Welcome back to Literacy Musing Mondays. Can you believe that 2015 is coming to an end in just a few days? Happy New Year! This week we have a special guest post from Shantala @ SHANAYA TALES on setting realistic reading goals for the New Year.
On Reading Goals: 3 Things to Keep in Mind
While Setting Reading Goals.
It’s that time of the year again; the time to reflect on the year gone by, and welcome the New Year with renewed enthusiasm. This is also the time when we make resolutions and set goals for the New Year.
I have had a strange relationship with resolutions. I used to love making them, but I barely ever managed to stick to them post January.
And then there was another phase in my relationship with resolutions – avoidance. I decided to completely ignore them. I mean, what was the point? It made no sense to continue what was essentially a meaningless ritual.
However, that had a downside too. It made me feel directionless in a very strange sort of way.
So since last year, I set selective, reasonable goals, in certain areas of my life, where setting goals makes me feel accomplished, without feeling overwhelmed.
Reading is one such area where settings goals works for me. However, after several years of trial and error, I have realized that there are some things one must keep in mind while setting reading goals.
Today, I am sharing some of the things that I consider while deciding on my reading goals, in hopes that these will help you tailor-make a reading plan/goal for yourself.
Set Realistic Goals
This is the number one thing that you must keep in mind while setting your reading goals. Do not set goals that only ‘look good’, but ensure that they ‘feel right’. If you are someone who can read 100 books a year, that’s great – more power to you! But do not set that as a goal only because you want to surpass someone else’s goal. That is just pointless, and serves no purpose.
For myself, I have set 30 books as my number goal for 2016. I know it might appear low to a lot of you, but this is what is realistic for me. Mostly because, while I love to read, I have a life outside of being a reader; I have a child to raise, a husband to hang out with, and a blog to write on.
Set certain specific (yet flexible) goals
This is something that works very well for me. I am not someone who will make a list of specific books that I want to read, even though I generally have a good idea of what I will be reading next.
The only reason why I do not specify the book is because it activates the rebel in me, and then the last thing I want to do is read that book.
To read the rest of this post for more great tips on setting New Year’s reading goals visit SHANAYA TALES today.
Shantala lives on the East Coast of USA, with her husband, and an over-active toddler. She is originally from Mumbai, India.Books, are the therapy her choice. With a Master’s Degree in Finance, and an opinion on everything, Shantala blogs at SHANAYA TALES. You can find her on Facebook, Google+, Instagram, Pinterest, and Twitter.?
Now on to this week’s Literacy Musing Mondays Linkup. First let’s ….
Last Week’s Top Clicked Post!
Favorite Books in 2014 & 2015
Packed full of great reading for 2014-2015, this post has a great list of books. I really enjoyed many of the titles that Leslie recommends. Be sure to check out her post!
Want to be the next to be featured! Just link up a post and if you are read the most, we will feature you. Also please make sure you link back to us so others will know about our link up and join in. We try to make it worth your while to linkup with us by promoting your posts across our social media networks. We also pin your posts to our Pinterest Board!
Now, it is time to link up to the Literacy Musing Mondays hop! You will have until Saturdays at 12 p.m. now to link up! So come back often. 
Linkup Rules:
- Include a link back or the blog hop button linked to this hop on your posts.
- Link up the urls to your posts not to your blog.
- Please remember this is a family-friendly linkup. Although we believe in the right for adults to read whatever they want to read, we prefer to read wholesome posts that feature literature that edify and uplift families. We reserve the right to delete any posts that are not family friendly. We love all kinds of literature and genres including family-friendly inspirational romances, fantasy, or science fiction. We do not welcome anything with excessive violence, sexual content, or cursing. These posts will be deleted.
- We also want to be loving community by supporting one another. Please make a point to do this this week! Visit the post next to yours and at least one other blogger’s post of your choice! I want to see lots of clicks on everyone’s posts. I know as a blogger, you know how it feels not receive comments, right. Spread the comment love this holiday season. 🙂 Remember it is also nice to follow them on their social media platforms like Twitter and Facebook.
- Follow your hosts and co-hosts on their social media.
- Tweet about the link up too.
[tweetthis]Come join the fun! Link up your family-friendly, book- or literacy-related posts at Literacy Musing Mondays![/tweetthis]
Linking up with these hops this week: Social Butterfly Sunday, #LifeGivingLinkup; Inspire Me Mondays at Create with Joy, Inspire Me Monday at Angie Ryg,Mama Moments Monday, Motivation Mondays, Good Morning Mondays, Inspire Me Mondays at Table for 7, Mommy Monday Blog Hop, Tell Me a True Story Blog Party, #Words with Winter Linkup, The Book Nook – Blog Party For Book Lovers!, Totally Terrific Tuesdays, Women with Intention Wednesdays, What to Read Wednesdays, Mom’s Library, A Little R &R Wednesday’s linkup, Kid Lit Blog Hop, Booknificent Thursdays, Cozy Reading Spot, and TGI Saturdays.
Also:
Thank you so much for featuring my post today, Mary. I am humbled and honored to be able to share with this wonderful community. 🙂
Shantala recently posted…On Reading Goals – 3 things to keep in mind while setting reading goals.
Shantala, thank you for getting me thinking in the direction of setting reading goals. My practice for the past couple of years has been to try for a book per week. Maybe I need to fine tune my thinking . . .
Always good to get new ideas!
Michele Morin recently posted…Christmas Eve on the Hill
Hi Michele,
It’s the same with me. Completing one book a week – is pretty much my ideal situation. But since I have started reviewing books I read on my blog, I tend to take longer to read them, and then take a few days off reading, to collect my thoughts. It slows me down quite a bit, but I am happy to have a record of my reading life, so it works out. 🙂
Glad you found the post useful. 🙂
-Shantala
Shantala recently posted…On Reading Goals – 3 things to keep in mind while setting reading goals.