Why make reading goals?

So you’ll read more, duh

Some people hate goals, but I love them. A goal is a challenge! A chance to succeed! Not every goal you ever set will be worth achieving, but reading goals always are, because reading is an active good and it genuinely makes you better, smarter, stronger (emotionally. And physically, if you’re reading an enormous Sci-fi/fantasy novel), and faster (at getting other tasks done so you can sit and read).

Here are ten reasons why you should set reading goals:

1. It will help you be more intentional about what you read. I like to keep a list of books I plan to read in the future and choose from the list for every new read. It feels like visiting a candy store.

2. This intentionality will inspire more variety! Have a goal but not sure what to read? You’ll be asking for recommendations, then reading things you wouldn’t have thought of yourself.

3. Goals motivate you to keep going. It’s fun to watch a number get bigger! I keep track of my yearly reads in my Instagram stories (and usually post in Notes about them), which gives a little fanfare to finishing a book, as well as helps me document each book’s impression on me.

4. In general, reading more will make you a more interesting person—if you follow numbers 1&2… I promise nothing if all you read is romantasy or self-help books.

5. Keeping track of your reading makes it easier to give book recommendations. Which everyone should be ready to do!

6. You will have an excuse to add more books to your personal library

7. OR visit the public library. Or both!

8. Your goals will haunt you every time you start doomscrolling. Just make sure you have a book ready near your favorite scrolling spot and it’ll be easy to break the shame cycle.

9. Other goals you have might be loftier or less realistic. Reading goals though? Flexible. Enjoyable. You’re in charge. Reading goals are an easy win!

10. Meeting your goals recaptures that sense of gratification and safety in the world you used to get from doing well in school. If you’re like me and you kinda miss tests with concrete answers, and excessive reading assignments, and professors who find your conclusions interesting—reading goals are for you.

My goal this year is to read 32 books. I’m a little over halfway there! So far, since starting a yearly reading-goal tradition, I haven’t officially met my goal numbers-wise. But the implied goal of reading more frequently and spending free time more intentionally? That I’ve certainly achieved.

One of our bookshelves at home. It has become much fuller since we acquired it last summer.

Do you set reading goals for yourself? Tell me in the comments! And please, I’d love to hear your favorite recommendations from your own booklists 👏🏼