Have you ever set a reading goal for yourself, only to fall short?  Most people have at one time or another.  This article will share some practical tips on setting and achieving your reading goals and resolutions.  So whether you’re looking to read more books this year or want to be better about meeting your reading goals, stick around!  We’ve got some helpful advice for you.

RELATED:

• Creative Ways to Incorporate Your Reading and Personal Goals
• 3 Things You Can Do To Improve Your Reading Life 
• How Audiobooks Can Help You Read More
• Mid-Year Reading Goal Check-In

What are reading goals?

Reading goals are personal targets you set for your reading life.  They can be whatever you want them to be, the most important thing is that they challenge you, and in the end, you are better for it.

Why are reading goals important?

Reading goals are important because they help you focus on your reading, and when you set specific goals, you can now have something to “achieve.”  Without reading goals, it can be easy to get sidetracked, and reading becomes a chore.  But when you set a goal, you can pick books you know you will enjoy that will also help you achieve your goals.  But no matter your reading goals, setting them is a great way to ensure that reading stays fun and engaging.

What are easy reading goals?

Easy reading goals are:

• To start a reading habit.
• To read a specific number of books per month.
• To read a specific number of books by the end of the year.
• To read outside of your comfort zone and different genres.
• To be a more intentional reader.

How To Set Reading Goals

Step 1: Define your reading goals or resolution.

Simply saying I want to incorporate reading into my life, read more books, or read more intentionally isn’t enough.  You need to define your reading goals clearly.

• If your goal is to start reading again, what do you want to start reading?  What kind of books do you want to read?  What does incorporating reading into your life look like for you?
• If your goal is numerical, what is your number?  Set it, say it, and write it down.
• If your goal is to read more diversely or intentionally, what does that mean for you?  What specifically do you want to be intentional about?  What diverse stories or authors do you want to focus on?  Get very clear on what this looks like for you.

On the other hand, some readers prefer not to have any specific goals and instead let their reading take them where it may.  If this sounds like you, try setting resolutions instead of goals; these are more open-ended and allow more flexibility.  Some examples include: reading outside your comfort zone, reading a new genre or type of book each month, or reading for 30 minutes every day.

Step 2: Make plans to achieve your reading goals.

In the words of Benjamin Franklin, “If You Fail to Plan, You Are Planning to Fail.” Now that you’ve defined your goals, you need to make a plan to achieve them.  Of course, as the weeks and months go by, you may go astray, and that’s ok, but at least you will have a roadmap to help you get back on track.

Make plans to achieve your reading goals by breaking them into smaller, more manageable tasks.

This is especially useful if your reading goal is numerical.  For example, if your goal is to read 12 books, you might set a goal and task yourself to read one book per month.  This way, you’re still challenging yourself but aren’t putting as much pressure on yourself because you’re pacing yourself.

If your numerical goal is a much larger number, still break it down into weekly goals.  If the number per week is unrealistic for you, revise your initial goal and make the number attainable.  Remember, reading should be enjoyable, and you don’t want to end your year feeling bad about not making your goal, or at the last minute, you’re in a frenzy to complete it.

Incorporate your reading goals into your other personal goals.

From saving money, exercising, to spending more time with family, you can find creative ways to incorporate reading.  If you’re looking for actionable tips on how to do this, check out our “Creative Ways To Incorporate Your Reading Goals Into Your Other Personal Goals” article.

Resources to help you stick to your reading goals:

• If your goal is to read more diversely and you’re unsure where to start or you’re looking for more tips, check out our “How To Read More Diversely Consistently” article.
• Check out our article on “Finding Time To Read for Pleasure When You’re Extremely Busy.”
• Fall into a reading slump?  There is no need to fear.  Reading slumps happen to even the most thoughtful, dedicated, and diligent of readers.  If you’re looking for tips to help, check out our “6 Tips to Help When Reading Feels Hard” article.

Quick tips to help you stick to your goals:

• Watch less television and be mindful of your time on social media.
• Schedule reading time if necessary.
• Surround yourself with books and always have a book on hand.
• Join a book club, participate in a reading challenge, tune in to podcasts, subscribe to newsletters and websites that align with your goals.
• Read books that you want to read, not what you think you should be reading.
• Don’t be afraid to stop reading books that aren’t working for you.