Happy 2026 bookish peeps!
I feel like the end of 2025 crept up on me without warning and suddenly I’m staring the new year straight in the face.
November and December were incredibly busy, both personally and at work, and I barely even thought about my blog. When I did think about it I didn’t have a lot of time or motivation to do anything about it which has meant I’ve been missing for what seems like forever. This is something I am hoping to rectify in 2026 by simplifying my life and granting myself permission to let the house get a little messy; to take time for the things I love; and to say no when I need to.
Reflecting on last year’s bookish and not-so-bookish goals, I feel like I made a start although I definitely didn’t accomplish everything I wanted to. Looking at my personal goals in particular, some have changed; some no longer mean anything to me and new goals have replaced them. Given that, I still feel like my year was a positive one. I learnt a lot about who I am and what I want; about the power of the life stage I am in (the big M) and made some big decisions about who I want to be and what’s important to me.
Highlights of 2025:
- Everything to do with my children – the texts, calls, silly meme sharing, game nights, movies and dinners, shopping trips, making plans, the support and love between us
- Disney cruise with my daughter
- Road trip and glamping with my hubby
- Book shopping everywhere we go
- Quiet nights reading side by side
- Trashy TV nights together
- Picking up my crochet again
- Adopting my ferociously affectionate rescue cat Esther (aka the Ginger Ninja)
- Spending time with my sisters
- Starting university as a mature aged student
2026 Not-so-bookish Goals:
- Age gracefully – celebrate my wrinkles, grow out the greys, aim for fit not fat
- Move – walk regularly, swim more, try pilates
- Create – crochet/knit, paint, garden, journal, colour in
- Do the things that make me happy – decline anything that doesn’t
- Learn – complete the first full year of my degree
Looking at my 2025 reading goals, not much has changed. I managed to fulfil every one of my reading goals and they continue to be the things that are important to me in 2026. I would, however, like to read more of a variety of books/genres and I’m hoping to read more 5 star reads this year. It seems 2025 was the year I either rated too harshly or I just wasn’t finding what I was looking for. Either way I hope that changes this year.
2026 Reading Goals:
- Read 75 books this year
- Read 6 – 7 books a month
- Read a little (or a lot) every day
- Listen to audiobooks every chance I get – in the car, around the house, walking the dogs
- Read only what interests me – don’t be afraid to DNF books that don’t
- Seek out new genres, interesting concepts and the elusive 5 star reads
2026 Blogging Goals:
This year I plan on simplifying my blogging goals in order to not put so much pressure on myself. In fact, my only blogging goal is to keep my blog going this year, in whatever form that may take. Knowing that studying can be time consuming and all encompassing, I’m hesitant to create a blogging schedule; commit to a weekly number of posts or tie myself to specific memes. I plan on taking a more organic approach to my blog and allowing it to be what it is. Some months I will post much more regularly than others, but I hope that you will stick with me throughout the year. I do plan on being more present in the bookish community, reading your posts and commenting, taking recommendations and chatting about books, reading and life and will endeavour to share more of me than just what I’m reading.
Connection
This year my word is connection which is definitely something that I feel I have been building towards for some time – connection with my authentic self; with family and community; with nature and with ideas. My intention for 2026 is to build deeper connections with loved ones; strengthen the village around me (in person and online) and continue developing my inner connection so I can show up for myself and others authentically.
Have you created goals for 2026? Do you have a word/theme for the year?
Bookish Me 