Reading Goals

One of my goals for 2018 is to start reading more.

I used to be obsessed with reading when I was younger. It started when I was 8 years old. We had just moved to Canada from the Philippines. My English was good but not fluent. I was given books to read, and I found that I absolutely loved getting into a good story. My siblings and I got library cards and that was that. 

I didn't keep track of the books I was reading until I was in high school and I discovered goodreads. (It became my favourite website throughout high school!) I don't know exactly how many books I read in public school... but it was a lot. I always had a book going. I also didn't learn book snobbery until high school. I just read whatever I got my hands on. Books that were in the school library, books that my grandma/great-grandma gave me, books recommended to me from the public library.

In high school I expanded some of my reading territory into that of the classics... Pride and Prejudice, I think, was the one that started my love for books set in the Regency/Victorian era. Once I got through P&P I found it was easier to get through the older books. You get used to the language and style.

I remained introverted throughout high school. Plus, I didn't have a phone. So during quiet moments, and lunch breaks, I read. All the time. One year I tracked every single book I managed to read and the number I ended with was 112. (I know people who read 300 books... I'm not that fast of a reader. When I read I savour every word.)

However, once I started college classes, I stopped reading so much... Life just got more complicated and busy. I also struggled with depression and anxiety... I would have times when I would read a lot, but also times when I didn't read at all for weeks or months at a time.

Now I am done with college courses (for now, at least) and I'm working. It's still hard to get into a book. Though these days I do have plenty of time to read, I also have plenty of other distractions... Number 1 being my phone. -__- That's one of my biggest distractions these days. I would sit down to read a chapter or two, but end up picking up my phone and scrolling for hours. I think everyone can relate. 

So here is my reading goal for 2018:

In January I challenge myself to reading 52 books. Which equals roughly 1 book a week.

- Have I been meeting this? Nope. I'm 8 books behind.

- Can I catch up? I will try. It would be terrific if I CAN catch up and go beyond.

I will lower the number though to 40 and see what happens.

Next post coming up: What I've been reading lately.