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Reading and Real Life

by Shannon

Those of you who also check out my blog, Isle of Books, from time to time know that I read A LOT.

Except in recent weeks.

Even before I had a blog, I tried to set vague reading goals for myself (read as much as you can!). In 2011, I set a goal to read fifty books. I did it. In 2012, I set a goal of 100 books. I did it (by the skin of my teeth). So now that I’m working full time, in 2013, I set a goal of 50 books. Easy, right?

Well, no. I’m having a really hard time scratching out moments to read. So I want to hear from you. How do you manage? Do you set goals to keep yourself accountable? Or are you more relaxed about it?

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Posted on February 17, 2013 at 9:36 am in Sunday Post   |  RSS feed |   Respond   |   Trackback URL

4 Comments to “Reading and Real Life”

    
  1. disperser
    February 17, 2013 at 11:15 am

    Personal goals I set for myself are things I also am casual about. If something bothers me enough, I will get it done, but otherwise I don’t beat myself up.

    Commitments I make to others are another thing. Those I hold to, even at the expense of my own interests.

    As for reading, if I latch onto something interesting, it gets read in spare moments. But, as usual, it’s at the expense of something else.

    Ultimately, the key is to enjoy what you do, and if it happens to coincides with “goals”, well, that’s just a bonus.

    One final thing . . . I’m old enough to know that things I want are sometimes things I am not willing to give up other things for, or work hard at getting them. In other words, I like the idea, but not the reality of it.

    The beauty of knowing that is that one can do wishful thinking, loosely plan stuff, but not worry all that much if it does not happen. The enjoyment is in the contemplation, not in the effort to accomplish it.

    Reply
  2. colonialist
    February 17, 2013 at 11:15 am

    Isn’t it better to read for the pleasure rather than meeting goals? If I finish a book in two days or two months, I don’t worry unduly. Also, often reading has to give way to writing, if the story is flowing strongly at any particular point.

    Reply
  3. lynxchild
    February 17, 2013 at 3:07 pm

    I set a goal for 52 books this year. So far, I’m ahead of schedule. But when things get busier, I expect that to slip. However, including audiobooks is really going to help me out, I suspect. I can “read” while driving or working on other things.

    Reply
  4. Silent Kim
    February 17, 2013 at 3:36 pm

    I’m more relaxed. However I read in bed on my kindle. This my wind down time.

    Reply
    

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