I love the start of a brand new year. My slate is wiped clean. Energy fills me. My dreams drive me. Abandoned projects nudge me. Honestly, I have high expectations for 2010. There’s so much that I want to do, but yet feel constrained by time (and things out of my control). What I quickly learned last year was I really was not as prepared as I thought I was. I was too reactive at time which left feeling feeling drained and so very taxed.
This year, I want to be more prepared, to have a plan. Yes, I know plans can be interrupted and/or changed, but at least I will be more equipped to handle these bumps this time. As 2009 rapidly came to a close, I started thinking what do I want to see in 2010. If no limits, obstacles, burdens were placed on me, what exactly do I want? What would be my successful outcomes?
Here’s what I want to accomplish in 2010 regarding my reading. (I hate using the word “resolution”. For some reason, I’m repelled to that word. It blocks me, paralyzes me and sets me for failure. So I no longer use it. I prefer projects or goals. These words are more achievable to me. They motivate me.)
2010 Reading Goals (Projects)
- Read 144 books in 2010. Why 144? Honestly, the number just popped into my head. Considering I read 102 books in 2009 and 115 books in 2008, this may seem to be a stretch. Or is it? How will I know unless I try?
- Write reviews for 80% of the books I read in 2010. I know as the year moves along, I may not want to write a review for a book. Last year I forced myself to write it anyway. Nope. Not this year. If I don’t want to write it, I won’t. (Of course, down the road, I may change my mind and write a review, which is acceptable.) Mini-reviews are permitted.
- Read at least 75 books from my shelves. This will probably be my biggest challenge this year. I love the library! I also like buying books. For some reason, I cannot balance the two so they fit comfortably together. Hopefully this year that will change.
- Complete 80% of the challenges I signed up for in 2010. Signing up for challenges is fun. Completing them is another thing. So, this year I’ve allowed some leeway. I’m a mood reader. My “moodiness” sometimes gets in the way of challenge reading. And I need to realize IT IS OKAY! No “challenge police” will come after me. Somewhere I lost the “funness” (my new word!) with challenges and allowed them to become a chore.
- Limit the number of library books I have checked out at one time. My second biggest challenge. As I mentioned earlier, I love the library. I have no discipline when checking out books. So you think I’d learn when I reach the renewal limit and have to return books unread. This will definitely be a year-long project I think. (Baby steps, right? It’s progress and not perfection.) My goal is to have a maximum of 5 books checked out at once. We’ll see how this goes. I think what will help me achieve this goal is to take full advantage of the library’s hold and suspend feature.
So, there you have it. My goals for 2010. I reserve the right to add to this list if my goals come to mind over the course of the year. We’ll see how I did when I do my yearly review.
(written on 01-02-10)
