2022 Resolutions and Goals: Reading, Writing, Bookstagram & More

Click the image to be taken to the blog hosting Top Ten Tuesday

This week’s topic is  2021 Releases I Was Excited to Read But Didn’t Get To. I don’t feel like revisiting any 2021 releases, so opted to share my reading and blogging resolutions for the new year.

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  1. Not doing a Goodreads reading challenge

Every year since 2012, I’ve been trying to consistently increase the number of books I challenge myself to read. Last year I read a whooping 250 books. I don’t think I can reasonably read more than that without making sacrifices. So, I decided not to do the challenge. Well, I kind of still am but marked it as 1 book only. I’m a completionist and in this way I can read as much as I want without worrying about any challenges. I may reconsider months down the line and change this and I’ll let you know if I do so. For now, I’m firmly set on trying not to count how many books I read and therein not doing the Goodreads challenge.

2. Reread some of my favorite books

I’ve written a post about the books I’d like to reread in a previous Top Ten Tuesday, you can check it out here.

3. Try to keep up with book reviews

Try being the keyword here. As you may have noticed, I read a lot more books than I actually review. Partly because I read faster than I can manage to review (lame excuse, I know), partly because I tend to only review books I like or have a strong opinion about and partly sheer laziness. I’ve also been experimenting with my review style and almost struggling to find my review voice. You may have noticed the format keeps changing and that’s likely to continue until I settle on a format.

4. Catch up with NetGalley and request less books

I tend to request a lot more than I actually read, I need to stop doing that as my score is going down. So, the plan is to catch up on the backlog of titles and then be really considerate and request titles I genuinely want to read and review soon.

5. Step up my blogging game

Specifically, I’m aiming to post at least one book review and one other blog post per week. I’ve already fallen behind on this in the first few weeks but I was annual leave and I took that time as a break from blogging as well. Hoping to do the 2 blog posts per week for the rest of the year.

6. Reach 3000 followers on Instagram

My most specific goal yet. I’m already halfway there so I think it’s within reason to aim for this number. I have lots of plan for posts, reels, giveaways etc. It’s also the best place to be up to date with what I’m currently reading and where I do book hauls and reading wrap ups. If you aren’t following me yet, be sure to do so @readwithstefani

7. Engage more in the reading community

Be it Bookstagram, bloggers, booktubers or TikTokkers, I’ve found it hard to stripe up a friendship with the reading community on the internet. I have a wonderful group of friends I met through book club in real life, but online friendships have been hard. If you want to be my online bookish friend, please reach out!

8. Read more comics / graphic novels and titles I’ve been avoiding

Hoping to read a lot more graphic novels and comics via Scribd. I also want to finally read The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas

9. (Un)hauling books regularly and own no more than 600 physical books

I’d like to haul no more than 10 to 12 books per month as space is limited. I also want to branch out into buying prettier or collectors’ editions of books I love. Because the available space for books is limited and my shelfs are already full, I make space by doing book swaps and unhauls. I need to keep doing so in 2022 so the number of books I own stays in the 500 to 600 books area.

10. First draft of the project I started in NaNoWriMo 2021

I don’t think I’ve mentioned this before, but I’m hoping to finally finish writing something, the most likely candidate being the project I started for NaNoWriMo 2021 as it’s the one I like best so far. Through the years, I’ve abandoned many a writing idea. Having a complete fist draft is possibly my biggest goal for the year.

What are your goals or resolutions for the year?

Share your TTT in the comments.

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52 Responses

  1. Lydia says:

    These are all excellent goals! I’m cheering you on as you try to accomplish them. 🙂

    My post: https://lydiaschoch.com/top-ten-tuesday-2021-releases-i-was-excited-to-read-but-didnt-get-to/

  2. Good luck with all of your goals! Re-reading more is one of my goals for 2022 too 🙂

  3. Jenni Elyse says:

    Excellent goals! I’ve also had a reading goal ever since 2011. I’ve thought about not doing the challenge before, but I need it to motivate me. I hope you have another great reading year! Thanks for stopping by my blog!

    • stefi says:

      I understanding the need to aim for a number, but realistically can’t up the number any higher myself so one book seemed a reasonable solution. Good luck to you Jenni!

  4. Cindy Davis says:

    Good luck with all your goals. Unhauling books is a great idea and one I am working on this year as well. Happy reading! https://cindysbookcorner.blogspot.com/2022/01/top-ten-tuesday-2021-releases-i-still.html

  5. Great resolutions. And if you add re-reading the books featured on your picture, all the better!

  6. Good luck with all your goals!

  7. Greg says:

    I love re- reading but don’t so much anymore. I want to do more with Netgalley also.

  8. Some of these could be my goals too. 🙂 I want to work on my graphic novel TBR pile that’s collecting dust by my bedside. And I really need to work on keeping up with book reviews. I still have a backlog from this past year I am working on. My Goodreads goal is 12 books, two more than I aimed for last year. It’s kind of a running joke though because I know I will reach my goal early in the year. I wish you the best with all your goals. They seem very reasonable!

    • stefi says:

      I don’t think I’ll ever catch up with my backlog, but I’d happy with posting more reviews than I usually do at least. And I like your goal approach.

  9. These are some really great goals! You’ve got this!

  10. Missy says:

    I applaud you for not doing the Goodreads challenge this year! Setting it as 1 and done is really the way to go, good for you!

    These are some great goals! Good luck to you in 2022~

  11. I like the goal of 1 for Goodreads. I always set mine to 50 knowing that I read more than that. Reading shouldn’t be stressful.

  12. Kami Furr says:

    Great goals! Good luck and I hope you achieve them!

  13. Good luck with all of your goals!

  14. I wish you all the best with your goals! I can relate all too well with your reasoning behind not doing book reviews, as well as struggling with your review voice. I also need to finish a first draft… that was one of my goals for last year, but then I didn’t even do NaNoWriMo when it came around due to lack of time. Can’t wait to see how 2022 goes!

  15. Cathy says:

    I nodded my head a lot when reading your resolutions. Especially catching up with the Netgalley backlog is something I already failed in last year.

    Online bookfriends is always a good plan! And resolutions… maybe this one: https://cathysreadingbonanza.wordpress.com/2022/01/03/new-year-new-opportunities/

    But I tried very hard not to make to many of those for this year. I want to do more spontaneous mood reading, work on that Netgalley shelf and on my TBR pile of owned books.

  16. These are great goals! Best of luck on all of them, but especially finishing up the NaNo project! Thanks for visiting my TTT earlier.

  17. bookertalk says:

    If I were writing goals for this year, a lot of what you have identified could have been in my plans too. I don’t read anywhere as many books as you do, but I’m still well behind with reviews.

    You mention that you’d like to build some friendships. What I’d suggest is to find say 6 bloggers you think have things in common with you (eg the kind of books you read, the authors you love) and make a conscious effort to engage with them. Comment on their blogs, their Twitter feeds, IG feed for example. Maybe suggest doing a project with them like a Readalong. Easier to build a relationship when you focus on a narrow group than trying to be everywhere. You can then add another 6 bloggers after a few months and grow your circle…..

    • stefi says:

      Thanks a fantastic suggestion actually. I was a bit a bit all over the place with that last year, a more focused approach would definitely be helpful. Thank you!!

  18. Angie says:

    Those are some great goals! Interacting more is one of my goals for the year too. Well, it’s a goal every year and I always suck at it. 😛

  19. Wendy says:

    Those are great goals. I’m also going to try 4. Catch up with NetGalley and request less books!

  20. Book Admirer says:

    Great goals! I am trying to up my blogging game. And that goes for social media as well. I just opened an Instagram this year and I’m loving it. Good luck on reaching 3,000 follower!

  21. Jane says:

    What admirable goals! I love rereading my favorite books and seem to read several each year. And I am also aspiring to catch up on book reviews — it’s a tough task sometimes. Haha. Times and seasons for blogging — that’s what I remind myself 🙂 Thanks for stopping by my TTT earlier!

    Wishing you all the best with these goals!

  22. These are such great goals; some of them are definitely things that I aim to do this year as well. Just followed you on Instagram, so that brings you one step closer to that goal!

  23. These all sound like great goals. I also realized I wasn’t following you on Instagram so I am now. 🙂

  24. I relate so much to #3! These are great goals.

  25. Rissi JC says:

    You have some great goals here, Stefani. I always want to engage more and despite all of my good intentions I seem to fail. Probably my fault for watching too many TV shows. 😉 Thanks so much for visiting Finding Wonderland on this week, and all the best with your goals!

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