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Five Bookish Goals
1. Read 150 books. I'm doing the Goodreads Reading Challenge this year and this is what I set it as. I have high expectations, possibly too high, that I'll read a lot this year, even more than my challenge. I have to remind myself that many changes are happening for me this year so I shouldn't be too hopeful.
2. Keep track of a book log. I've thought about it on and off, but I'm finally doing it. I want to jot down everything I read this year in a log so that when I do the End of Year Book Survey for 2014, I'll be absolutely prepared. Also, it'll be fun to see.
3. Attend events (like BEA). BEA would be a dream come true, but I don't know if I'll be able to afford the hotel. Airfare, registration, food...no problem. Expensive NYC lodging? Challenging. If anyone knows of anything, let me know! Otherwise, I'd love to go to other book signings and author meets.
- 3.5. See bookish friends. If BEA fails (or even if it doesn't), I'd love to see more bloggy friends since I've met a total of one. I want to meet you all!
4. Blog changes. I'm considering quite a few things. One of which is my design. I'm thinking about changing it so, once again, if anyone knows someone or you have a designing talent, let me know! Also, check back Thursday because another blog change is happening then too.
5. Review quicker and/or take more notes. Right now, I'm taking pictures of pages that I'm reading that I want to remember for examples or for quotes for annoyances, for swooning moments, or for funny ones. But I need to be better at writing things down and already constructing my review in my head. While that's getting progress, reviewing has been slumping. I wait for the review to start formulating in my head, but then I procrastinate or think I have no time. It needs to stop.
Five Non-Bookish Goals
1. Run a 5k. I've talked about it some on Twitter and on here before, but I'm on a basketball team. We're forced to run the devil's intervals three times a week. I call it the devil's intervals because even though running is synonymous with torture, there are varying degrees of horrible and this is the worst. With that said, I've always wanted to join a marathon. I've run a 5k before at home, but I'd like to do any kind of marathon officially.
2. Sleep better. This sounds like an old person's goal or a corny one at least, but I'm serious. I tend to go to bed late because of distractions or I stayed up just because I could. Then when I have a good book, I stay up even later. My mood, my appetite, my attitude, my relationships, my body...it's all affected. Once I go to bed earlier, I'll hopefully get a higher quality of sleep.
3. Worry less. My family will have a good time reading this one. I worry a lot. I'm probably the best worrier I know, which causes reason to worry (see?), but I worry and panic and grow anxious over many things. With graduation coming up, friendship problems, family changes, blog happenings, basketball anxiety, college freak-outs...my worrying in 2014 will have reason to kick into full gear, but I don't want that to happen. Since I've been half-trying to do this my whole life, I'll fully try now and probably continue to do so forever.
4. Smile more. Ugh, smiling. I honestly think it hurts my jaw. I smile when I want to, you know? But when out in public, I should really make the effort and smile, even when the person is annoying or rude.
5. Journal. I used to write in my journal a lot in the elementary and middle school years, but that started to wane in high school. I received a pretty Paris journal from my mom a year or two ago and was determined to keep up with it, but I seem to forget about it until I'm in bed and worn out. But I want to remember this year and my life, the good and the bad.
What are your 2014 goals?
All of your goals are fantastic. Good luck reading 150 books - that number seems like a challenge, but you can totally do it. Blog changes can be scary, but are often worth it, and I'm excited to see everything new you decide to do.
ReplyDeleteYour personal goals are all things I need to do too, especially worrying less. Although you definitely have every right to worry - and you should, a little! - we generally end up worrying more than necessary and giving ourselves ulcers. Which is not good. I think all of your other personal goals will help you achieve that one, so it sounds like you're on track for a less stressed life. :)
I just looked over my list again and realized that I better not let my first bookish goal (reading 150 books) interfere with my worrying less, haha! Thanks, Emily, I hope so.
DeleteOh, Sunny, I love all your goals, bookish or not! It is fun having a book log and it gives you a sense of accomplishment at the end of the year. I hope you do make time for that! I'd love to go to BEA, too, but it's not in the cards for me this year, unfortunately. Maybe next year...and maybe I can meet you then! That would be awesome! :) I could definitely work on the sleeping better thing, too. :P I get like 4-5 hours a night. If that. :( I did my first 5k last year...it was a lot of fun because it was the Color Run, where they shower you with pigment at different stops along the way, and everyone looks like a freakin' rainbow by the end. :) Good luck with all your goals, Sunny. I know you can do it!
ReplyDeleteI remember asking you for an example last year, but I never got the hang of it and I already started one this year so woo! YES PLEASE. There you go, if I don't go this year, next year will be a time to look forward to so I can meet you. Oh man, 4-5 hours a night? I'd be dead. Or napping every afternoon. I wanted to do the color run! It sounds really fun. Thanks, Jen!
DeleteThese are great goals, Sunny! I'm a worrier too so we can work on that together.BEA would be fantastic and I hope you make it happen! And ooh a book log- great idea! I've been wanting to put together a spreadsheet for that purpose too so if you find something that works great for you let me know.
ReplyDeleteHappy reading and rock those resolutions!
We should start a Worry Club or a Worriers Anonymous, some place for people to work on their worrying together! In a non-competitive way though because then I think we would worry that we're falling behind the others ;) I've been using Numbers, which is on my mac desktop. It can be on laptops as well. It's very handy!
DeleteThese are great goals. I particularly love the one about the 5K. I run often, but I've never run for distance and never an organized 5K, but I think I could probably do it. I usually pick an album or playlist out and run for the length of the music. (Or if I'm running inside on the treadmill, sometimes I'll read my Kindle while I'm running so I'll run according to chapters, which is weird I know.) So for me, I run for time I guess, not distance. I push myself until the music stops and then I stop. And I am often surprised how far I've gone.
ReplyDeleteI think running a 5K would be fun in the future for me as well. Great goal. All of them, really. Love this list.
That's a great strategy! I've never done that for a playlist before, but I'll try that now!
DeleteI hope you do it :) We could be distanced-5k buddies :)
YES to writing quicker reviews! and I also snap pictures too because I am too lazy to copy everything down:) I haven't set my 2014 GR reading goal yet--last year was 155 and I don't think I'll go that high this year, but I definitely wish you luck in yours, Sunny:)
ReplyDeleteI don't always have paper near, but I do have my phone! Thank you, Heather!
DeleteAttending bookish events is one thing that I would love to do more this year too. I just wish more of them happened near where I live. Running a 5k! Good luck! Worry Less! Um, that's a thing I definitely need to work on this year too. I worry about EVERYTHING. Even if it's pointless for me to worry I about it, I will. :( That's a thing we can work on together! :) Good luck with everything on your list, Sunny! You have a lot of great goals this year! :)
ReplyDeleteI KNOW. Ugh, where do you live? Worry buddies unite!
DeleteI'm from Florida! It seems like authors I'm interested in are rarely doing events where I live. And yes! Worry buddies! :)
DeleteI would love to be able to sleep more, and I would love to attend a book event. I don't think I could handle BEA just yet, (introvert!), but I would love to try a signing or something. 150 books is an awesome reading goal! Good luck!
ReplyDeleteDefinitely a signing then :) I tend to blubber or freeze in awe, but it's worth it!
DeleteLovely goals!! It's always important to get as much sleep as you can. I do pretty well with that just because I NEED it. I'm like an old lady. haha
ReplyDeleteI want to try and keep a list of everything I read this year too. I used to write it down on a piece of paper, so I should do that or grab an empty journal and keep my list there.
-Lauren
Oh, I need it as well, but I don't always give myself it! It's horrible. I need to take better care of my body.
DeleteAttending BEA is definitely on my wish list, but it's not realistic this year :( I hope you can go or at least meet blogging friends! Changing your design is so much fun. If you don't have much money (and if you have it also :p) I definitely recommend http://visualesque.blogspot.nl/ She is a lovely blogger and her designs are gorgeous!
ReplyDeleteAw, yeah, I'm probably going to be the same. Ooh, thank you for the recommendation!
DeleteI like your thoughts about reviewing more quickly. I sometimes sit down to write reviews and can't remember all of the things I wanted to say...
ReplyDeleteGood luck with your 2014 goals!
YES. And I leave those pictures on my phone and I forget WHY. Thanks!
DeleteI love the idea of taking pictures of parts of books you want to remember. That is genius! I'm a slow reviewer too (but working on it) so that whole picture idea could really help me. :)
ReplyDeleteAnd good luck with your non-bookish goals. Sleep is the best. I should probably make time for that in my life too.
I recommend it! The only thing is that it uses up phone space and you need to make sure to take a clear picture. Sometimes I do forget why I did that, but usually I remember. And I make sure to put the page number in there!
DeleteThank you!
ReplyDeleteGood luck with your reading goal! I'm shooting for 100 this year, like I did last. Except this time, I hope I achieve the goal (I failed drastically in 2013). And I'm hoping to go to BEA too! I'm going to start planning everything out soon, hopefully. Hope you get the chance to go!
ReplyDeleteHow many did you do in 2013? Or too painful to speak of it? Oh, I hope you talk about your plans, I'm excited to hear about them. Thank you!
DeleteThe book log sounds like it would be really helpful for the end of year survey. I thought about doing that survey this year, but it was too complicated for me, LOL.
ReplyDeleteYes! That's the main reason why I'm doing it :)
DeleteThese are great goals. I'm going to start training to run another 5K next Monday. I ran 3 5Ks in 2012 and enjoyed them so much. Then I quit running. I have recently started up again on and off. I'm going to start hard core training next Monday and hopefully will run my 4th 5K in May to support my hospital's cancer institution.
ReplyDeleteMy TTT: http://rachaelc94.blogspot.com/2014/01/top-ten-goals-for-2014.html
Wow, you go, Rachael!
DeleteI love your bookish goals! Using a book log is a GREAT idea. I need to implement something like that. I track everything on goodreads, but having a list where I track whether it was a debut, what type of book and whether I wrote a review would really help me out a lot. Note taking is also something I need to work on, as is writing reviews quicker. It takes me HOURS. I'd love to see you at BEA, but I understand all the expenses. I'm very worried how I'm going to pull it off again this year. Would love to see you this year! Wonderful non bookish goals too. I hate running, but it's so good for you and a 5k is a great accomplishment. and SLEEP I need more of that always. Hope you meet all of your goals this year! Happy reading and life living.
ReplyDeleteSo are you definitely going?! I'd love to too! Ugh, money.
DeleteSleeping better is definitely a good goal...that's something I need to work on, too. I've had pretty bad insomnia ever since I was a little kid, but I really want to try to conquer it eventually. I've been trying to go to bed earlier and wake up earlier the past couple of weeks and sometimes it works. I tried going on this medication for it, but it didn't really help. I want to try to talk to my doctor and see if I can try something else.
ReplyDeleteOh man, that's rough. Hope you get sleep!
DeleteYou're so funny, Sunny. I'm sure you'll have a great 2014! I've never attended BEA, but I know some bloggers will share a room and expenses. I hope you get to go.
ReplyDeleteWell, thank you, Christy ;) Oh, who who who?
DeleteWell, I know that bloggers have done that in the past, but can't remember who. Start putting it out on twitter about wanting to go and open to sharing a room. I remember 3-4 shared a room, and some others shared with multiple people last year. I wish I could remember who. I can ask around if you want.
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