It’s the start of a new year, and many Book lovers are making resolutions for the new year. Like many other book lovers, you’ve probably made impossible past reading resolutions like, “I’ll read every single book in my to-be-read pile.” Or “I’m going to clean, organize, and decorate my shelves like all those amazing examples I’ve found on Pinterest.” Or “I won’t watch a single movie or television series based on a book until I’ve read that book.” If you’re like me, you’ve probably failed these reading resolutions every year. So, for my reading resolutions for 2018, I want to make it about doing fun resolutions that will create new reading experiences I’ll actually enjoy keeping. Below are some of my ideas, but please feel free to share some of your ideas in the comments below.

New Year’s Reading Resolutions for 2018

• Send some words of encouragement/praise to one of your favorite authors. They’ll appreciate you taking the time to let them know you enjoyed their work, and, bonus, you might even receive a nice note back.
• Venture outside to read more. Find or create one go-to outdoor reading venue and try to read there more this year. It can be a private, secluded spot where you can be alone, or it can be a more public spot where you might find yourself meeting fellow book lovers. Either way, the sunshine and fresh air will feel lovely.
• Attend a book launch! Did you know that it’s not just big authors who have book launches? Keep an eye out for book launches from both big and small authors around your town and attend a couple. You’ll get to chat with a great author or two (sometimes multiple authors attend book launches), get your books signed, and meet many fellow book lovers who’ve read the same books as you.
• Let a friend or family member pick one of their favorite books for you to read. If you’re like me, you’re great at recommending books to others to read, but you’re not always as great at taking book recommendations from others. This year, let someone pick one of their favorite books for you, and pledge to read it, even if you don’t think the synopsis sounds like something you think you’ll like. You may be pleasantly surprised, and at the very least you’ll be able to talk to your friend or family about a book they love, and that’s always fun.
• Read more of the books your kids love to read. Books about warrior cats aren’t my cup of tea, but when my youngest sister became addicted to the series, I read and pretended to love them so that I could talk about them and encourage her love of reading. If you have kids, or young people in your life, read some of the books they love, no matter how silly they seem. They’ll love that someone they admire is reading the same books as they, and it will encourage them to read more so that they’ll have more to share with you. It’s a win-win!
• Do you have a character that you love, and wish you could be more like? Well, why can’t you? Pick a trait from that character that you love, and try to develop it throughout the year.
• Choose and encourage one non-reader in your life to read a book you think they’ll enjoy and think of creative ways to encourage them to actually read one. Maybe you offer to let them borrow your audible account right before they head out on a road trip this year, or maybe you offer to read the book again with them, or take them out to dinner once it’s done. However you do it, the world becomes a better place with each book that’s read, and you’ll love being able to talk about books with someone who you normally can’t. And maybe, just maybe, you’ll convert them to a reading lifestyle. If you need some tips on picking a great book for a non-reader, this past blog may help.
• Have you ever thought something from a favorite book sounded like tons of fun? Whether it be making messy paint art, or glass bottle bowling, or that dream date that you swoon over. Make that scene a reality in your life this year! It’ll be fun to do something out of the ordinary, and it’ll make your favorite book even more relatable.
• Donate at least 10 books that are no longer getting love from you to a school or charity where they can find new love. I know how hard it is to part with your books. Even the books you haven’t thought about in years suddenly seem full of memories when you try to donate them. But, if you do find the strength to donate some of your old books, they will find love and will be enjoyed by many more individuals, and your books will collect many memories outside of your own.
• Take a shot on a new author. Find a book from a budding author that sounds interesting, and give it a try. Maybe you’ll find a new favorite author, but even if you don’t, you’ll have supported a developing author that others will come to love.
• Read that one book you’ve been putting off. You know what we’re talking about. That book that’s always nagging you in the back of your head that you feel like you really should’ve read by now, but for some strange reason haven’t been able to bring yourself to read. Just read it. Find a block of time to just sit down and dive in. Once it’s read, your mind will be free from the constant calls of its pages.

What other fun New Year’s reading resolutions do you have? Don’t forget to share with us in the comments below!

Happy New Year!

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