Showing posts with label Bookish Lifestyle. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Bookish Lifestyle. Show all posts

How to Set Cozy and Calm Reading Goals for 2025

Saturday, 28 December 2024 Birmingham, UK





Hello, and I hope you all had a lovely Christmas time. 

I spent Christmas prioritising self care, relaxation and calm time as I find this time of the year overwhelming emotionally. 

However, we've now got the thoughts of finishing our TBRs before midnight strikes on NYE, and planning to open a new book, turn a fresh page, start chapter 1 come January 1st. So, naturally a lot of us will be thinking about our reading goals for 2025, and I'm sharing my top tips to ensure we spend 2025 enjoying every page we turn, rather than getting burnt out or losing our reading mojo 😳  


As I said, as a new year begins, many of us feel the urge to set ambitious goals, but when it comes to reading, why not prioritize joy and relaxation? Setting cozy and calm reading goals for 2025 is about creating space for stories that nourish your soul, spark inspiration, and fit seamlessly into your lifestyle. This guide will help you craft reading goals that feel manageable, fulfilling, and perfectly tailored to your preferences.



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1. Reflect on Your 2024 Reading Year


Before setting goals for 2025, take time to evaluate your reading habits from the past year.


What did you enjoy most? Think about the books, genres, or themes that brought you joy.


What didn’t work? Consider the reading challenges or expectations that felt overwhelming or unachievable.


What did you wish you had more of? Identify the gaps, whether it’s exploring new genres, reading more diverse authors, or simply carving out more time to read.



Why It Matters: Reflection helps you understand your preferences and ensures your 2025 goals align with what truly makes you happy.



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2. Prioritize Quality Over Quantity


Instead of focusing on how many books you’ll read, consider the experience of reading.


Set a smaller goal: Instead of committing to 100 books, aim for 25–50 thoughtfully chosen titles.


Embrace slow reading: Allow yourself to savor each story without the pressure of rushing to meet a target.


Focus on meaningful reads: Choose books that align with your interests, values, or long-term reading aspirations.



Cozy Tip: Select one or two long classics or literary works that you can read slowly throughout the year.



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3. Create a Cozy Reading Atmosphere


Your reading goals should feel like an indulgent escape rather than another task on your to-do list.


Build a reading sanctuary: Invest in comfortable seating, soft lighting, and warm blankets.


Pair books with ambiance: Light a candle, brew your favorite tea, or play soft background music to set the mood.



Why It Matters: A cozy environment enhances the reading experience, making it easier to stick to your goals.



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4. Embrace Themed or Seasonal Reading


Create goals that align with your moods and the seasons.


Winter: Cozy mysteries, heartwarming romances, or atmospheric classics.


Spring: Uplifting contemporary fiction or stories of growth and renewal.


Summer: Beach reads, fast-paced thrillers, or adventurous fantasy.


Fall: Dark academia, psychological thrillers, or historical fiction.



How to Start: Plan a seasonal TBR (To Be Read) list with 5–10 books that fit the theme for each quarter.



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5. Incorporate New Genres or Authors


Step out of your comfort zone by exploring unfamiliar territory.


Try one new genre per quarter: If you usually read romance, consider trying historical fiction or sci-fi.


Diversify your bookshelf: Include books by authors from different cultures, backgrounds, and perspectives.



Why It Matters: Trying new genres keeps your reading fresh and introduces you to stories you might never have discovered otherwise.



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6. Set “Time-Based” Goals Instead of Numbers


If tracking the number of books feels stressful, focus on the time you spend reading.


Daily reading habit: Aim for 20–30 minutes of reading per day.


Weekend reading ritual: Dedicate Sunday mornings or evenings to uninterrupted reading time.



Why It Works: A time-based approach emphasizes consistency and enjoyment rather than productivity.



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7. Mix Formats to Match Your Lifestyle


Don’t limit yourself to just print books—embrace audiobooks, eBooks, and graphic novels.


Audiobooks: Perfect for multitasking during chores, commutes, or workouts.


eBooks: Convenient for travel or reading on the go.


Graphic novels: A quick and visually engaging way to add variety to your reading list.



Why It Matters: Multiple formats make it easier to fit reading into your daily routine, no matter how busy you are.



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8. Track Your Reading Progress Mindfully


Choose a tracking system that feels fun and motivating.


Physical journal: Create a beautiful reading log with notes, favorite quotes, and reflections.


Apps and websites: Use tools like Goodreads or The StoryGraph to track your progress and discover new recommendations.


Visual tracker: Try a book bingo or create a colorful bookshelf tracker to fill in as you complete books.



Cozy Tip: Focus on celebrating milestones rather than obsessing over unfinished goals.



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9. Join a Reading Community or Challenge


Enhance your reading journey by connecting with others.


Book clubs: Join a local or virtual group to discuss books and share recommendations.


Reading challenges: Participate in challenges like the Popsugar Reading Challenge or themed Instagram prompts.



Why It Works: A sense of community adds motivation and fun to your reading goals.



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10. Give Yourself Permission to Adjust


Life happens, and your goals should be flexible enough to adapt to changes.


Reassess quarterly: Check in with your progress and adjust your goals as needed.


Abandon guilt: If a book isn’t working for you, set it aside without regret.



Why It Matters: Reading should always feel like a joy, not a chore.



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Final Thoughts


Setting cozy and calm reading goals for 2025 is about embracing the joy of storytelling in a way that feels meaningful and sustainable. By focusing on quality, creating a warm reading environment, and incorporating flexibility, you can make reading one of the most fulfilling parts of your year.


What are your reading goals for 2025? Do you have a favourite tip from this list? Share your thoughts in the comments—I’d love to hear how you’re planning your reading year!


Happy Reading,

– Dawn-Tracie xoxo


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How to Set Cozy and Calm Reading Goals for 2025

Bookish Lifestyle | New Year, New Book Goals

Thursday, 10 January 2019

Hey there lovely, 

 Happy New Year! 

 It's a new year so that means it's time to set and share my bookish goals with you all. Last year wasn't a good year for this little blog because it got seriously neglected, books and publishers got let down because I simply didn't have the time to read books due to my heavy schedule of completing my degree, my specialist support teacher qualification and the heavy stress I *was* under at work. I say *was* because until I find a new place of employment I doubt that stress is ever going to fully go away unfortunately. Anyway, let's talk about books goals! 


Last year I didn't read as many books as I wanted to and actually lowered my goal not once but twice! I feel deeply ashamed and saddened that in the entire of 2018 I managed 10 posts on here. 10!!! Like what kind of joke is that?! I have to say that deeply disappointed me the most. But you guys and gals!! You!! Oh my gosh you are simply the best blog readers in the world because despite only published 10 posts - you kept coming back and you read the posts and you helped this blog grow past 32,000!!! I am eternally grateful to you! So what does 2019 have in store? 
Books, Blogs + 2019 Goals! 
  • Read 60 books (documented on Goodreads - A Page of Fictional Love, come over and be my friend!) 
  • Blog at least 1-2 times a week 
  • Have a minimum of 52 posts in this blog by the end of December 2019 
  • Write more Bookish Lifestyle posts on here 
  • Grow the blog to 50,000 (from 32,200 as at 1.1.19)
  • Allow more 2 + 3 star reviews on this blog 
  • Host giveaways bi-monthly 
  • Do regular facebook audio lives where we hang out and chat about books
  • Record Audio reviews of books I've read + post them to my facebook page (A Page of Fictional Love) 
  • Open the blog to guest bloggers to support the book community - not limited to bloggers but READERS of books from all over! 
  • Get back into the good books of publishers (seriously I feel so guilty for my lack of reviewing last year!) 
  • Grow my instagram (A Page of Fictional Love) to 1500+ 

I do have a few more secret goals that I'm working on behind the scenes but I want them to be a surprise for you so I'm not going to share just yet. 

Have you set any book related goals this year? Tell me all about them in the comments below

Talk really soon lovely,
Love Dawn xxx 
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Bookish Lifestyle | New Year, New Book Goals

Bookish Lifestyle | 5 Ways To Overcome Book Hangover

Saturday, 20 October 2018



Having Book-Hangover is not something made up in the fictional world of books but is actually something very real that we book-Bloggers and general bookworms experience often - sometimes a little too often. 

So what actually is a book-hangover? 

A book hangover is in its most simplistic terms when we have finished reading an absolutely outstanding book that we couldn't put down, didn't want to finish or can't wait for the sequel too (or all of the above). It progresses into the actual 'book-hangover' when try as we might we simply cannot get into reading another book. Why does this happen? Well basically it's that feeling like when we are heartbroken when we're so sure that we'll NEVER experience a love like the one we've just lost... It's all wrong and our only chance of being happy is to have stayed with that person (NEWSFLASH!!! it's really not! I'm actual living proof that there is love after heartbreak - and it tends to be way better than you ever dreamed, hoped or wished for! And the same can be said for your next "current read". 

The problem of having a book-hangover

Mostly it's just really frustrating to not be able to read another book without thinking about the one we've just finished reading, especially as a book-blogger because reading books is what we do! We can only blog about books (largely) if we are in fact reading books! If we can't get into the zone of reading a book we'll it's not worth thinking about! It's like being a Baker and not being able to bake bread or cakes, or like being a builder and not able to actually build anything. 
Another problem with having Book-Hangover is the feeling of hopelessness. Being a blogger is about reaching out to others and sharing our thoughts, feelings, opinions, reactions and our lives with our readers and audience. When we reach that stage of feeling hopeless and full of despair it has a knock on effect to our confidence as a blogger (you know that feeling of being an imposter? - how can I say I'm a book blogger when im not blogging because I can't get into another book?! 😮 😭).

How can I overcome book-hangover?

Ahhh sorry to disappoint you but if I had the answer to that I'd be a millionaire - JOKING - I actually do have some tips for you that I've used and found to help me. 

> let yourself off the hook and take the pressure off of yourself to read straight away. Sure you might usually put one book down and legit pick up the next one (that you secretly started reading before you even finished the last one) but sometimes (again like dating) you actually need time away from books to process what just happened, to talk about it, blog about it, really get into conversation about the book. Allow yourself to take time to almost get fed up of thinking and talking about the book so that you literally leap at the chance of a shiny new book (although I KNOW the problems with book love that lasts forever: The Cruel Prince, A Court of Thorns and Roses, The Lunar Chronicles and more - more about how to deal with this in an upcoming post!) 

> find something else to do other than read. This is why I have a few hobbies so that when I get bored or experience hobby hangover or literally lack enthusiasm or creativity I can put one down and pick up the other. My hobbies include; crocheting, home decor/inspiration, blogging (lifestyle over at Our Country Home Comforts), books and spending time exploring new places with my handsome Mr R. I find that time away usually gives me breathing space and enough inspiration to reignite my passion for reading, blogging, crocheting and more! 

> try a different genre of book. Sometimes reading a book that isn't in the same genre as the one that's given you book hangover can really help. When I first started my book blog I focused on women's fiction and romance and whilst I absolutely adore those books (you can tell by my blog name - another upcoming post for you) sometimes I get book hangover really quickly and can't face reading another romance novel. When I discovered crime fiction by reading Angie Marsons' Silent Scream I entered a whole new world (totally just sang the Aladdin version of that song in my head) and its one that's stuck with me. I find reading crime fiction, or a good psychological thriller a great escape from romance and life in general. So if you usually read YA sci-fi, try a YA without the sci-fi element or try a adult contemporary, or if you usually read women's contemporary try a YA (I did and I loved it!) 

> Blog about related topics. So if you're a book blogger that's lost the mojo (do we still use that word?) for reading right now write about something related to books, or even open up to your audience about your book mojo having took a vacation without warning ⚠ It will make your blog more authentic to your readers and you more relatable. Remember some of the readers of your blog are inspired by you and you have a huge influence on them. Teenage girls (and boys) are more social than we were (if your in the 25-35 age bracket) and therefore it's important I feel that we show them the truth about adulting and blogging! Yes share the highs but think about sharing the lows too because maybe then we can break the stigma and shame about not being happy 24/7, stop comparing ourselves to others and embrace who we are flaws and all, and plus maybe we can reduce our own stress levels by allowing ourselves to be human and not robotic. 

> Read until you fall back in love with reading. Yep you can just push your way through the sludge of book hangover like having the "hair of the dog" - which by the way I have no idea if it works alcohol wise as I don't drink and neither does Mr R. Just read and keep reading until the hangover fades and eventually you'll find that you are enjoying another book! 


There's no easy way through book hangover, no pill to pop, no magic spell to recite or yoga pose to hold. You simply have to just find your own way through via trial and error and even after many years of doing just that you might have to shake things up and tweek them a little. But that's the joy of being alive right? And as a blogger we're totally used to adapting and changing with the times right? 

I hope these tips I've shared with you that have helped me and continue to help me, well I hope they inspire you to pick up your next great read.

If this post has helped you, inspired you to blog or read, and you have actually overcome your book hangover using these tips please come back and share in the comments and let me know! Also, please share this with your friends and bookish friends if you think they'd find it useful 🙏

Also if you have any great tips for overcoming book hangover feel free to share them in the comments below 👇 with the other readers. 

I hope your book hangover subsides soon if you're currently experiencing one, 

Speak soon lovely, 
Dawn-Tracy xxx


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Bookish Lifestyle | 5 Ways To Overcome Book Hangover

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