Eight Tips for Achieving Your Yearly Reading Goals

I know I made similar posts to this one early in 2021. However, given that it's 2022, I figured that it would be a good time to revamp these posts.

Today, I will be focusing on yearly reading goals and how to achieve your own. But before I do, I want to mention a few things about a "good reading year":

1. You do not need to define a good reading year by the number of books you do or don't read in a single year.
2. You do not need to read and/or enjoy any popular/hyped-up books to have a good reading year.
1. You can read them, and if you enjoy them, that's great. But it's not a necessity for your reading year.
3. I use the adjective "busy" a few times in these tips. This is a relative adjective, so take into account what is busy for you - it does not matter what "busy" means for others.

With that said, let's get into my eight tips for achieving your yearly reading goals.

Tip 1: Keep track of your TBR pile(s) in at least one way.

Goodreads tends to be the easiest way of keeping track of your TBR pile. However, there are several ways you can do this - whether it's as simple as a Microsoft or Google document or more detailed like a reading journal.

Tip 2: If you have a full work and/or school week, do not try to fit in multiple books into one month, or even one year. 

As a student (and as someone who's currently in a full-time internship when this is visible), I try avoid setting more than 6 books to read fr myself per year. Additionally, trying to fit too many books in a week, month, or year can burn you out and cause a reading slump. So there's no need to read 100+ books per year. (If you end up doing this, though, that's fantastic!)

Tip 3: If you have any anticipated reads for the year, pace them out across the 12 months.

From personal experience, I am not always able to buy books throughout the year. And whenever I immediately read new books, I always end up slightly sad because I didn't pace them out. As a result, I recommend spacing them out to one per month.

Tip 4: Prioritize your anticipated reads for the times of the year where you'll be less busy.

Similar to Tip 3, it may be best to place any anticipated reads during a month when you won't be as busy. Again, as I mentioned in Tip 2, I'm a student and intern, and I do not always have 100% of my attention span to devote to my anticipated reads. If you're in school, work, or both, it may be best to save your anticipated reads for the months and seasons you're not so busy.

Tip 5: Prepare a reading journal.

Reading journals are great ways to keep track of your reading (Tip 1). A reading journal is also something that you can have access to 24/7, even when technology and/or electricity are acting up. One I recommend is A Clockwork Reader's Reading Journal by Hannah Azerang, which you can preview here and buy at one of the following links: Penguin Random House, Barnes & Noble, Amazon (US).

Tip 6: Plan when and where you read.

If you're busy, it can be hard to just sit down and read. As a result, plan when (morning, afternoon, evening, or night) and where (bedroom, desk, table, etc.) you'll read each day.

Tip 7: Utilize all book formats.

Ebooks, audiobooks, and physical books. Ebooks for when you can't sit down and pick up an ebook or physical book. Use ebooks for when you have a bit of time but don't have a physical book on hand. And use physical books when you can.

Tip 8: Do not force yourself to read.

This is a tip I've given time and time again. Do not force yourself to read. I have noticed amongst myself, friends, and acquaintances that t is the main cause of reading slumps.