So it’s that time of year again when those of us who have made New Year’s resolutions sit back and think ‘Ok, that resolution might have been a little ambitious.’ Well that’s what usually happens to me anyway. This year I’m determined to set a goal I can actually stick to.
In December I started out setting myself up for failure. I suggested to a friend that on New Year’s Eve we should share our resolutions and then we can all support each other to achieve them. I started thinking about what I’d like to do and ended up with a whole list. In 2014 I was going to get fit, lose some weight, quit smoking, get paid for writing, travel to 1 overseas destination, get back into writing fiction, sleep better, and see more live music.
Then I realised that, sadly, I’m not superwoman. They are all great goals but that’s just what they are: goals. These are great life changes and things I want to do, but they’re not things I need to achieve in the next 12 months (ok, the smoking has got to go). I see a resolution as more of a fun goal that you can work towards throughout the year, not a whole list of things can leave you stressed and disappointed as the next year rolls around.
So with that I’ve decided that my official New Year’s Resolution for 2014 is to read 100 books before the year’s end. I came up with this because I have a real problem finishing books. Of the 94 books on my Kindle there are 43 that have been started and never finished. This isn’t to say that there are 43 books I don’t like, it’s just that I often start something and realise I’m not in the mood for that genre, or something else comes out that I must devour straight away. Having a whole bookshop at my fingertips doesn’t help either. Not digging the new crime novel you just bought? That’s cool, just jump on the Amazon store and grab some fantasy. Yep, I have a problem.
Being the mathematical genius that I am I’ve worked out I need to read an average of 2 books a week. I’m feeling pretty confident…sorta. I’m on my fourth book already but I’m trying to smash some pretty easy YA fiction early on so I can have some time up my sleeve later. The challenge is really going to be finishing everything I pick up.
And with that I am going to beg for your help, please. If anyone can recommend some interesting reads I’d really appreciate it. War & Peace and Ulysses need not apply!
Have you made a New Year’s resolution? Do you find it hard to stick to them?
