Why I’m Not Setting a 2025 Reading Goal

and why you shouldn’t either.

I collect hobbies like I collect advice from people. All the time, and I rarely use it.

Reading has been one of my only consistent hobbies that I’ve been able to take with me through my 24 years of life. Some of my other hobbies like bird watching and running ebb and flow depending on the time of year.

The first series I ever remember being addicted to was the Boxcar Children. My library’s children’s room had a rotating stand with all the popular children’s chapter books of that time. Some of the other books on it were the Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen mystery books and the Animorphs series.

I have fond memories of this rotating book stand the Boxcar Children lived on.

My peak reading numbers ranged from middle school and high school until it trickled down in college. This past year, I read the least amount of books I’ve read in years.

Instead of taking into consideration all the fanfiction I’ve read and having to work, I’m instead very mad at myself.

I want to know why I’ve started reading less, and why my reading slumps are mostly anxiety driven.

Reading has stopped being enjoyable and turned into something I have to be good at. Since reading has become one of my main personality traits, I felt like I needed live up to some reading standard. Instead of enjoying reading, I’ve started to dread it.

After some internal deep diving, I think I’ve found my answer.

Setting Reading Goals Killed My Buzz

Setting tangible goals works for some people, but for me, I’m more into ambiguous and hypothetical goals.

The goal I usually set for myself, “for things to work out the way they’re supposed to,“ has motivated me enough for me not to change it.

However, setting goals like “lose ten pounds“ or “read 50 books“ usually motivates me to do the opposite.

These goals create a mental wall that feels like a physical brick wall that I can’t break through.

For the past four years, the number of books I’ve wanted to read was constantly hanging over my head.

2024 was my fourth year setting a reading goal on a reading app, and it was the first year I didn’t hit my goal. Embarrassing!

Somehow, setting a number of books to read instead of reading as many books feels right completely trashed my enjoyment of reading.

I no longer read because I wanted to, but instead to hit my book quota. For some people, that might be okay, but for me, it isn’t.

Instead of being excited to start a new book, I’m filled with dread and anxiety. I’m anxious about how long it’ll take me to read it and if I read it too slow, am I still a good reader?

Short answer is, yes, I’m still a good reader. Long answer, the amount of books I read or the speed I read them at doesn’t dictate how good or bad of a reader I am. It just says that my attention span might not be what it used to be. (Understate of the century!)

I can’t tell you what number book I’m on as we dip into the middle of March, and I’m feeling relaxed! I’ve escaped the claws of reading book challenges, and I’m never getting hooked again.

Reading Journal

I’m not a total animal. I still track my reading, but I do it the good old fashioned way: in a notebook.

My friend Cedar introduced me to the idea of book journaling, and while my brain won’t allow me to journal the way she does, my brain sure does love a list.

My book journal is separated by each month, starting with a list of the books I read and then a couple pages free for me to jot down my thoughts.

There’s no rules, and absolutely NO numbers. I will not be counting the books I read this year, and neither should you.

As of March, I’ve logged my books by month, and I don’t number them or even count them.

Why?

Because it doesn’t matter!

Reading hasn’t felt so liberating in so long. I think I’m reading about 2 books per month, and last year I would’ve been upset by this, but now, I’m happy that I’m reading with no rules!

Reading with No Rules!

Read however you want. Anything counts from graphic novels to AUDIOBOOKS. If listening to books is what gets you to read, then it’s reading. Gatekeeping reading and saying audiobooks don’t count is an ablest ideology that I’m not hear for.

Who gives A FUCK if someone says they read a book when they actually listened to it. All that matters is the book is being consumed.

2025 is the year of no reading rules, and I encourage you to come along with me! x

If you enjoyed this blog, let me know! Check out my LinkedIn for more professional (but not as entertaining) writing content! Love you bye!