nut free nerd

January has arrived with its usual buzz around New Year’s resolutions. So many of us are reflecting on 2022 and thinking of how we want to feel and what we want to achieve in 2023. I love this process of reflection and goal setting, but I’m always cautious about not setting the bar too high for myself. An unrealistic resolution is a sure way to set yourself up for a stressful, discouraging new year.

I read Atomic Habits by James Clear at the beginning of 2022, and this one line has been ringing in my mind ever since:

“You do not rise to the level of your goals, you fall to the level of your systems.”

When it comes to setting goals for 2023, I’ve done my best to think of what habits and systems I can put in place rather than choosing arbitrary destinations to try to reach. I’ve also applied this mindset to my reading goals. In the past I’ve picked a total number of books I’d like to read by the end of the year; however, this year I’ve tried to set goals that err on the side of becoming a habit or system with enough time and practice.

1. Read while eating breakfast each morning. I’ve done this off and on for the past few months, and I always feel better on the days that I pick up a book while eating my daily bowl of oatmeal. Usually on work days I end up reading for 10 or 15 minutes in the morning, but even that small amount of time makes me feel more connected to what I’m reading overall. I hope to make it a consistent habit in 2023.
2. Read 50% nonfiction. I love reading nonfiction, but I always feel like I don’t read as much of it as I would like. In 2023, I hope to make reaching for a nonfiction book my default and keep this genre at the forefront of my mind.
3. Reread 1 book each month. Years ago I used to reread books all the time. There were some books or series–like The Lord of the Rings–that I would even reread each year. I miss returning to those old favorites. At the start of each month in 2023, I hope to think about which book on my shelves I’d like to reread, and then make time for it that month.

I can’t wait to look back at the end of 2023 and see how these goals have changed my reading habits. What are your reading plans for 2023? I’d love to know.

Take care xx