Hi Gina! Very interesting video! I empathazie so much with a lot of the things you mentioned. Last year I decided to set a ridiculously low number for my reading challange: 2 books. My goal was to not think about it at all, and finally read the long books I've wanted to read for so long. I always ended up reading the shortest books I could find just to complete my challanges. I ended up reading almost 6 books, longer than usual and I had the best time reading them.
Wow now I'm wondering if I should stop having a reading goal as well. I think it puts pressure on my shoulders where there shouldn't be any. Instead, I think I'll do a "Year of reading my physical TBR" because I really often borrow books from the library but would really love to read the ones I have at home instead. Thank you for your videos Gina! And Happy New Year!
Yes!! I'm thinking of implementing a kind of one in, one out rule - where I'm not allowed to buy another book until I've read (or at least started to read) one of the unread ones I already own.
Yay I think that sounds amazing! I'm keeping it 🤫 but I'm totally going to be doing something along the same lines this year so stay tuned for videos on that too. We can give each other motivation
This year I’m doing something new and I’m intentionally setting a smaller goal, and limiting myself to 1 book a week. I tend to binge read and real life stuff goes on the back burner which isn’t good. This year I’m going to try and find a better life balance.
I've pretty much always set an attainable reading goal, but this year I felt pressure when setting one, so ultimately decided not to and I feel great 😄Ironically I feel more motivated to read without one!
I've set a reading goal in goodreads which is 1 book just for the memes, but it end up giving me motivation to read more of my tbr because its the most realistic i could get .
And at the end of the day it's not about the number of books you read that many seem to be obsessed about but mostly about going back and check all the books you read and enjoyed (or DNFd)that matters the most.
I’ve never set a reading goal or theme or anything; I just read because I want to, when I want to, and however much I want to. In 2024 I read about 200 books, which I think is a personal record, but I don’t regard it as a particular achievement; I was in hospital for a while and had nothing else to do but read. In some other years when I read much less, I don’t regard them as bad years, they were just years in which I was doing other things.
I have never setup a actual reading goal of x amount of pages or books. Since than you will fall into the pits you mention. I have however one personal reading goal of at least reading one page each day to keep myself reading. However since it is a goal it sometimes comes with the struggle of some times reading that page at 2350 hours. This year I picked up two literary classics (War and Peace and Les Miserables) which took me 21 and 52 days to read. I took my time with these books because especially Les Miserables can be very emotional or the contemplations of the authors in both can be complex. With no number goal in place I did not feel forced and could read at a pace that felt good to me.
Maybe change it to 1 page at least 3 times per week? or something like that? is what I'm doing this year, because I want to motivate myself to keep reading, but also I want to give myself some grace.
I always set a reading goal but I never pay much attention to it, and I always set in much lower than I’m actually going to read which I suppose defeats the point because I’m not challenging myself 😂
Haha yes but that just means it's harmless which is good. I used to do that too but I can't help myself, if there's something written down, I'm constantly checking it
I usually set a low goal, like 15 (1 per month, and then just round up), bc I usually read that... then in 2023 I read only 6 books (not sure why), so in 2024 I put in on 6, so I didn't pressure myself (but I like the little "you are x pages ahead"), I don't feel pressured by a number, usually, but, for some reason, looking to my storygraph recap I felt unhappy about it... maybe bc my goal was to read more, not in quantity (but I did finished 15 books), but prioritizing it over things like watching tv or just doomscrolling, and my last quarter of the year I didn't really read much... and in my final reading month, the month of my favorite (and only one I do) reading challenge, I didn't finished any book... even when I did read 9 days in December (vs 0 in November and 3 in October). This year, I again put the goal at 6, and prepared a reading bingo, but I don't aspire to read 25 books, I just want to try and read 10 minutes a day, at least 10 days per month, just to make some room each day to slow down and give myself permission to breath and enjoy, without the pressure to DO.
I would be interested to hear what you think about the new reading challenges on GoodReads that are topic specific and have a list of eligible books to choose from. A) they stress me out. 6 challenges in 3 months to read books I may want to read, but certainly not right now but now feel like I "have to" to get the cute digital bookmark graphic and B) is this really just a ploy for Amazon to sell more books?
I honestly didn't see it coming. After just doing a video comparing the two platforms for a year, they go and release an update! Uncool 😆. But regardless I think it could be two things. 1. As you say, a way to sell more books. 2. A response to people leaving Goodreads and joining The StoryGraph. In other words, a way for them to remain relevant to the people sitting on the fence. People who are tempted to make the switch. I personally am not a fan, I like being about to create my own challenges in The StoryGraph rather than be told what to do.
@@GinaLuciaReads I like being able to create my own challenges too but after being on GoodReads for over 10 years it's a bit daunting to think about switching platforms, Your comparison of the two has really intrigued me to look at SG in more depth. As always, I appreciate your insightful comments and content. :)
I don't really set reading goals, at least not for the past 4 years. I do use the goodreads goal tool (12 books) though as a reminder to read a book. I know that sounds weird, but I think I don't read more than I do read so when I look at my goodreads page it pops into my head "have you read a book this month?"
I've been setting annual reading goals (courtesy of Goodreads) since 2011. For 2024, I reached my goal of 60. As I write this (January 2nd, 2025 @ 1:26 PM EST), Goodreads has yet to place before its members a Reading Goal. I'll be curious to see if a Reading Goal for 2025 is set by Goodreads.
Are you setting a reading goal this year? Or opting for something else?
Hi Gina! Very interesting video! I empathazie so much with a lot of the things you mentioned. Last year I decided to set a ridiculously low number for my reading challange: 2 books. My goal was to not think about it at all, and finally read the long books I've wanted to read for so long. I always ended up reading the shortest books I could find just to complete my challanges. I ended up reading almost 6 books, longer than usual and I had the best time reading them.
I love that for you!
Wow now I'm wondering if I should stop having a reading goal as well. I think it puts pressure on my shoulders where there shouldn't be any. Instead, I think I'll do a "Year of reading my physical TBR" because I really often borrow books from the library but would really love to read the ones I have at home instead. Thank you for your videos Gina! And Happy New Year!
Yes!! I'm thinking of implementing a kind of one in, one out rule - where I'm not allowed to buy another book until I've read (or at least started to read) one of the unread ones I already own.
Yay I think that sounds amazing! I'm keeping it 🤫 but I'm totally going to be doing something along the same lines this year so stay tuned for videos on that too. We can give each other motivation
That's smart!!
This year I’m doing something new and I’m intentionally setting a smaller goal, and limiting myself to 1 book a week. I tend to binge read and real life stuff goes on the back burner which isn’t good. This year I’m going to try and find a better life balance.
I've pretty much always set an attainable reading goal, but this year I felt pressure when setting one, so ultimately decided not to and I feel great 😄Ironically I feel more motivated to read without one!
I know that feeling! So happy for you!
I've set a reading goal in goodreads which is 1 book just for the memes, but it end up giving me motivation to read more of my tbr because its the most realistic i could get .
And at the end of the day it's not about the number of books you read that many seem to be obsessed about but mostly about going back and check all the books you read and enjoyed (or DNFd)that matters the most.
I’ve never set a reading goal or theme or anything; I just read because I want to, when I want to, and however much I want to. In 2024 I read about 200 books, which I think is a personal record, but I don’t regard it as a particular achievement; I was in hospital for a while and had nothing else to do but read. In some other years when I read much less, I don’t regard them as bad years, they were just years in which I was doing other things.
I haven't set any readings goals this year. I found it just stressed me out. Im also thinking of stopping readathons this year.
What kind of readathons have you joined so far? I find more casual ones suit me more.
I have never setup a actual reading goal of x amount of pages or books. Since than you will fall into the pits you mention.
I have however one personal reading goal of at least reading one page each day to keep myself reading. However since it is a goal it sometimes comes with the struggle of some times reading that page at 2350 hours.
This year I picked up two literary classics (War and Peace and Les Miserables) which took me 21 and 52 days to read. I took my time with these books because especially Les Miserables can be very emotional or the contemplations of the authors in both can be complex. With no number goal in place I did not feel forced and could read at a pace that felt good to me.
Maybe change it to 1 page at least 3 times per week? or something like that? is what I'm doing this year, because I want to motivate myself to keep reading, but also I want to give myself some grace.
I always set a reading goal but I never pay much attention to it, and I always set in much lower than I’m actually going to read which I suppose defeats the point because I’m not challenging myself 😂
Haha yes but that just means it's harmless which is good. I used to do that too but I can't help myself, if there's something written down, I'm constantly checking it
I usually set a low goal, like 15 (1 per month, and then just round up), bc I usually read that... then in 2023 I read only 6 books (not sure why), so in 2024 I put in on 6, so I didn't pressure myself (but I like the little "you are x pages ahead"), I don't feel pressured by a number, usually, but, for some reason, looking to my storygraph recap I felt unhappy about it... maybe bc my goal was to read more, not in quantity (but I did finished 15 books), but prioritizing it over things like watching tv or just doomscrolling, and my last quarter of the year I didn't really read much... and in my final reading month, the month of my favorite (and only one I do) reading challenge, I didn't finished any book... even when I did read 9 days in December (vs 0 in November and 3 in October).
This year, I again put the goal at 6, and prepared a reading bingo, but I don't aspire to read 25 books, I just want to try and read 10 minutes a day, at least 10 days per month, just to make some room each day to slow down and give myself permission to breath and enjoy, without the pressure to DO.
I think that sounds like a much kinder goal because you're making the choice to read more a priority, rather than a number.
I would be interested to hear what you think about the new reading challenges on GoodReads that are topic specific and have a list of eligible books to choose from. A) they stress me out. 6 challenges in 3 months to read books I may want to read, but certainly not right now but now feel like I "have to" to get the cute digital bookmark graphic and B) is this really just a ploy for Amazon to sell more books?
I honestly didn't see it coming. After just doing a video comparing the two platforms for a year, they go and release an update! Uncool 😆. But regardless I think it could be two things. 1. As you say, a way to sell more books. 2. A response to people leaving Goodreads and joining The StoryGraph. In other words, a way for them to remain relevant to the people sitting on the fence. People who are tempted to make the switch.
I personally am not a fan, I like being about to create my own challenges in The StoryGraph rather than be told what to do.
@@GinaLuciaReads I like being able to create my own challenges too but after being on GoodReads for over 10 years it's a bit daunting to think about switching platforms, Your comparison of the two has really intrigued me to look at SG in more depth. As always, I appreciate your insightful comments and content. :)
I have set a goal, but completely identify with all the points you make 🤔 maybe
I will ditch it?
I don't really set reading goals, at least not for the past 4 years. I do use the goodreads goal tool (12 books) though as a reminder to read a book. I know that sounds weird, but I think I don't read more than I do read so when I look at my goodreads page it pops into my head "have you read a book this month?"
I've been setting annual reading goals (courtesy of Goodreads) since 2011. For 2024, I reached my goal of 60.
As I write this (January 2nd, 2025 @ 1:26 PM EST), Goodreads has yet to place before its members a Reading Goal. I'll be curious to see if a Reading Goal for 2025 is set by Goodreads.
🥰