2019 is almost upon us so I thought I’d do a typical end-of-the-year post. Back in January I wrote a post about my reading and blogging resolutions and now I wanted to take a look at my goals and see if I’ve kept my word or not.
1. Start reading audiobooks ✔️
Did I do it? Yes!
How well did I do? ✔️✔️✔️✔️✔️/5
I not only started reading audiobooks early this year, it’s also become one of my favorite ways of reading books and I’ve become completely dependent on them to motivate myself to do my chores. I have a full post planned on audiobooks and what I’ve learned in the past year of listening to them so I hope that’s something you guys can look forward to.
2. Squeeze in some reading time whenever possible ✔️
Did I do it? Yes!
How well did I do? ✔️✔️✔️✔️/5
While sometimes I still waste time on twitter when I’m stuck on a tram or subway, I think I got much better at this, also thanks to the fact that I can sit most of the time instead of having to stand like I have to do when I’m on the bus in Italy.
3. Having more than one current read of different genres (but not too many) ✔️
Did I do it? Yes!
How well did I do? ✔️✔️✔️✔️.5/5
I’ve done much better at this than I thought possible for me. Sometimes I did have too many current reads going on but they were still all different genres and/or books for different occasions (like, books I can read while I’m on public transportation VS books I want to read when I’m home, anthologies VS novels….).
4. Manage my time better ❌
Did I do it? ……………..not really
How well did I do? ✔️.5/5
That…didn’t happen. This was more of a general goal than a purely bookish/blog goal and I’ve failed in all areas. The good (?) news is that I have started questioning whether all this (plus other stuff) comes from maybepossiblyperhaps being ADHD, something I want to work on figuring out in 2019.
5. Learn how to read faster❌
Did I do it? Not unless it’s audiobooks
How well did I do? ✔️✔️/5
The only thing I’ve learned how to do is listening to audiobooks at 1.5x to 2x speed, which makes it incredibly faster than I would on my own. I still can’t read faster than I do when I read myself, the only thing I feel like I’ve learned a bit is how to skim more effectively when a book or scene doesn’t interest me, but that’s not something I’m willing to do with books I’m loving. I’ve also learned to be okay with the fact that in order to enjoy a book I need to go to my own pace so that’s okay.
6. Write one discussion post every month ❌
Did I do it? nah
How well did I do? ✔️/5
I only did this in the early months of 2018. Life happened in more ways than one so I haven’t been able to keep up with this but I don’t feel bad about it.
7. Post mini reviews ✔️
Did I do it? yes!
How well did I do? ✔️✔️✔️✔️/5
I still don’t cross-post all the mini reviews I write on GR here, but that’s just because I’m lazy and forgetful. I love reading others’ mini reviews and I want to keep posting my own here even if they’re written in more of a tumblr style (btw, RIP tumblr). I just don’t want to pretend to be a type of blogger I’m not when it’s too easy to find my goodreads/twitter personality if you click a few links on my blog’s side bar.
8. Read my ARCs diligently and only request ARCs if I’m 100% interested in them ❌
Did I do it? uhh,,
How well did I do? ✔️✔️/5
Ahahahahahahahahaahahahahahaahahahahahahaahahahahahah
9. Read one German book a month ❌
Did I do it? big sigh
How well did I do? ✔️/5
I read one German book……………………….a year………………………………………………………..
I don’t want to make anyone feel good or bad about themselves in this post, least of all myself. I just thought this was the only way I could look back at 2018 in a productive way instead of just thinking about all the good and bad stuff that’s happened.
Whether you’ve set goals for this past year and achieved them or not, I’m proud of you and I know you’ve done your best, and you’re allowed to feel everything you’re feeling about your goals. ❤️🧡💛💚💙💜