The last Top Ten Tuesday post of 2014 is all about my New Year’s Resolutions for 2015! Normally I have one or two resolutions at the start of each year, but I rarely follow through. I feel like 2015 will be different. Maybe it’s just the fact that I’m getting older, but there are plenty of things I want to do in my life, and there’s no time like the present :)
Top Ten New Year’s Resolutions
- Stress out less about reading – Sometimes I get into that habit of treating reading as a chore instead of a hobby. I create these deadlines and sign up for these challenges in order to get myself to read more, and sometimes those things are fun, but usually it just stresses me out. And reading is supposed to be fun, not stressful!
- Cut back on book review requests – This year I discovered NetGalley, and I love it! But I went a little clicker-crazy and requested to review way too many books. I never expected to be approved for most of them, but I was wrong. So now I’ve decided to spend the beginning of next year focusing on all the upcoming books I need to review. I’m also hoping this will help out with stressing out less about reading (checking things off a To Do list=a happy Maggie).
- Trim down my TBR list – I expanded my library so much this year, and most of those books are still sitting on my shelf unread. I’m hoping to knock out a big chunk of those To Be Read books in 2015.
- Reorganize my personal library – I have too many books and not enough shelf space (the pitfall of being a bookworm). I’d love to reorganize my bookshelves and also keep a better record of the books I have out on loan (one of these would be fantastic).
- Read more Dickens – I am ashamed to admit that I have read ONE Dickens novel in my entire life. Granted, it was one of his best (Great Expectations), but I would love to make 2015 a Dickensian year.
- Talk to my husband more about the books I read – He probably already thinks I talk enough about books, but I would love to share more with my husband about my bookish thoughts.
- Read what I love – This year I read a lot of books I normally wouldn’t have because of their popularity and not necessarily because they were “me” books. Often at times I didn’t want to finish these books because I couldn’t stand an unrealistic character, a cheesy plot line, or a cringeworthy writing style, but I hate the idea of giving up on a book I’ve started. I don’t plan on keeping this reading habit up into the New Year. In 2015 I will read the types of books I know I will enjoy, whether they are popular or not.
- Travel more – This isn’t a bookish resolution, but next year I definitely want to spend more time visiting new places and taking mini-vacations. Living in France showed me the importance of going on vacations a couple times a year, and I think that’s a habit I should keep up now that I’m back in the States.
- Cross off as many things from my 25 Things list as possible – I have seriously been slacking on my bucket list I made to celebrate my 25th birthday. I’ve completed less than 10 of my 25 goals, with a few more lined up in January. There are a few big things, like travel to the UK/Ireland and visit a new continent, that I know I won’t be able to do before March (at the time I thought we’d be living in France for another year or so and would have more opportunities to travel). BUT, to be optimistic, I’ve done a lot of fun things that weren’t on my list :)
- Move! – This is the biggest resolution for me and my husband. We’re itching to find our own apartment/home and to actually start settling down into our new life in the States. It’s been great living with my family and spending time with them, but as any married couple can agree with, sometimes you just need your own space :)
There you have it! My 10 resolutions for 2015. What are some of your resolutions for the New Year?
macarons & paperbacks 
lol, #2 happened to me in 2013 when I discovered NetGalley. It was like “OMG, request all the books!” (oops) I’ve been pretty good this year in requesting less, but I still have to work on that xD
#3 & #4 are on my list as well! And I love #5! This year was Shakespeare for me, but next year I’d love to get around to the other classics that have been waiting for me for some time, lol.
Best of luck with your resolutions next year (and with #10) :) Happy New Year! My TTT
I never thought I’d stress about reading, but I totally do now. I love reading. I love blogging. But somehow the combination means I curl up in a ball and cry?
Good luck moving! It’s literally the worst!
I know =P reading is supposed to relieve stress, not add to it!
I’m going to try and make sure I make time for books I want to read this year. I think it’s really important not to get too bogged down with review copies. Great goals Maggie, I hope that you achieve them.
Thank you!! Since I started blogging I’ve made sure to add in books that I read just for fun and not for reviews, but I’d like to add more in next year :)
I totally understand about not forcing yourself to read books you don’t like. It’s a problem I have too! Also the too many books on my TBR list. I think that’s a common problem for everyone in the book blogging community. My TTT
I always want to give a book multiple chances to impress me–I hate putting down a book and thinking, “What if?”
Then again, I also hate finishing a book and thinking, “I wish I didn’t read that.”
Thanks for sharing your post!
I got pretty burned out from going on a galley-request-clicking-spree without thinking of the implications haha. I definitely need to find that balance between reading for myself and ARC reviews–so I can finally pull myself out of that negative ratio.
Cheers,
joey via. thoughts and afterthoughts
Me too. I’m trying to cycle arcs, my personal bookshelf, and my ebooks.
I stress a lot over completing challenges, and I wish I could just stop but it’s not that easy for me, still I’m hoping to solve this in 2015. I usually make the mistake of reading books just because they are everywhere and not because I think I’ll enjoy them.
Wish you luck and a happy New Year!
I made that same mistake this year too, and most of those books I really didn’t like :(
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Good resolutions! I’m not doing any reading challenges this year either, other than one I’m setting myself, because I also got kind of stressed out by them and it just got silly and pointless. Maybe in 2016 I’ll do one instead of three, but for 2015, nope.
Good luck finding a place of your own!
I just don’t think reading should be stressful (unless it’s for school or something, maybe). I’ve noticed a lot of other bloggers are skipping reading challenges next year as well. The only challenge I’ll be working on is The Classics Club, but I started it in 2013 and it ends for me in August 2016 so no rush :)
Happy New Year to you, by the way!
Exactly! I’m not in college anymore, I don’t need to be stressing about my reading. The rest of my life is stressful enough — reading is supposed to be my sanctuary. I’m still keeping up with the Classics Club, though. I only started it in January of 2014, so I’m not feeling pressured by it yet :-)
Happy New Year to you too!
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