A new year with new hopes, that’s what 2021 represents to me. If I can pick a word to describe 2020, it would be distraction. Anxious about many things described this Martha very well. Distraction over health issues, the lockdowns and other restrictions, civil unrest, the unrelenting political squabbling — you name it and I was everything but focused. Of course, 2020 also brought reasons to celebrate. My daughter got engaged, my son’s family was able to spend weeks at a time visiting due to work at home, and my cancer prognosis is excellent! But my reading life suffered the most. Now to most non-bookworms that would earn a shrug. But I know you know what I mean. 😉
This year I aim to be more intentional and that goes for my reading resolutions as well. I am joining other bloggers for a Top 10 Tuesday list of resolutions. I certainly don’t have 10, but I do have a few that I hope ramp up my reading enjoyment. For more bloggers’ lists, check out That Artsy Reader Girl.
2021 Reading Resolutions
Read More
This actually doesn’t mean more books, although I would like to beat the number of books I read last year (103). What I need to do is put down the time wasters — FB, Instagram, and Twitter come to mind — and pick up a book. My time wasted while staying at home more is astronomical. I’m hoping by intentionally getting off social media, I will spend more time in reading pursuits.
Read Intentionally
There’s that word again. I have a hard time turning down bright and shiny new books. Hence my towering TBR stack. Part of the problem comes from saying yes to a lot of review requests. I pared that down some last year. This year I resolve to think and think again before accepting reviews.
Read from The TBR Pile
All those bright and shiny books get a bit dusty waiting impatiently on the shelf. I recently downloaded Libby and can access lots of audiobooks. I have been reluctant to use Audible credits for books I already own, but with Libby I can check off some worthy reads without feeling guilty. My husband and my budget will be happy! (Below are two notables from my TBR shelf that I want to have read this year.)
Read More Widely
I plan to look for books that I would not generally choose either because they are general market or a genre I don’t usually read. I am part of a FB book club that reads mystery/suspense and have been introduced to books I have never heard of, yet enjoyed immensely. This month I am listening to The June Boys by Courtney C. Stevens. It is a YA mystery/thriller. I have found it intriguing even as I have cringed at some of the scenes. This novel is really expanding my horizons.
I would also like to add international and classic novels to my reading this year. Libby is a great resource for this extracurricular reading. I also have many physical copies that I need to read.
What are some of your reading resolutions?
I’m glad your cancer prognosis is excellent. You’re in my thoughts as you go through treatment/surgery/etc. for it.
How are you planning to read more? One thing I’ve seen other people talk about this week is reading right before bedtime instead of using that time for social media. I like that idea.
My post.
Thanks for the prayers. I had my surgery last March. Now I am on a once a day pill for the next 5ish years. No chemo or radiation! I am planning to read more by staying away from social media. It is a huge time waster for me.
Good luck with your 2021 goals!
My TTT: https://jjbookblog.wordpress.com/2021/01/12/top-ten-tuesday-298/
These are great goals! I totally understand the need to read intentionally. I had to stop taking on review requests a few years ago because it really wasn’t working for me. It was too much pressure to read things that I wasn’t always interested in. Good luck!
Thanks!