1. Buy fewer books
In 2017 I bought almost £140 worth of books, and 20 out of 39 of them are still unread. Some of these were for university, and I know that I am very privileged to be able to afford books at all. But I do want to cut down on my bookish spending so I can learn control and motivate myself to read the books I already own and to go to the library more often.
In 2017 I bought almost £140 worth of books, and 20 out of 39 of them are still unread. Some of these were for university, and I know that I am very privileged to be able to afford books at all. But I do want to cut down on my bookish spending so I can learn control and motivate myself to read the books I already own and to go to the library more often.
2. Read the books on my shelf
This links back to number 1. I have 17 unread books on my shelf at the moment, and I really want to read them all, so I don't know why I keep brushing them aside. There aren't a lot of new released I'm excited for this year, so I think getting through my shelf will be a lot easier.
3. Borrow from the library more often
Linking back to number 1 again. I have made a separate TBR shelf on Goodreads for books/ebooks/audiobooks that I want to read that I know are already in my library or on Overdrive. That way I'll know what books are right on my doorstep and I don't just go off and spontaneously buy them.
4. Read my current eARCs and stop requesting so many
My Edelweiss and Negalley requests piled up a little at the end of last year, so I want to power through them in 2018. Right now I have 8, but hopefully by the end of the year there will be 0 (or at the very least I hope to have read the original 8).
5. Reach my Goodreads Challenge of 60 books
I read 62 books in 2017 and 72 in 2016, so I'm pretty sure I can reach this, if not exceed it. My passion for reading has been back stronger than ever in January, and I've already finished one book in a day and another in a couple of sittings. More than reaching 60 books, I just want to keep my reading love up.
6. Get my TBR to 0
I'm a little odd in that I have several TBR shelves on Goodreads. But my main TBR currently has 38 books, and I want to read them all this year. With my goal of 60 books it's definitely possible. I'll probably add to my TBR throughout the year, but I want to have allo of those original 38 books read by the end of the year.
7. Get back into bookstagram
I've already made a start on this one. I'm probably not going back to daily posting any time soon, but I do like taking book pictures and seeing everyone's amazing photography skills.
8. Write more
This is the tough one. I call myself a writer but I rarely go beyond the planning stage. If I do, I never finish anything other than prologues or short stories, which was maybe 3 last year. I want this to be the year I write a novel. I don't know which story idea I'm going with yet. All I know is that I want to have a week entirely to myself where I write a full novel, non-stop. I have such little confidence in myself when it comes to writing, and I think it'll be really good for my self esteem if I finally complete one of my stories. Writing daily hasn't worked for me, and the second I get scared to ever go back. But if I write a full novel in a week with no breaks I think I might finally overcome my writing anxiety.
9. Draw more
I have cheated with this one because it's not actually a bookish goal. But it somewhat relates because when I started drawing again at the end of summer I was listening to audiobooks at the same time, and it felt like I was being doubly productive. I stopped drawing a while ago because I didn't feel I would ever be good enough, but I finally feel like I'm in more of a mindset to not compare myself to others. Plus I just really enjoy it, and deep down I know I could be really great at it if I didn't give up on myself so easily.
10. Learn more
I read a lot of fiction, but this year I want to get book smart in a different way. I want to read more non-fiction and learn more about the world and its history. I also want to take some summer courses to learn new skills, watch more Crash Course (particularly History and Politics) and start learning Spanish again with Duolingo, which I started the summer and got really far before the semester started and I totally neglected it. Also maybe take up one of my instruments again? Basically, I want to develop my knowledge of everything.
11. Blog more
When my mood was really low last year I neglected this blog. But I am already back to my regular 2 posts a week (ish) blogging schedule and my motivation is up again. I want to keep that up for the rest of 2018.
What are your bookish or non-bookish goals for 2018? I wish you luck in them all!
This post was inspired by the prompt 'Bookish Resolutions/Goals' on Top 10 Tuesday, hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl.
If only I could get my tbr to 0. The moment I read one, someone will recommend a book I want and wham, up it goes again! Good luck with all your goals.
ReplyDeleteI'm exactly the same - I'm not sure getting a TBR to a perfect 0 is even possible! But at the beginning of the year I listed the 38 books on my TBR and my plan is to get those 38 down to 0. Thanks Olivia!
DeleteYes, I couldn't agree more with visiting the library more regularly. My library is fantastic. I spend so much free time there. :)
ReplyDeleteHere is our Top Ten Tuesday.
Libraries are fantastic spaces! Mine closed for refurbishment a few months ago and was meant to reopen soon but it has been delayed until Spring which is very annoying. But hopefully I can spend more time there as soon as it reopens!
DeleteGood luck with all these! I've tried the buying less books ones before, and completely bombed it, so I hope you do better than I did. I also want to read more books off my shelf and read more of my e-arcs.
ReplyDeleteMy TTT: https://jjbookblog.wordpress.com/2018/01/16/top-ten-tuesday-142/
Thanks! I've totally been there haha! I'm hoping this year I'll take myself more seriously and buy fewer books, or at the very least don't spend as much money on them. I hope you get through your e-arcs and books on your shelf this year!
DeleteI so need to read the books on my shelf, rather than buying new all the time. And I really should use the library more *nods*
ReplyDeleteGood luck with the writing! I like to write too and it can be hard to get past the roadblocks. Hope it goes well for you this year. :)
http://gregsbookhaven.blogspot.com/
It's so difficult to not neglect the books on your shelf when the bookstore has so many shiny new books to buy. I'm hoping by using the library more it will mean I borrow the books I want to read rather than buy them.
DeleteThanks! It can be tough, but I hope it goes well for you too!
This are pretty much all of my bookish goals as well! Especially with book buying, even though I didn't actually spend that much on books last year. I also want to blog more (though that might be hard), and also read so much more than last year!
ReplyDeleteGood luck on all of these Helia!!
Even on years I don't buy a lot of books I still like to keep my book buying to a minimum too, just so I can get through all the books I own. Blogging more is so tough - I feel like the second uni starts again I will disappear from the internet, and not have time to read more. But hopefully it will still be a productive year for both of us!
DeleteGood luck to you too Valerie!!
I hope you will be able to achieve all of these goals! I really like the sound of buying and requesting fewer books, and getting around to the ones you already own. It's something I am trying to do as well. I also like the sound of more creative works like drawing, writing and photography for bookstagram. It all sounds so good. Best wishes with it <3
ReplyDeleteThank you I hope so too! Buying fewer books was definitely a big goal for me this year, and I've already totally failed for January 😂. But I'm hoping to stick to it a little better for the rest of the year. I hope getting to the books you already own goes well for you too! Thanks again Olivia <3
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