Anyone else still thinking through some of their 2020 goals at the end of January? I posted in my Instagram stories about my 2020 reading goal on New Year’s Eve and have been thinking about it lots since, too.
A bit of backstory: in mid-2018, I got a library card and got back into reading regularly. I read 37 books that year. In 2019, I set my goal to 52, and ended up reading 96 books (yes, so close to 100 it hurts).
SO, when I was thinking about my 2020 reading goals, I was very tempted to set my goal at 100. I could hit it this year, right? But then I started thinking about WHY I set reading goals.
I set reading goals to ensure reading is a part of my daily life because it brings me great joy and is a source of rest and self-development. If my goal isn’t serving that, it’s not serving me.
That “why” does not require a certain number of books, but I have found the one book a week goal ensures that reading remains a habit. And, like with anything, it doesn’t happen unless I make time for it, unless I choose to put my phone down and pick up a book.
SO I decided to keep my 2020 reading goal at 52 books. I did not (and do not) want reading to become a chore or a competition (with myself or others!) or be something I do to rack up a high book count.
I also have some non-reading related goals this year, and I need to make room for that. So if I hit 100 books, great. If I don’t, also great!
Anyone else think these thoughts when deciding on a 2020 goal? What are your 2020 reading goals? Whether your book goal is to read 1 book or 1000, I would love to hear what it is and why you chose it.
goal resources
I am truly passionate about goal setting and the difference it has made in my life to not only think through what I want to accomplish each year, but how to make that happen.
First and foremost, I LOVE my Powersheets from Cultivate What Matters (one-year edition, six-month edition) and nothing has helped me more than creating an action plan for the year than that powerful notebook.
If they are sold out, or you want to get a taste for the process without making the investment just yet, I also highly, highly recommend the Goal Setting series they put out on their blog as well! It is free and SO helpful and energizing.
I also completely adore my Simplified Planner. It sits on my desk (and in the evenings, my coffee table) and is the spot I write out my schedule and my to-dos. It helps me get what matters done by keeping those matters in front of me and eliminating some ever present distractions. I am a better employee, girlfriend, daughter, sister, friend, and niece because of that planner. I say that with my whole heart.
Another thing that is new for me in 2020, but that I am SO excited about, is my accountability group! Two of my best friends and I formed an accountability group for the year — we created a spreadsheet, put in our goals, and plan to do monthly goal check-ins throughout the year to encourage each other. I think it is going to make a huge difference for me.
GOAL-RELATED BOOKS
I read and loved the Power of Habit and still need to write a review, but if you are trying to cultivate habits this year, I highly recommend it! I read it on audio and it was great.
I have heard wonderful things about Finish by Jon Acuff and hope to read it this year!
Not a traditional goal-setting book, but one that has highly impacted my goals is Daring Greatly by Brene Brown. No book has ever given me more clarity than that one!
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