12 Tips for Approaching a Goodreads Reading Challenge (Or Any Reading Challenge)

Yesterday, I made a post talking about where I'm at with my Goodreads reading challenge. However, today I wanted to focus on tips and suggestions for tackling your own Goodreads reading challenge.

A lot of these tips will most likely overlap with reading tips I've given in the past, so don't be surprised or confused about that. Many reading tips do correlate with different sections of reading, whether it's a reading challenge, reading more, or other.

Here are 12 tips for approaching a Goodreads reading challenge (or any reading challenge).

Tip 1: Set a goal that's right for you.

You don't need to set a reading goal of 100+ books because that's what other people are doing. If you feel comfortable reading 100+ books in one year, then set that as your goal if you think you can do it. However, just because Friend A and Person B are setting their goals at 100 and 200 books respectively, that doesn't mean you have to. If a goal of 50 books feels right for you, then that's what it should be.

Tip 2: Pace yourself.

I feel like I've touched on this tip a few times, but pacing yourself is super important for reading. It's not always the healthiest thing to be reading book after book after book after book. You don't have to read slowly, but allow yourself some breathing room between books, and even between activities. I.e. give yourself time to go from studying to reading for fun.

Tip 3: Include any and all books you read for classes if you're a student.

If you're a student like me, include the books you read for your classes. Yes, this includes any textbooks you have to read. This really depends on the subject material of the books, but include these books. That'll bump up the number of books you've read by the end of the semester.

Note: Not everyone will want to do this, and that's okay. It may be because they want to include only the books they actively chose to read (rather than being assigned something), or they don't actually read books assigned in class. (We've all been there at some point...) Do what you feel comfortable doing.

Tip 4: Have a book on hand at all times.

I've talked about this a bunch already, but I'll say one last thing on it. Having a book on hand at all times will help you out in the end, no matter the reason.

Tip 5: Don't limit yourself to physical books.

I have talked about this one so much, but I'll mention it again. Ebooks and audiobooks are so helpful, especially if you're out and about.

Tip 6: Borrow books.

Whether it's from your local library or from reader friends and family, borrowing books is a great help to your reading challenge. And there are apps, like Libby and OverDrive, that will let you borrow audiobooks and ebooks from the library. However, if you're borrowing a physical book, please remember to return the book in the condition it was given to you.

Tip 7: If you have friends and family who are big readers, do a buddy read or two.

Buddy reads can really help you get through a book. How you set up the buddy read is up to you. You can meet regularly and read the book together for an hour, or you can set a date to be finished by and discuss it then. You can read another book at the same time.

Tip 8: Set aside time to read.

This is the most crucial tip in my opinion. Setting aside time to read can ultimately help you read more. You'll ultimately finish more books as a result. It doesn't matter if this time is daily or weekly as long as you have time you know you can just relax and read.

Tip 9: Read 2-3 books at once, if you feel comfortable doing so.

I've talked about reading 2+ books at once, and if you feel comfortable doing it, it can also help bump up how many books you read per year. However, all the other tips do come into play with this one.

Tip 10: Have any physical books you're currently reading in an obvious spot.

Having a stack of your currently reading pile (the physical books, at least), can help you gauge what books you need to finish. It can also help you determine if your currently reading list is getting a bit too big or long.

Tip 11: Keep track of your TBR and currently reading piles.

Whether you do this through Goodreads, a notebook, a document, or otherwise, keep track of what's on your TBR list and what you're currently reading. This way, you can know what you have read, what you need to finish, and what you can read next.

Tip 12: It is okay to DNF books.

Thank god DNF-ing books is becoming more normal. But there are still some of us readers out there who aren't comfortable with this concept quite yet. It is okay to DNF books. It doesn't matter the reason, but if you aren't feeling a book, it's okay to set it down.

Where I'm At With My Goodreads Reading Challenge

I thought I'd give you all an update on how I'm doing with my Goodreads reading challenge. If you aren't familiar with the Goodreads reading challenge, here's the gist: you set a specific number of books that you plan to read over the course of the year.

Since I've started the Goodreads reading challenge, I've changed my reading goal a couple of times. I either increased or decreased the number of books based on how many books I've read by that point. Usually, this happens by the end of the year, usually in late November or December. And I usually do this when I feel like I can squeeze in a couple more books or if I want to relieve any pressure or stress.

This year, my reading goal is at 125 books. I think I changed it once earlier this year, but I can't quite recall. (Oops, lol.) To meet this goal, I need to read about 10.5 books per month. So far, I've read 56 books. Apparently, I'm also 8 books ahead of schedule. I'm actually feeling pretty good about my reading challenge for 2021, which is a positive thing.

To calculate how many books you need to read per month to meet your reading challenge, simply divide your reading goal by 12. For mine, it's 125÷12, which results in 10.416. I just rounded mine up to 10.5 since that's the easiest thing to do.

However, do not feel pressured to know how many books you need to read per month. If it helps you gauge your time, then go for it. But it's not a necessity. Oftentimes, it can stress you out. Unless calculating how many books you need to read per month actually helps you in one way or another, don't feel obligated to do it.