2022 Resolutions and Goals: Reading, Writing, Bookstagram & More
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.
- 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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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/
These are some great reading goals, and I totally get struggling to find/figure out your voice as a reviewer, I feel the same way.
http://bookishyarn.ca/2022/01/18/top-ten-tuesday-thrillers-i-didnt-get-to/
Thanks a million Lucy!
Thanks Lydia!
Good luck with all of your goals! Re-reading more is one of my goals for 2022 too 🙂
I always make it a goal but it somehow never happens, determined to change that this year. Good luck to you Lindsay.
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!
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!
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
Let’s support each other in achieving that goal, good luck Cindy!
Great resolutions. And if you add re-reading the books featured on your picture, all the better!
Heheh 😀 Thanks Emma
Good luck with all of these!
My TTT: https://jjbookblog.wordpress.com/2022/01/18/top-ten-tuesday-351/
Thanks Jo
Good luck with all your goals!
Thanks Bree
I love re- reading but don’t so much anymore. I want to do more with Netgalley also.
I know the feeling…..so many books so little time, right? Good luck with your goals Greg
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!
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.
These are some really great goals! You’ve got this!
Thanks for the support Leah!
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~
Thanks for your support Missy, good luck to you too!
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.
50 is a good number. Good luck Jennifer.
Great goals! Good luck and I hope you achieve them!
Thank you Kami!
Good luck with all of your goals!
Thank you!
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!
Sounds like we have a lot of goals in common for this year. Good luck Hollie!
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.
Seems like a reasonable list of goals, I’m cheering for you Cathy!
These are great goals! Best of luck on all of them, but especially finishing up the NaNo project! Thanks for visiting my TTT earlier.
Many thanks Nicole
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…..
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!!
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. 😛
I feel you on that goal. Hopefully we’ll do better this year. Good luck Angie!
Those are great goals. I’m also going to try 4. Catch up with NetGalley and request less books!
We’re in the same boat Wendy, good luck to us both!
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!
Thanks for visiting! Happy to give your bookstagram account a follow if you drop your username in a comment.
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!
Nicely put: times and seasons for blogging. Good luck with your goals Jane!
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!
Thanks for the follow and supporting my goals! 😀
These all sound like great goals. I also realized I wasn’t following you on Instagram so I am now. 🙂
Ah, thanks Suzanne! 😀
I relate so much to #3! These are great goals.
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!