Setting a reading goal is a fun take on a New Year’s resolution—plus, you get to exercise your brain!
Your first step is figuring out how many books you can read. If you are a slower reader, set your goal somewhat low, maybe 12 books, or one book a month. If you are a fast reader, try 25 or 30 books.
Make your goal obtainable.We recommend participating in the 2015 Reading Challenge with Goodreads. When you update the website with the books you have finished reading it will tell you how far you are in your goal. You can look back at the books you’ve already read and check out what your friends are doing, as well.
In order to ensure you complete your goal, pick books ahead of time. Doing this can be fun, but keep in mind you’ll probably change your mind several times during the year.
A lot of people like to read a book before its movie counterpart is released in theaters. Add a few to your list. It will keep you motivated to finish the book before the movie comes out and, in turn, keep you on track for your reading goal. Some titles making it to the big screen this year include Insurgent by Veronica Roth, Fifty Shades of Grey by E.L James, The Longest Ride by Nicholas Sparks and Dark Places by Gillian Flynn.
Also, pick a couple easy reads. Try reading the Pretty Little Liars series, for example. The latest novel Vicious was just released in December. The books are a fun, quick read. Or pick a few books that are smaller, or that maybe have pictures, such as Amy Poehler’s recent release Yes, Please. Choosing a few quick reads will allow you to relax after reading a longer or more difficult book.
Once you have your books picked out, set mini goals to help you stay on track. Read a chapter a day, or a certain amount of pages. Put aside time to read every day, so you can achieve your mini goals.
Turn off all electronic devices and just read. It’s very easy to get distracted by the technology around you, but it’s also very easy to get lost in a good book.
Feature Photo via We Heart It