Why I’m Pulling Back On My 2021 Reading Goal

And why you should consider it as well

2020 was one of the worst years of my life.

I type that not to get sympathy or platitudes. It’s a logical statement, measured and compared. There was a lot of factors at play. It was a pandemic. It was politics and the United States falling apart. Because of my job, I moved across the world and found myself further isolated from family and the familiar. I also experienced the sudden death of a loved one, which compounded each issue significantly.

But we soldier on. I found time to do the things I love: writing, video games, and of course, reading. At the start of the year, I set up my annual tradition. Any reader worth their grain of salt does the same thing: I’m, of course, referring to the Goodreads Reading Challenge. I’ve been doing the reading challenge since 2017 and have always had success.

But lately, I’ve had a change of heart. The year that was 2020 has made me realize something.

It’s time to take a step back.

Advice from the King

“If you want to be a writer, you must do two things above all others: read a lot and write a lot. There’s no way around these two things that I’m aware of, no shortcut.”

This is a powerful Stephen King quote and a reminder of the importance of reading. As a writer, I take this very seriously. When I started the reading challenge, it was a way to keep myself accountable. I started with the goal of 50 books in a year. I had a lot of downtime that year, so I stuck to that with ease. As time went on, I moved to 30 books a year, which has been the perfect number for me. It feels manageable while not breaking my back. 30 books a year equates out to about 2.5 books a month.

This reading challenge has brought me a lot of joy. I’ve discovered brilliant writers, expanded my horizons, and learned a lot as a writer along the way. I’m following Stephen King’s advice and growing as a creative. Even on the worst of days, it feels good to meet that goal.

Then 2020 happened.

The 2020 Reading Challenge

I struggled to hit my goal that year. And I wasn’t the only one. I work in a medical clinic, where I deal directly with COVID-19 contact tracing and reporting to various agencies. My ‘essential worker’ status brought 50+ hour work weeks. As the pandemic grew, my free time shrunk. Between exercise, TV time with my wife, and other commitments, I found it hard to sit down to read.

Every page started to feel like a challenge. This joyful thing had become a stressful activity. When I didn’t hit those 2.5 books in a month, I mentally kicked myself. Goodreads continued to remind me that I was behind, flaunting the number of books that it would take for me to catch up. It was an added stressor in the middle of a record-breaking trash year.

I hit my goal in the nick of time. 30 books read in 12 months. But I began to question if it was worth it. I started the goal because I love to read. I love to experience stories and challenge myself. I believe in the power of literature.

But what happens when I stop learning? What happens when this fun pastime becomes something else? When I can’t enjoy books, what’s the point? An obligation isn’t what I need. I have plenty of those in my life. I have thought about this a lot. Should I stop doing the Reading Challenge? I can certainly just read books and not aim for an arbitrary goal. Right?

A New Reading Challenge

I arrived at a compromise. I moved my 2021 Reading Challenge to 25 books. That’s just a hair more than two books a month. Not a major difference, but the adjustment gives me the breathing room to survive another pandemic year.

By the summer, COVID-19 will hopefully be back into its proverbial box. This isn’t necessarily a permanent change. Once my life is back in order, I can always adjust.

The Takeaway

I’m not alone in the stress and fear that the last 12 months have brought on. This is my challenge for others: examine your goals. Examine your feelings and gauge your stresses. This isn’t just about Reading Challenges.

As readers and creatives, we push ourselves to reach arbitrary goals and rely on inner strength and creativity to get there. But I think it’s okay to take a step back. Adjust your goals to save your mental health. If you’re still rolling fine, that’s amazing. If you’re adjusting like me, you’re still amazing. In the scheme of things, every step forward counts. Every action you take to be better is a triumph.

A universal truth: Go easy on yourself. It will make your life a lot better in the long run.