I kept my goals super chill in 2022, and it was a major relief. I read what I wanted, when I wanted, and did not worry about anything else. But also I failed big time on one and I have accepted the fact that I may never get caught up on reviews.
If you have been around a while, you also know that the last half of 2022 was really hard for our family - my great uncle was killed out on the family farm and the investigation is on-going, still. No new information since October, and it is devastating. Then within a week of Eleanor and I returning from Minnesota in the aftermath of Uncle Dennis's death, Eleanor broke her arm at recess - makes dance really difficult when you can't use your arm! Thank goodness it was her left though, and it could have been so much worse. Full break of the ulna and partial fracture of the radius. Then a couple weeks after this, my grandpa had a stroke and came within hours of passing. We are so blessed that he has been recovering and is regaining his strength. He's not physically 100% and we don't know if he will be again but he is mentally himself - lots of stories and jokes and teasing.
As a result of all of this, blogging has not been important. I cope with stress by reading, so I read a shit-ton and pushed reviews to the side. They were not my priority, and I am not sorry at all.
Besides, blogging is fun and I want it to stay that way. When this becomes a chore, yikes. I don't ever want to think about that happening.
Here were my 2022 goals...
1. Read 250 books - this is down from 275 last year. When Eleanor and I read a book together now, they are on the longer side and then means less reading time for myself. I don't mind that one bit, and will gladly read out loud to baby girl as long as she wants me to!
GOAL MET - I read a total of 339 books. Of this total, 35 were chapter books with Eleanor. The majority of the books were real chapter books, though there were several from the Who Is/Was/What Is/Was series, which we love but are on the shorter side. Even so, I beat my goal of 250 by 54 books. Yay me.
2. Reduce my TBR to less than 2,300 books - In 2021 my goal was to reduce it to less than 2,500 and I did not quite make it. This will be bigger focus again this year, weeding out the books I am no longer interested, while also reading books on my TBR instead of grabbing so many new ones from the library.
SO CLOSE! - As of this writing on Saturday morning, December 31st, my current TBR is 2,372. Things could be a lot worse and I am at least counting this as a partial win because in all honesty I didn't think I would get this close.
3. Reduce my Upcoming Reviews to less than 150 - I mean...it's worth a try? I am growing more and more concerned that this will never happen. I have culled the list many times for books I am no longer interested in reviewing. I am also a lot more selective about books that even go on the list. I am also trying to get more comfortable doing 'Review Bomb' and 'Mini Reviews' posts.
GINORMOUS FAIL - and I don't even care. The list has ballooned up to probably 300, given the last couple months. Oh, well! They'll get done when they get done.
Do you set reading goals for yourselves? If so, let me know how yu did!
Happy New Year and Happy Reading!
Sarah
It's wonderful how books can take our minds off other things. Hope 2023 will be better for you and all your family.
ReplyDeleteYes, I definitely needed it. These were a rough few months.
Delete2022 was indeed not easy for many but you had some major problems, so whatever is the outcome of your reading goals, it's still good because you had the books to rely on not to get too desperate. And you know, your reading friends are always here for you, when you need us. You can always shout out in an e-mail, as well, if you like.
ReplyDeleteBest wishes for 2023.
Thank you so much; the first spot of good news we had today is that Eleanor's arm is completely healed and she can return to all activities - full out dance, leaps, turns, acro, tumbling, everything, such a relief! I am grateful for good blogger buddies. I have gotten a lot more relaxed about my goals than I used to be, which makes me feel more optimistic about getting reviews done when I get to them. Happy New Year, 2023 will be great!
DeleteThat is some great news indeed. You must both be so relieved about that.
DeleteThe older you get, the more you will realize that the way is more important than the end, or in this case, the reading has to be fun and the goal is nothing. I'm sure you know that already. I have known it for years but always wanted to achieve certain things that are, in the ned, not really important at all.
Have a fund reading year.
SO relieved. She had acro last night for the first time in three months and was so happy to be able to actually work on skills again.
DeleteI set goals with every intention of only maybe reaching them. The only one I really try to hit is the number of books read, because I am super competitive by nature and always want to out-do myself. I don't ever want this to feel like a job, so I just read what I want when I want and that's that.
I always had the goal to read 100 books in a year and I managed that once. I still have that goal but I know that I never might get there again. Yes, I am also competitive but I have come to the point where I think I don't have to be ...
DeleteI would love to get to that point in my life! I hate losing, even to myself.
DeleteYou will, just get older. ;)
DeleteI am anxiously awaiting the day I am no longer quite as competitive as I used to be...sort of. I also don't want to lose it. Because I love it, lol
DeleteOf course, if you wouldn't like it, you wouldn't be competitive. I like winning but I don't always have to anymore. I enjoy the challenge as it is.
DeleteEleanor stands no chance in life in that regard, her dad and I are both hopelessly competitive. She is even worse!
DeleteIn general, that's not a bad thing. And I know you will teach her to work with that.
DeleteIn general, no. But boardgames are nearly impossible, lol
DeleteI never had a problem with boardgames, I just love to play, no matter whether I win or not.
DeleteIt is perhaps good we will likely never play a boardgame together. You would probably not like me afterward!
DeleteI doubt that very much.
DeleteI would try to be on my best behavior. No guarantees.
DeleteHeehee.
Delete:)
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