2020 is just right around the corner!! Every year I set myself a few bookish goals, and at the end of the year I go back and reflect on what I accomplished and what I can continue to work towards. Today I’m going to do both! Here’s an update on my 2019 goals and a list of my new(ish) 2020 goals.

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An Update on My 2019 Goals

1. Read 52 books? DONE!

I surpassed my Goodreads challenge of 52 books by ultimately reading 59 books as of the time this post is up. I’m very pleased with this number, especially since all that reading was done in a year when I was writing an honors thesis and had my first semester of law school… I was a busy beaver, but I still somehow managed to find time to be bookish!

2. Read more nonfiction? YES!

I’ve had such a great time reading more nonfiction in 2019, especially memoirs. Here’s a quick list of some of my favorite nonfiction reads from 2019:

• Becoming by Michelle Obama 
• My Beloved World by Sonia Sotomayor
• The Big Short by Michael Lewis 
• The Year of Magical Thinking by Joan Didion 
• This Common Secret by Susan Wicklund

3. Listened to more audio books? YES!

This past summer was the summer of audiobooks for me: I listened to so many!! They were an absolute lifesaver during my hour commutes to work during the summer months, as well as whenever I was cooking, cleaning, or walking to and from classes. Not only did I listen to some fantastic books, but I also got a lot more reading done than I otherwise would have without listening to audiobooks.

4. Read all of the books I already own? NOPE!

I was doing pretty well following this goal… until I inevitably bought more books that I have still yet to read. I have a feeling that this goal is going to be one I carry forward for quite some time…

5. Get back into blogging/bookstagram? SORT OF!

Unfortunately, I experienced the same issue this year that I have in past years: putting my blog on hold whenever life gets super busy, only to frantically pick it back up again months later. I recognize that this fluctuation is totally normal and natural and is bound to happen as life gets busy and even busier still, but I would still love to find a way to work it into my schedule in a more consistent way. However, I will say that I have gotten better at continuing to post on my bookstagram even when things get pretty busy.

6. Read for fun? ABSOLUTELY!

I put this goal on my list every year as a little reminder that reading should first and foremost be about fun, and I think it’s safe to say that I achieved it in 2019! I read some downright hilarious and fun books in 2019 and definitely allowed myself to indulge in some wacky books that I wouldn’t ordinarily read a lot of. Sometimes all you need is a good Angus Thongs and Full-Frontal Snogging read to get you through!

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Bookish Goals for 2020

1. Read 24 books.

I’m scaling back my Goodreads goal a bit because I just don’t have that much time to read while I’m in law school. However, I think 24 books is a reasonable number to shoot for, especially considering that I’ll probably read more during breaks and on holidays. I’m confident that I can reach this goal, particularly with the help of audiobooks.

2. Read all of the books I already own.

This was also one of my goals for 2019, but it’s something that I think will take a while so I’m going to put it on my list for 2020 as well. I only own about a dozen or so books that I haven’t read, so I think this is definitely doable if I buckle down and keep this goal in mind throughout the year.

3. Make blogging a part of my busy schedule.

I love blogging so much. But I’ve found it really hard to keep up with it once the business of the semester fully kicks in. I think part of the problem is that I try to maintain the same level of blogging even when I’m really busy, which is just unrealistic. In 2020 I’d like to maintain a steady level of blogging, even if that means that I’m posting fewer times per week overall.

4. Write more original posts.

I love writing discussion posts and posts about classics, but often I feel bogged down by the idea that I should do things like Top Ten Tuesday every week. In 2020, I’d like to have a more flexible blogging schedule where I participate in those posts if they sound interesting, but otherwise I do my own thing.

5. Read for fun!

For the past few years I’ve put this as the last goal on my list just to remind myself what reading and blogging should be all about: having fun! Sometimes it’s easy to get caught up in the numbers, but at the end of the day all that matters is that we’re having a good time.

I hope you’ve enjoyed learning about my goals for 2020! I never really put much pressure on myself to follow these goals; rather, they’re just things to keep in mind when I’m deciding what to read next or how to spend my time. And, honestly, I’ll take any excuse to make a list!

Have you set yourself any bookish goals for the New Year? What do you think of mine? Let me know in the comments section below!

Yours,

HOLLY