What is your reading goals this year?

Image by Carlos Villada from Pixabay

Reading... it's funny... as a writer I feel I don't read as much as I should. Bascially, I write fiction and non-fiction books ... but I rarely read fiction. I'm not sure if I should admit it? When I was a young adult, I used to read fiction. But I feel, I have so much growth and learning to do, so I lean towards non-fiction. 

This is fine - this is a non-judgement space. 

So whether you lean more towards reading fiction or non-fiction, that is completely fine. Do not feel guilty for reading! 

Probably in the last year, I have started reading more! But as mentioned in previous blogs. I do have this dirty habit ... do you want to hear it?

I go shopping at the second hand thrift stores ... it's so much fun... exploring for non-fiction books...and then, because I love craft...I make all these cool bookmarks...because I need more than one. 

The reason I need more than one, is because I read part of one book, then place a bookmark in it and I get excited and then read part of another book. It is fun this way. I'm sure it would be beneficial, if I read one book at once ... but that doesn't always happen. 

I also have books everywhere in my home. They do say, if you want a child to read, have books everywhere. I have some in my chair in my dining room. I have the majority in my living room in the book case. I have some ontop of the book case, because I am still reading it. I have one or two on my lounge and I have more than a couple in my bedroom, because sometimes I like to read in bed...so do you see why I need HEAPS of bookmarks. 

But here is the thing ... for new books, I have also started enjoying buying them on my phone. I mainly buy from Apple Books, because I forgot my password to my kindle ... and if you know me, passwords and me are such a pain. So I'm enjoying Apple Books. (Also, a little fact, my novel, Free to be with me by Melanie Toye is one of my books top sellers on Apple Books - Yes, it's different to book sales on Amazon).

The thing about books on my phone ... I can literally stop and read a few pages and Apple sends me a notification that I have read my daily goal. Which is a nice prompt. So if I have five minutes spare, I can literally read some of my book on my phone. Or when I have quiet time, I can literally read as long as I want. I don't mind how long it takes me to read a book. I feel I am a slow reader because I am reading non-fiction and I am taking everything in and sometimes even taking notes and writing down ideas. 

Ok, so now you know my reading style and you know there is no judgement in how you read.

Let's work out your reading goals for this year?

First... track your reading goals with how fast you read

So it could be you read one book a day, or one book a week, or even one book a month. (Remember no judgement). If you work out how often you can read a book, then you can work out how many books in a year you can read. Maybe just add a couple extra just as back-up. 

Then get researching: What do you want to read about? 

• If it's fiction, do you have an author or genre you tend to love? So yes, research books in that genre and add them to your to be read list.
• If it's non-fiction, what areas in life do you want to learn more about? Then add these books with that topic to your to be read list.
• If you love reading a mix of fiction and non-fiction, be sure to mix-up your to be read list with a mixture of both.

For me, I literally can't read any faster ... I mean the only way to read faster, would be to spend more time reading. But I literally don't have enough time. I also have to really enjoy the book. 

So if you want to read more, you need to make more time to read.

Create a reading routine

Pick a time of day and read for an hour or more every day during that time. Routines are fantastic to achieve any goal. Create a reading space, so your mind and body know, when I sit down here in my favourite chair or when I go lay in bed, this is me allowing myself to relax and unwind and read a book.

Check out my books to add to your next to be read list. 

I hope you enjoy reading my blog posts and look at my Etsy store for some inspiration. 

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