Happy New Year’s Day!
We have finally said goodbye to 2020! 2020 was a year that I don’t think any of us will ever forget and while I had many blessings during the year, I am ready to see what 2021 brings.
The Blog
I am pretty happy with the blog overall so I wouldn’t expect to have any big changes this year. The blog turned 7 just this week and I have learned a lot about what works and what doesn’t work. I hope to continue posting on my regular schedule with no extended absences like I had in 2020 with our move.
Books and Reading
Once again, I feel the need to set goals to help me stay current with the books that I receive for review and help me catch up with ARCs that are now past due. A lot of these goals are going to look a lot like last year’s goals since I was a little distracted in 2020.
- Increase my NetGalley ratio by at least 6% by the end of the year – I am currently at 88% so that would put me at 94% or higher by the end of 2021.
- Stay current with 2021 ARCs and catch up with 2020 ARCs – I have ARCs dating back to 2013 but I want to try to focus on the more recent ones in 2020.
- Catch up with all past due and current ARCs on Edelweiss – I only have 9 books to read on Edelweiss so this goal should be very doable.
- Read at least one book that I received from Bookish First every month – I only have 14 books to read from Bookish First so I think I can accomplish this goal.
- Make time to read books from my own shelves!
2021 Challenges
I usually sign up for a few challenges at the start of every year and I do keep track of how many books I have read for each challenge but I never seem to remember to link up to any posts or do a lot with it. I also have a history of only choosing challenges that fit what I am already doing so they aren’t really a challenge. So this year, I have decided to opt-out of signing up for any challenges with the exception of the Goodreads Challenge which I really just use as a handy way of keeping track of what I read during the year.
Goodreads Challenge
Once again, I plan to set my Goodreads challenge at 100 books. I will probably hit that mark sometime in the summer but I like going with the low-stress approach with this challenge. It is just fun to see where I end up at the end of the year.
Other Goals
Make Better Choices
One of my main goals for 2021 is to make better choices. This really applies to all areas of my life but I do want to focus on my diet and making sure I healthy as possible. I, along with the rest of my family, have a big sweet tooth. We also like our junk food. I have lost a lot of weight in the past and I kept it off for a very long time but when I started cooking more after my daughter was diagnosed with celiac disease, I lost that progress. I know that I feel better overall when I eat more fruits and veggies and fewer sweets and junk food. I need to stop eating when I am bored at work and keep healthier alternatives available at all times.
At the start of 2020, I went to the community center immediately after work almost daily and put in at least 3 miles on their track before coming home to take the dogs on their normal 1-mile walk. Once the pandemic hit, the community centers closed and my daily workouts ceased. I did burn a lot of calories moving furniture and making repairs to our homes but I need to figure something out to get more active in my daily life.
Bookstagram
If you are following me on Instagram, you might have noticed that I have been pretty active as of late. When we sold our house, we splurged on a nice camera and I have been having a fantastic time learning how to use it and taking pictures of my beloved books. I have found that I really like the platform and enjoy interacting with others there and I can work it into breaks during my day since I use an app on my phone instead of a computer like I do with blogging. I hope to continue to take photos and would like to post frequently and interact with others.
Books I can’t wait to read in 2021!
I am actually really excited about a lot of 2021 releases (and have read quite a few) but I decided to only include books that I have not been able to get my hands on just yet!
What are some of your blogging or reading goals for 2021?
Happy 2021 and happy blogiversary! Good luck with your goals. I just followed you on Instagram, even though I’m rarely on there. Maybe using Instagram should be my goal for this year.
Thanks, AJ!
We have similar goals. Definitely getting back into my healthy eating and daily exercise regime. I have a few older arcs to catch up, but my biggest goal is to limit my new arcs, bought books and even freebies so I give more time to what I already have and what the library has to offer. Your Bookstagram posts look great!
Happy New Year!
It is so hard to resist that shiny new books isn't it?
Wow! Good luck with all your goals. I don't know if I could get an increase of 6% in NG, since that's like 40 books for me (without getting any new ones), but I do want to try to get to some of the past due. I was good in 2020, but I missed a lot of 2019 releases. I feel like weight control is even more important now with COVID, and eating better is just a good goal all the time. Happy new year, Carole!
Yeah, it would be 37 books for me as well. I don't know if I will make it but I can give it a try!
Happy Blogiversary! I'm definitely trying to incorporate eating better and getting more exercise in my daily life. I've really let it slip this year. Love your goals and I'm in awe of your Netgalley ratio! Seriously impressive. Happy New Year!
Thanks, Katherine! We were doing so good with going to the gym everyday and then covid hit.
Happy New Year Carole. I'm terrible at posting to social media, but I have been enjoying seeing all your Bookstagram posts. Happy Blogiversary 🙂
Thanks so much, Jovita! I have had fun following your posts as well.
Happy Blogaversary!
I hear you, I need to find a way to be more active too this new year. We can do it .D
I guess I just need to bundle up and get my butt outside!
Those are some good goals and seem achievable. Happy blogaversary! I am jealous of your NG ratio, nice!
Happy New Year!
Thanks so much, Bea!
Happy New Year as well as Happy Blog Anniversary! I wish you the best with your goals. I think they all sound reasonable.
I am the worst about linking my progress on challenge pages too. Hopefully I will do better this year? I figure it's more a personal goal anyway, so I still count it was a win if even if not an official win if I do not remember to link.
I had to laugh when you mentioned 100 being your low for the Goodreads challenge. I went low too. With 10. Haha I hope to reach mine by the end of February, fingers crossed.
Well, I do have a job that allows me to listen to audiobooks at work so 100 is a pretty easy number for me. I hope you do well on your challenges this year!
These are such great goals that you have set for yourself here. Happy Blogiversary! So exciting. And for us oldie bloggers, we learn what works for us and what doesn't. Cheers to a great year in 2021 of prosperity and joy for you and yours!
Thanks so much! I guess at this point I am an oldie blogger – in more ways than one 🙂
Happy 2021 and good luck with your challenges! 7 years is awesome!!
I like Bookstagram too but have to make time to actually use it! Hopefully we both do well with that this year!
I bought a camera when we sold our house so I have been having a blast with Bookstagram. I hope we are both able to have fun with it this year.
I can relate since I also started cooking more when we went gluten-free but I also felt like we should "have some treats." It's resulted in too much sweet and junk foods. Good luck with your goals!
Anne – Books of My Heart
My daughter was only in 5th grade when we had to go gluten free and there weren't many store bought options so I learned how to make all the treats pretty quickly. I think a lot of the gluten free items are higher in calories than the regular versions. It is what it is. I feel better off sugar and need to do better about avoiding it.
Great goals!! Your netgalley % is so much better than mine…lol. I am so bad, but it was from when I first got accepted years ago and went hog wild!
Oh, I still have a lot of books hanging around from those early years.
Good luck with your goals!
Thanks, Chuckles!