Why I’m Not Doing A Numbered Book Goal For 2025
Thoughts for your own reading goals
Despite the fact I was a voracious reader since practically I could physically read, I — like so many others — hit a slump during college. I was even an English major! But between the sometimes apparently impossible reading and essay writing for my major’s classes and the numerous reading and other assignments for other classes, work, and other activities, I suddenly found myself practically never reading for pleasure. And then I went on to grad school and more of the same happened. Then working in organizations that never had enough people, time, or money and yet wanted to change the world continued the trend.
Only in the past few years, especially as I’ve been re-evaluating what work and a work-life balance means to me, have I been reading again. And an annual reading goal that I’ve steadily been increasing each calendar year has been a major part of that, has even been a major reason for the books I’ve read.
But now, as I look to 2025, I’m gonna drop that challenge. Here’s why.
1. I should be reading what I want to read.
While reading challenges got me reading again and reading fantastic books, the goal was always the number of books. So, I found myself seeking shorter work again and again.
Sure, they were often what I wanted to read on some level at some time, but the main reason?
Because I could read three of them for every average-sized book and help me reach my goal.
I put off reading larger works such as The Priory of the Orange Tree until I could justify it with my reading goal — when I had reached my goal for the year in December and could start it with no qualms about ruining my goal. Is this really the experience I want for my reading?
2. It’s more about making reading a priority
Again, the challenge of finishing an exact number — a number I had picked because it was doable, but a little ambitious — was a great push to get me reading again. Then reading more and more.
But what I found was most helpful, more than the number, was simply planning for time to read.
We decide how we use our time. We make time for the things that are important and hold ourselves to achieving them at that time.
By marking aside time every week to simply read and holding myself to that, I reinforced to myself that reading is important, and then guess what? I found myself reading on other days, and at other times. Because I couldn’t get enough of it. I read more and more of what I was interested in reading.
3. Because failure shouldn’t be conflicting with success
Failure is a powerful thing. It worms into our heads and sends us down a spiral of negative ideas. It makes it harder to pick ourselves back up and keep going.
I had to change my reading goal this year, to lower it. Was it because I wasn’t reading? No, it was because I was reading longer books that I wanted to read. Why was a good thing also a failure? Why should I feel shame in not hitting my number goal when I was reading books I should be reading?
So, for 2025 — my reading goal is to continue to make reading important in my life, to set aside time for it regularly, and to let myself be immersed in what I want.
I can’t wait to see what I devour in 2025 with this new outlook on reading.
What are your thoughts? These are simply mine at the current stage of my life and reading journey. At different times in my life, I had different goals and they served me better. Where are yours today? Versus the past?
