Reading challenges & Resolutions

As we approach the last week of the year, we begin to wonder if it’s worth tackling the last few resolutions unaccounted for. Read-a-thons and reading challenges appear to be the only solution as we frantically plan our reading goals, trackers, and start our new bullet journals, as this year might actually be the one!

Vision boards, manifesting techniques, and photos of perfectly filled-in notebooks flood our feeds, urging us to cross off that last goal. As we encounter this pressure everywhere, we ask: should we push through and finish the year on a high note, or slow down and savor the final days?

Personally, I’ll be waiting for the 2026 Goodreads reading challenge color change as if it were my own personal New Year’s Eve countdown, giving myself a few more days to reflect and be. This year has definitely been the most challenging for my reading goals, but I’ve gained something valuable: a rediscovery of how I used to read as a child. Fully immersed, not concerned with tracking progress or worrying about how others perceive my reading habits. I’ve returned to reading for the joy of it again, letting books settle in my mind rather than rushing to assign ratings or meet some arbitrary goal.

That said, I set myself a challenge this year to read 25 books in 2025, a modest goal by some standards. But life, as it often does, got in the way, and I didn’t quite reach it.

Will I be raising the bar for next year’s challenge? Absolutely. Do I think I’ll read more next year? I do, especially with this platform behind me.

Reflecting on My Reading Journey: Who Am I in This Space?

If you’ve just discovered my blog, welcome! I write book reviews, share thoughts on reading culture, and sometimes post personal reflections about my reading and writing process. Lately, it’s been more about the lack of process.

I started this blog earlier this year with the intention of creating a place for my reviews and literary opinions. However, it’s also become a space where I’ve been able to reconnect with writing itself. This community has helped me rediscover my style, one that got lost when life started taking over. I’m so grateful for this space and for the readers who continue to support it.

As I look ahead to 2026, I still haven’t decided what my reading goal will be. However, I’m excited about what this blog will continue to become, and I look forward to what the new year holds.

What about your reading challenge?

I’ve been thinking a lot about my own reading habits this year, and I’m curious: how did you approach your reading goals? Did you manage to meet them, or did life shift your focus elsewhere?

I’d love to hear how your reading habits have evolved over the year and how you feel about tracking progress. Do you still rate your books, or do you prefer to let the experience of reading linger without needing a score?

Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments. How have your reading goals changed over time? What’s next for your reading journey in 2026?