{"id":471,"date":"2025-11-16T18:44:00","date_gmt":"2025-11-17T00:44:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/readersgottaread.com\/?p=471"},"modified":"2025-11-16T18:44:00","modified_gmt":"2025-11-17T00:44:00","slug":"to-set-reading-goals-or-not-to-set-reading-goals-that-is-the-question","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/readersgottaread.com\/?p=471","title":{"rendered":"To Set Reading Goals, or Not to Set Reading Goals \u2013 That is the Question"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"769\" src=\"http:\/\/readersgottaread.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/business-7284184_1280-1024x769.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-472\" srcset=\"http:\/\/readersgottaread.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/business-7284184_1280-1024x769.png 1024w, http:\/\/readersgottaread.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/business-7284184_1280-300x225.png 300w, http:\/\/readersgottaread.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/business-7284184_1280-768x577.png 768w, http:\/\/readersgottaread.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/business-7284184_1280.png 1280w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-large-font-size wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Should You Set Reading Goals?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">My reading became sparse and hit-or-miss when I was in the throes of early motherhood. When the baby\/toddler was napping or content, I either needed to get chores done, or I wanted to just rest. As my boys got a little older and schedules stabilized, I wanted to make reading for pleasure a priority again. So, I set a goal of reading 12 books a year \u2013 a number that felt challenging <em>and <\/em>doable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I\u2019ve increased my reading goal since my boys were little, but I still keep my reading goal pretty simple compared to some I\u2019ve seen floating around. Below, I\u2019m sharing five types of reading goals for you to consider (or not \u2013 you get to choose your own adventure!) as we start thinking about 2026 goals and yearly intentions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-large-font-size wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Types of Reading Goals<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>1.  <\/strong> <strong>Read by Number of Books<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A classic reading goal: choose how many books you want to read this year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">One book a month, two books a month, one book every two months \u2013 whatever fits your life and season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>2.  Read by Author(s)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Read authors from A-Z (Austen, Brown, Christie, Dahl \u2026)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>OR, read all the books by one author you\u2019ve been wanting to dive into.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This is a fun option if you\u2019re looking to broaden your reading habits or explore new-to-you writers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>3.  Read Alphabetically by Title:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Choose a book for each letter of the alphabet: <em>Anne of Green Gables, Band of Brothers, Call of the Wild, Diary of Anne Frank<\/em> and so on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This type of challenge is great for readers who want variety while keeping their reading goals structured.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>4.  Read by Month (in the Title)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Read a book each month with that month in the title. Examples:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><em>The January Queen<\/em> (Joyce Stranger)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><em>February Thaw &amp; Other Stories of Contemporary Fantasy<\/em> (Tanya Huff)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><em>At Midnight on the 31st of March<\/em> (Josephine Young Case).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This is a creative, seasonal way to keep your reading momentum going all year long.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>5.<\/strong> <strong>Read a Book Set in Every U.S. State<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Choose books that take place in all 50 states. Examples:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><em>Marley &amp; Me<\/em> (Florida)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><em>Hillbilly Elegy<\/em> (Ohio)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><em>Killer Angels<\/em> (Pennsylvania)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This is one of the more popular reading challenges, and if it interests you, there are many curated lists available online.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-large-font-size wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>How to Track Your Reading Goals<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I\u2019ve written previously about how I track books I\u2019ve read and want to read in these prior posts (<a href=\"http:\/\/readersgottaread.com\/?p=23\">here<\/a> and <a href=\"http:\/\/readersgottaread.com\/?p=274\">here<\/a>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Quick Recap:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>I track completed books in the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.goodreads.com\/\">Goodreads app<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>I keep an Amazon Wishlist of the books I want to read.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>You can also keep a simple journal like this <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3WYw5ey\">one <\/a>&nbsp; &nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>And I found this adorable <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/47Xic5x\">reading progress sign<\/a> that lets you track book counts through the year. \u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"835\" height=\"1024\" src=\"http:\/\/readersgottaread.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/1650-1-835x1024.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-478\" srcset=\"http:\/\/readersgottaread.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/1650-1-835x1024.png 835w, http:\/\/readersgottaread.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/1650-1-245x300.png 245w, http:\/\/readersgottaread.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/1650-1-768x941.png 768w, http:\/\/readersgottaread.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/1650-1.png 1076w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 835px) 100vw, 835px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-large-font-size wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>A Recent Reading Story That Inspired Me \u2013 Talk About Reading Goals!<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A man from my hometown recently made national news for tracking 3500+ books he read over six decades. He borrowed the books from his local library, and the library is now sharing his list with readers everywhere.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">You can read the article <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cbsnews.com\/news\/ohio-man-list-3599-books-he-read-in-lifetime-inspiration-book-lovers-dan-pelzer\/\">here<\/a> and see his full list <a href=\"https:\/\/www.columbuslibrary.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/What-Dan-Read-Booklist.pdf\">here<\/a>. &nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-large-font-size wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Final Thoughts on Setting Reading Goals<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I\u2019ll admit it &#8211; some of these reading challenges feel restrictive to me. I want to read what I want to read without feeling boxed in (see <a href=\"http:\/\/readersgottaread.com\/?p=36\">this post<\/a> on how my reading habits have changed over the years).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But if you want to:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Read more books<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Expand into new genres<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Or simply add more intention to your reading life\u2026<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Then setting a reading goal might be exactly what you need.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Which reading goals would you add to this list?<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Should You Set Reading Goals? My reading became sparse and hit-or-miss when I was in the throes of early motherhood. When the baby\/toddler was napping or content, I either needed to get chores done, or I wanted to just rest. As my boys got a little older and schedules stabilized, I wanted to make reading [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[221,18],"tags":[318,17],"class_list":["post-471","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-book-tracking","category-reading-goals","tag-reading-challenges","tag-reading-goals"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/readersgottaread.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/471","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/readersgottaread.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/readersgottaread.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/readersgottaread.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/readersgottaread.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=471"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"http:\/\/readersgottaread.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/471\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":479,"href":"http:\/\/readersgottaread.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/471\/revisions\/479"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/readersgottaread.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=471"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/readersgottaread.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=471"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/readersgottaread.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=471"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}