At the beginning of 2017, I set out to complete four reading challenges and failed four reading challenges.
Reading Challenges One. Belle Zero.
*Take a shot every time “reading challenge(s)” is mentioned in this post.
I set myself up for failure, and here’s why:
I’m Like A Wave.
Sometimes, I am too chill for my own good. Have you ever heard of the parameters for making a smart goal? According to people who are more successful than I ever will be, goals should be SMART: specific, measurable, attainable, realistic, and time-bounded. I CAN’T MAKE SMART GOALS because I feel so constricted and pressured by them that I end up getting nothing done. (That’s the reason all of my New Years resolutions are general plans like exercise more or read more.)
All of the challenges I signed up for entailed reading a specific type of book. There was no way I could have stuck with them. I’m way too much of a go-with-the-flow type of person and a total mood reader.
I’M LIKE A WAVE.
Reading is a form of escapism for me. Although it would be awesome to tackle a 500 page book about quantum mechanics for a non-fiction reading challenge or a convoluted book written in the 1800s for a historical reading challenge, 9 out of 10 9.5 times I’d much rather read a quick, fluffy contemporary to de-stress after a busy day.
There are so many cool reading challenges out there! Maybe when I graduate and I’m not being constantly mowed down by school and rendered immobile by the crippling realization that I actually have to start a career , I can finally complete a reading challenge. For now, I’ll stick with the yearly Goodreads Reading Challenge and short, 24-hour reading-a-thons.
Thanks for reading 🙂! Do you like reading challenges? Are they easy or difficult for you to complete? Let me know your thoughts in the comments.
Belle Can Read 
I like the motivation a reading challenge gives me but – I too fail every time! They’re just not for me. Either life gets in the way or not in the mood to read the books that the challenge prompts me to read. You aren’t alone!
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Glad I’m not that only one that feels that way 😁!
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Can I instead of taking a shot take a bite out of my cookie?
Ah I totally feel you. I am the biggest mood reader. The thing that saves me is that I read fast 😂. So I’ll not read any books in a month and then I’ll read 6. And so I beat my Goodreads Challange. I can’t do Read-a-thons thought because my attention span is horrible and the pressure would get to me. Amazing post ❤!
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Of course, shots are overrated anyways 🙄 haha.
That’s awesome! I wish I could read fast, but I read reaally slow. I don’t have time to complete reading challenges in that sense as well. Also, I totally get you. I get distracted pretty easily, but when I attempted my first read-a-thon, I got way more distracted than usual 🤷♀️.
Thank you 💓!
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I LOVE the motivation a reading challenge can inspire but I’m terrible at keeping to them as I forget and move on to other priorities, hahahha. Glad I’m not the only one Belle!
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Great post, I totally agree with you I’m also really bad at completing reading challenges. I always begin them with good intentions but never see them through.
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I’m glad I’m not the only one!
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This is why I mostly don’t join reading challanges: because I know how bad I’ll be at them. I love reading what I want and not have the guilt whispering in me ear because that’s no fun. I’m glad I’m not the only one ❤!!
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Right? Just quit while you’re still ahead hahaha.
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