7 Effective Reading Goals for the 2024 New Year

Ready to embark on your literary adventures? We live in a time where the world is bustling with distractions, taking away those precious moments where we could be curled up with a good book. Sounds blissful, huh? What if I told you that you could make that scenario happen?

Three words: New Year's Resolution. With 2024 right at our doorsteps, we both can take advantage of setting reading goals; the universe knows that I should. So as I pick up my pen and paper, I invite you to join me on this reading journey for the new year. I hope that these 7 effective reading goals for the 2024 new year rekindle a lost love for reading and establish a clear and achievable reading goal to gain a closer relationship with books. 

Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links. If you go through them to make a purchase I will earn a commission. I link these sources for the quality of the products and my positive experiences; not because of the commission. You are the ultimate decider, and whether or not you decide to buy something is completely up to you. 

1. Reflect on Your Reading Habits

Before diving into goal-setting, take a moment to reflect on your reading habits from the past year. What genres did you explore? How many books did you read? I was seriously devoted to ghost stories and mysteries the first half of last year because it was the genre I was writing for my thesis. By the time summer rolled around, I dove back into romance stories and another love for reading inflamed in me. I had forgotten how much I loved reading; I wasn’t doing it because I had to, it was because I wanted to. I wanted to live inside the character’s worlds, to experience everything they experienced. 

For this new year’s reading goal, understand what your past habits are so you know what goals are realistic for you. Reflect on what worked last year and what didn't will enable you to tailor your reading goals more effectively. For me, I think I am going to stick with the same genres I was obsessed over in 2023. I will continue in the romance, horror, and mystery side of books. 

For a look at what book got me back into the spirit of reading, check out my book review on Chloe and the Kasihao Boys.

2. Define Significant Objectives

Specificity is key when setting reading goals. Rather than stating a vague goal like "read more," or “finish the TBR pile,” (we all know finishing our TBR is near impossible), aim for more specific, significant targets. Think of it this way:

Quantity: Set a target number of books to read in the year. Be realistic based on your schedule and pace. Do your best not to overexceed yourself. I know it can be hard, I am guilty of taking on more than I can chew. But that is why we are here, to change our mindsets. If I am willing to hold onto a realistic target of books to read, join me in this new challenge, and let’s root each other on!

Genres: Explore new genres or aim to read a certain percentage of books outside your comfort zone. For me, this has to be science fiction & fantasy. I am not knocking it, it’s just not my comfort zone. So to add to my reading resolutions, I am going to list a few science fiction & fantasy books to my goals. 

Any suggestions?  Please share a comment below! I love getting book recommendations and I almost always finish reading it almost promptly…almost being the keyword.

Diversification: Plan to read books by authors from different backgrounds or nationalities to broaden your perspectives. I LOVE reading books by writers of color. Being one myself, I get a rush of energy when I see a Hispanic writer breaking through the cracks. I feel hopeful that one day that will be me. 

My bookshelf is filled with writers sharing their traditions and customs. Growing up, I only knew my own culture and rarely saw another person’s culture expressed or talked about. As I got older and went off to college, I saw the world as colorful and exciting. Now with more and more authors of color sharing their backgrounds, you bet I am filling up my shelves with their books! 

This is to say that there are plenty of books to choose from. If you ask me, I can give you a wide selection of books. Or can take a look at my Bookshop page for all the books I have on my shelf right now. 

Reading Time: Allocate a specific amount of time each day or week dedicated solely to reading. This is a toughy. Even I don’t have the confidence that I can make this happen. But little by little this month, I have been spending some time reading. With the holidays taking up so much of my time, I had to squeeze in a little bit of time to lock myself up and read. 

But here is a fun alternative, audiobooks! Another thing that takes up my time is driving. I’m from Southern California where it takes an hour to go 25 miles. I’m usually stuck in traffic watching other helpless drivers stop and go on the freeway WISHING we were at our destinations. So what I’ve been doing a lot this year is using my Audible. I’ve listened to 5 books this year and if I want to reach my reading goal, that number just might triple. 

So if you cannot find that spare time to crack open a book, pop in some headphones and play an audiobook instead. 

3. Make Your Goals Achievable

While aiming high is admirable, setting unattainable goals might lead to frustration and abandonment. If there is anything I relate to, it’s this. I am notorious for saying yes to everything and piling on my goals like it's a buffet. For you and me, start with manageable targets and gradually challenge yourself as you progress. It’s okay to adjust your goals throughout the year if necessary. Allow that flexibility in case there is ever a changing circumstance; like if there is a big event or you catch the flu and need bed rest. Give yourself a little leeway for any and all unexpected changes. 

4. Create a Reading List

Next step: compile a reading list that is aligned with your goals. Here is where you include diverse titles, genres, or authors you've been wanting to explore; books your favorite blogger or bookstagrammer or Booktoker have been raving about; and books on that TBR pile. For me, this will look like Jackal by Erin E. Adams, The Society for Soulless Girls by Laura Steven, and Happy Place by Emily Henry.

Here’s how to keep organized: have your list by priority, create themed monthly reading lists, or go by genre. This will help to keep yourself motivated and on track. But if you’re like me, I kind of go off by what mood I am in that day. No worries! This is what I’m going to do: for each month I am going to lay out 5 books of different genres, stories, and authors. Whichever mood I am in that week, I will pick up the correlating book. 

5. Utilize Reading Challenges and Tools

Engage with reading challenges or utilize reading tracking apps to enhance your reading journey. My cousin and his girlfriend gave me a reading tracker as a graduation gift and I’ve been waiting all year to finally use it for my 2024 reading goals. Catch me on Instagram jotting down my accomplishments, or basking in my sadness, whichever you find first.  

Platforms like Goodreads offer reading challenges where you can set a book count target and track your progress. These tools help provide a sense of community and accountability, motivating you to stay committed to your goals. Join me on Goodreads as I go through my reading challenge. For motivation, follow the Instagram page for needed boosts and daily reminders. 

This new year I am going to document my journey of reading 50 books from my reading challenge. Join me in this new adventure by signing up for my reading challenge and taking on the challenge with me!

6. Establish a Reading Routine

Consistency is key to achieving reading goals. Establishing a regular reading routine, whether it's early morning, during lunch breaks, or before bedtime, helps make reading a habit. Designate a cozy reading nook or incorporate reading into your daily rituals to make it an integral part of your day. In my case, I will always listen to an Audible if my commute is more than an hour long. If my boyfriend is playing video games, I will dedicate that alone time to reading. And if I am in a writing funk, I will read a book that inlines with my story. 

Yet, I know darn well that this routine might not happen all the time. Routines are not 100% consistent. Sometimes things change. You might be on vacation or studying for finals or stuck in a snowstorm! Whatever the case may be, life gets in the way. So before you dedicate a strict routine, remember that shit happens and it’s okay to divert from your goal. 

7. Review and Celebrate Progress

Finally, the last tip I am going to leave you with: bask in the glory! Regularly assess your progress and smile at your accomplishments. Celebrate milestones achieved, whether it's completing a certain number of books or exploring a new genre. Rewarding yourself for meeting milestones can reinforce the habit and keep you motivated throughout the year.

I already have this planned out. What I am going to do is for every finished book I am going to take some photos and share it on Instagram. Tagging the author and sharing my excitement for reading their books is a natural high for me. Going into each month, I am going to have mini rewards; for example, for every 5 books, I am going to treat myself to a coffee date. For every 10 books I finish, I am going to reward myself with a bookish gift. And if I ever manage to make it to 30 books and beyond, I am going to rearrange my bedroom to add another bookshelf. That’ll be the big ticket item. 

How are you feeling after this? A bit intense? It’s okay, I’m in the same boat. Setting reading goals for the new year can infuse your life with knowledge, imagination, and joy. By reflecting on your past reading experiences, defining clear and achievable objectives, and incorporating strategies like reading lists and routines, you'll embark on a fulfilling reading journey.

Remember, the essence of setting reading goals lies not just in the numbers but in the enrichment and delight derived from the stories, ideas, and worlds encountered along the way. Here's to a year brimming with literary discoveries and the fulfillment of your reading aspirations!

Don't forget to sign up for the 2024 Reading Challenge here!