This Year’s Reading Resolutions
I read 64 books in 2022, which might be the most books I’ve ever read in a year. I managed it amidst one of the busiest, most pivotal years of my life so far and, honestly? It has taught me a lot. Not just through my reading material, but also in actively deciding I wanted to read at least 52 books in a year. I completely smashed my Goodreads Reading Challenge – bringing me endless joy! – and found plenty of incredible titles along the way.
In reading a huge amount of books around a full-time job, busy social life and running a small business, I learned that self-motivation is very much key. In order to read this volume of books, I set my beloved K-dramas to one side, watched minimal TV and played far fewer video games. Starting my bookstagram (@daisybutterbookcafe) was also instrumental in keeping me motivated and accountable to simply read more. So, in 2023, I’ll likely read less. I’m still aiming for a book a week, which is certainly achievable.
With all of that in mind, I’m setting a few reading resolutions to keep me on track yet refreshed…
Reread my past favourites
While I really enjoy having an indulgently expansive collection of books at home, I realised I rarely make best use of it. I cleared out my bookcases back in November, and it inspired me to shop my own shelves and reread some older books and past favourites. From the A Song of Ice and Fire series to my beloved The Overstory, I’m looking forward to revisiting some of my favourite stories and see what they bring me in 2023. Plus, I’m hoping it’ll mean I can share updated ‘reasons to read’ when friends ask me for recommendations, rather than my usual “I remember loving it… but I can’t remember why…”.
Commit to reading Wolf Hall
Yes, I’ve gone there. I’m naming an entire book as a reading resolution. In 2023, I’m committing to reading Wolf Hall again. Properly. I started (and stopped) it several times in 2020, and couldn’t get myself into it. I really want to read this much-loved book (then series), and I’m hoping that a more stable 2023 will allow me to do so.
Read more nature fiction and non-fiction
Many of my favourite books from 2022 were nature-themed, so I’m hoping to lean into this and pick up even more nature-y reads! Nature as a genre is what got me back into non-fiction, so perhaps this resolution will even spark my interest into reading more non-fiction overall.
Befriend the library again
I think I only visited our local library twice last year, as my job’s hours are long and mean I can’t quite get there during weekday opening hours. But! I’d love to make it a monthly habit again, to visit the library and borrow books to discover rather than adding to the towering stacks and heaving shelves at home. If I borrow a title I truly adore, then I’ll pick a copy up for my own archive.
Have you set any reading resolutions? And, more importantly, which books are you hoping to read this year?
