It’s a new year and I think everyone is as pleased as I am to see the back of 2020. And though I don’t believe that the new year has to be a time for goal setting and reflecting, I do always enjoy lounging around for the last few days of the year before refocusing and planning for the year ahead. I like setting goals and having something to aim for; I enjoyed sharing my book-related goals at the beginning of 2020 and I would like to do the same this year.
There are fewer numerical goals for me this year in favour of more vaguely definable aims — it’s easier to find success in something that has varying degrees of achievement!

Read 100 books
I set this as a goal for myself in 2020 and I achieved it and then some, with a total of 138 books read. I’d like to do the same again this year.
Reduce my Physical TBR
This is a must for me this year. I didn’t succeed quite as well as I hoped to with this last year, but I have devised a different system that I am hoping will work a lot better this year. My 2021 book buying challenge post will be published in a week or so (hopefully!).
Enjoy Bookstagram Again
I burnt myself out towards the end of the year and everything reading-related (with the exception of actually reading) fell out of the window. I fell out of love with bookstagram. It was making me stressed: I was comparing my feed to others in a similar way I’d tell myself off for comparing myself to a fitness model, and then wondering why I wasn’t enjoying taking photos or posting. I took a month-long break in December and am excited to take photos again and share my thoughts on books without obsessing over it.

Limit ARCs Accepted / Read and Review ARCs Pre-Publication Date
These two go hand-in-hand and involve two things I’m not very good at: accepting that I can’t do everything, and saying no. I hate turning down review requests and there were a couple of times last year where I took on too many ARCs. It was a struggle to read and review them all and it only succeeded in making reading a bit of a chore, which is no good for me or the wonderful books that I couldn’t dedicate enough time to. This year, I must say no to more review requests and concentrate on the ones I do accept, ensuring I have enough time to read and review them before their publication date.
Listen to More Audiobooks
I stopped listening to audiobooks somewhere around October and I would like to start again this year. I am hoping to listen to audiobooks whilst doing exercise, going on walks and playing on my switch. And, maybe even a commute if that becomes an option again – though never did I think I’d wish to use public transport.
Review Every Book in A Short Format
At about the same time I stopped listening to audiobooks and being active on bookstagram, I also stopped reviewing the books I was reading. I didn’t want to give up reading, but I couldn’t bring myself to write out pages of my thoughts on every book. In 2021, I want to review every book I read in a mini-review style of about 100 to 200 words, just a summary of my thoughts and feelings to look back on and share.
Reread My Favourite Books
I love rereading my favourite books and, since I didn’t get to all of my 2019 favourites in 2020, I now have two years worth of favourites to squeeze in somewhere. At a minimum, I’d love to reread The Starless Sea, A Song of Wraiths and Ruin, Good Omens and How to Stop Time.
Do you have any reading goals for 2021?
I’m impressed that you read 138 books in 2020! I’m a slower reader, and I read about 50 books last year. My goal this year to continue reading books by self-published writers. I started doing that last summer, and it’s been great to discover new voices. Good luck with your 2021 goal!
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These are great reading goals! I like how they’re hard-set but realistic and simple. I am thinking of adopting some myself!
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Aww thank you!!
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I feel like this is a great way to approach goals (at least for me!) – having broader goals that aren’t as specific and defined! I’m also hoping to do some rereads this year, it just feels like a good time to dive back into some old comfort faves! Hope you have a great month! ♥
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It’s definitely a better approach for me! I love rereads. Hope you have a great month too!
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Good luck Meg, you’ve definitely got this! Reducing my physical TBR is a priority for me in 2021 too…
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138 books? Did you ever sleep? Eat? Brush your teeth? I’m so impressed. And I like that even though you’re such a voracious reader, you’ve still got love for the audio book. How I miss having a commute for the excuse to listen to more audio books!
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I attribute a lot of those books to the extra time I had during lockdowns with very little to do other than work and read!
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