years? Do they motivate you to read more, or do they make reading more stressful? What kinds of goals, if any, are the most motivating to you? Have you noticed a change in your reading since you started blogging? How about goals you set?
I did set reading goals for 2024. Specifically, I am aiming to read 70 books this year, and complete at least one Reading Challenge. I’ve been setting reading goals via Goodreads since 2015. Whereas I used to based my goal on what I’d read the year before, in more recent years I’ve kept it at the same. I also used to increase the goal amount if I had hit it or looked like I was clearly going to hit it, but that felt like a bit too much so I stopped doing it.
For reference, my previous reading goals (as year, amount read/goal number) were – 2015 63/50, 2016 52/60, 2017 51/30, 2018 52/45, 2019 72/50 (the year I started reading and reviewing more, and getting arcs!), 2020 127/100. 2021 94/50, 2022 95/60, 2023 103/70.
I think they do motivate me. I love seeing the numbers go up, and it’s even better when I exceed the goal. But I do really try and keep it at a manageable level that I know I’ll reach. The reading challenges have proven to be more motivational than I expected when I started them last year, and planning out my reading in that way really helps as I’m not then stressing over what I’m going to read next. I think the reading challenges are more motivating, and they’re also a lot of fun when I’m picking out my books for the prompts.
I have noticed a change since I started really focusing on blogging and reviewing – I had to amend my reading habits slightly when I started receiving arcs, and there were times following that when I could feel myself on the verge of burning out on reading. However, the challenges especially helped renew a love of reading, especially as I try to make sure I have a variety of different books so I’m not heavily reading one genre or another.
Do you set yourself reading goals? Do you find them useful for reading, or does it make a pleasurable activity stressful?
Unwrapping Words 
Great post! Setting a reading goal at the start of the year is something I always look forward to and it motivates me a lot as well. I usually set it the same every year but this year I decreased it a bit cos last year was so hectic and I have no clue what 2024 will bring 😂 I’m usually horrible with reading challenges but I’m hoping to find more motivation through a couple of them this year. Good luck with your goals and happy reading!
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I’ve really gone for ‘smaller’ challenges this year. And yeah, I think if I ever don’t hit my goal I’ll lower it, but it’s hard when you have years with strange circumstances to know what you might be able to read (or not read!) the following year
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