As 2025 comes to an end, I wanted to take some time to reflect on my reading life and the goals I set for myself this year.

One of my main goals for 2025 was to continue setting my Goodreads reading goal to one so I could focus on quality over quantity. This approach truly worked for me. Even without chasing a number, 2025 became my second-highest reading year since I started tracking my reading in 2017.

I also wanted to become more comfortable DNF’ing books that did not work for me. This year, I was much more free about putting books down even ones I had purchased. Life is too short to push through a mediocre book when there are so many great ones out there. This mindset shift helped me enjoy reading more and focus on quality rather than obligation.

Another goal was to be more mindful and selective about the books I purchased. I did not follow this as closely at the beginning of the year, but I became much more intentional with my purchases during the second half of 2025. That alone made a noticeable difference in how I approached my reading.

I also set a goal to finish my 2025 NetGalley reads before the end of the year and I am happy to say I crushed this goal by November. Clearing that list felt incredibly satisfying and removed a lot of lingering pressure.

When it came to social media and blogging, my goal was to post when I wanted to so I could avoid burnout. To be honest, I did experience burnout with both this year. With Instagram and TikTok, I allowed myself to step back and not post during those periods, which actually helped. As for my blog, I experimented quite a bit. I temporarily switched platforms, adjusted my posting format, and changed how often I post. While I still feel some burnout and am not getting the same level of satisfaction I once did, I am learning to accept that this is okay.

Looking Ahead to 2026
I am going into 2026 with more intention and less pressure. For now, that feels exactly where I need to be.