Tips for hitting your 2020 reading goals
01/01/20
Maybe “read more books” is one of your New Year’s resolutions, but year after year, you still struggle to read more than a few books.
You’re not alone. Life gets busy, the allure of television to binge watch is enticing, and simply sitting down to read a book can feel daunting. Don’t despair—we’re here to help!
Meeting—and even surpassing—your reading goal doesn’t have to be difficult. With a little planning and a few tips from us, you can make 2020 the year you read more books!
Make a plan … or don’t.
There’s no right or wrong way to make a reading goal, but usually people fall into one of two categories: Following guided reading challenges or setting a numerical goal.
If you like to make a plan, we recommend finding a challenge that fits your tastes. We like this challenge from Book Riot and this one from Modern Mrs Darcy.
But if you like more spontaneity, a numerical goal might be the right choice for you. Try pushing yourself to read 15 books if you think you can read 10. Goodreads.com can also help you keep track of what you want to read and how many books you’ve read during the year.
Use the library.
This is a no brainer! If you want to read 50 books this year, purchasing them can get pricey. Using the library is a great way to stay connected to your local community while providing you with a variety of formats to choose from. Don’t have time to sit down and read a paperback? Try checking out a CD book or an eAudiobook from our online collection (or try downloading the Libby app to your smartphone or tablet device). You can listen to a book while you drive, clean the house, work out, or just relax.
Through your library account, you can also create custom lists to keep track of what books you want to read in the future. It’s also easy to place holds online. All you need is your library card!
All books count.
You know people who say things like, “Audiobooks aren’t really books?” Don’t listen to those people! Any book counts toward your reading list. James Patterson paperback on the beach? It counts. Percy Jackson book you listened to on a road trip with the family? It counts. Short story collection read on your Kindle? It counts!
Don’t let arbitrary definitions (from grumpy readers!) of what books do and don’t “count” toward your reading goal hold you back.
Know yourself.
If you struggle with completing your New Year’s resolutions, don’t decide you’re going to read 100 books this year. Set your sights on something attainable. Then, if you surpass your goal, you can increase it next year—and feel awesome in the meantime.
If you don’t like classic fiction, stop trying to read Charles Dickens and pick up that New York Times best seller instead. If you struggle to finish nonfiction, try listening to it on audiobook and see if you like that format better.
Ultimately, have fun. Setting a reading goal is a great way to push yourself, grow as a person, and explore new horizons. But above all, reading is an amazing adventure. Don’t treat your reading goal like schoolwork or personal punishment, and you’ll be sure to hit that 2021 goal this year!
