Welp, it is now somehow . . . *checks calendar* . . . 2024? Hmm. That doesn’t seem right, but okay. And in case you’ve forgotten who I was, I am Sammie, resident bookwyrm of The Bookwyrm’s Den, and okay, I get it, it’s kind of been a minute, hasn’t it?
I’m not entirely sure how 2023 went so far off the rails but boy did it. I found that I just couldn’t feasibly keep up with my personal life, work life, and blogging life, and something had to eventually give. Did I miss it? Yes. Am I glad to be back? Yes. I would like to do better in 2024, which means prioritizing this thing that I love, even when other things become difficult. Because I’ve missed you guys. So what do you say we set some goals?
This week’s Top Ten Tuesday is all about 2024 Bookish Goals, but around here, I do goals a little bit . . . differently. By that, of course, I do not mean that I start off with the best of intentions and wind up wildly off target screaming into the void by the end of the year . . . but also, that too.
When I make goals, I make three tiers: low, flex, and stretch. Low is the bare minimum that I think I can hit, yet still a pretty solid goal. Flex is what I’d consider a medium-tier goal, something I could maybe hit with a bit more effort. Stretch is a goal that is likely unattainable but gosh would it sure be cool if I could hit it! It’s my way of tricking my easily distractable but wholly bribable ADHD brain into getting the dopamine hit of having accomplished something while also convincing it to not immediately tap out when the goal is attained. You know, like it does.
2023 Resolution Wrap-Up
It doesn’t feel like that long ago that I did my 2023 Reading Goal Check-In, but a few things have changed in the past several months. So I suppose it bears repeating.
Read at least 150 books ✔️
I somehow managed to read 170 books in 2023, so starting this off strong with my first goal achieved. My flex was 200, which in hindsight I think was way to ambitious and realistically should’ve been closer to 175 (which I almost made!). I know better for next time, though I’m still thrilled that I read more than I thought I’d get a chance to.
Read more graphic novels and manga ✔️
I read 28 graphic novels and 51 volumes of manga in 2023! That means I blew my stretch goal of 40 right out of the water. Once I got going, this goal was a lot easier than I thought it would be. Major shout-out to my colleague, who kept recommending good manga. At some point, I plan on doing a list of my favorite manga and graphic novels that I’ve discovered, but needless to say, I’d like to carry this forward to 2024!
Increase NetGalley activity and review requested books ❌
Look. I had good intentions? Unfortunately, my goal was 20 and I only made it to 13. I have long since stopped requesting books on NetGalley, because I realized my inability to keep up with them this year. It’s something I want to do better at going forward (as well as going back and reading/reviewing those books still). I completely dropped the ball with this one, but that just means I’ve already got one goal I need to set next year for sure. ^_^
Read more backlist books ✔️❌
I’m going to cheat and say yes and no on this one. I had intended to do Kal @ Reader Voracious’ Backlist Reading Challenge, but I ended up not actually tracking it. So, in the end, this goal is sort of meaningless. Yes, I read backlist books. No, I didn’t track it. Yes, my bookshelves are still out of control and overrun with books that I may or may not have added in the past year. Moving on!
Utilize the library more ✔️
A whopping 85 of the books I read in 2023 came from the library (either physically or through Libby). That’s a pretty impressive number, in my opinion. (That’s also assuming that I remembered to tag all the books I got from the library on Goodreads, which is . . . iffy, at best.) The whole point of this goal was to encourage myself to borrow more and buy less, and I think that worked well. I definitely managed to curb my spending on books and used interlibrary loan a lot more, too! Wins all around on this one.
Continue blogging in 2023 ❌
I don’t think I need to tell you all that I’ve sort of fallen down on this one. I mean, technically I did continue blogging, since I posted something. I’d be lying if I said I was satisfied with the amount that I posted, though, and it’s something I need to work on!
2023 Significant Life Events
Just in case you’ve been wondering where I’ve been, here are a few things I’ve been stumbling through this year:
- I became the Interim Director of my public library! The situation is a little wonky and unique, with my previous director staying on an additional year to finish up projects and accomplish goals before they fully retire in 2024. Needless to say, transitions and change are weird, and I don’t have an Assistant Director under me, so it’s been a lot of trying to balance workloads and find a way to not do two positions at once! The transition hasn’t gone as smoothly as I would have hoped, which has led to a lot of personal turmoil and overwhelm. We’ve definitely had some growing pains, which occasionally dominate my life and pull me away from other things. But everything that’s worth doing takes effort, and I’m excited about what we can all accomplish!
- I’ve been diagnosed with Hashimoto’s, which is a diagnosis 10 years in the making. It’s taken some getting used to. Good news: my thyroid isn’t damaged yet! Bad news: my intestine is, which means food is not my friend. This year has been a lot of adjusting—of diets, habits, ways of thinking. Eating out is hard. Travel is hard. But knowing what I’m up against and how to feel better has been amazing! I’ve taken this opportunity to cultivate more positive habits, including going to the gym regularly. Which is a phrase that Young Sammie never would have imagined uttering, but there you have it.
- I’ve started having the opportunity to go to conferences and grow in my field! This is such a nerdy thing, but I couldn’t be more thrilled with the opportunities I’ve had in the past year. My alma mater even wrote an article about some of the things I’ve done since graduating, which is super cool! I presented at one conference last year, and I’m set to present at a conference this week. I have one of the neatest jobs ever, surrounded by some of the coolest people ever, and I’m just thankful that I have all these opportunities!
- I started writing fanfiction again. Which is cooler than it sounds, I swear. Okay, maybe not. It’s a pretty geeky thing to do. Still, after my disappointing foray into publishing and becoming disillusioned with the idea, I went back to the basics of what made me really enjoy writing in the first place. So I started working on some fanfiction. I haven’t done as much writing as I meant to this past year, but I’m so thankful for the opportunity to just focus on loving the craft again without any pressure or expectation.
2024 Bookish Goals
Reading at least 150 books
Low: 150 | Flex: 175 | Stretch: 200
With my new position as Director of my library, I have less time than I used to, especially when taking personal obligations (including a commitment to my health!) into account. I’m hoping to be a little more reasonable in my goals. I think this is definitely doable, especially with the graphic novels and manga I’ve been devouring!
Read more graphic novels and manga
I’m keeping this one again this year, but I’m not adding a specific goal to it! I felt like I had to last year, since I wasn’t really reading any. For 2024, though, I want to go wherever my interest takes me! I’ve started series that I need to catch up on, and I’ve got series that have been recommended that I want to give a go. As long as it’s something I’m excited to do, I want to just carry that passion forward. 🙂
Read more romantasy
In 2023, I discovered just how much I’m absolutely in love with romantasy (which is a combination of romance and fantasy). As an avid fantasy reader, I was approaching romantasy all wrong. I was expecting the fast pace and sweeping plots that I’m used to in a lot of the fantasy I read, instead of sitting with the characters and enjoying the unfolding of a new relationship. Since adjusting my expectations, I just can’t get enough of them (and I’ve even been able to really enjoy the occasional romance novel, as well).
Work on NetGalley backlist
Low: 20 books | Flex: 35 books | Stretch: 50 books
Take two with this goal? I’m keeping everything mostly the same. I only made it about halfway in 2023, but I want to make this a priority this year, so here’s to hoping I make a dent! There are so many great books I haven’t had a chance to get to read, and I can’t wait to check them out!
Continue to utilize the library
Low: 50 books | Flex: 70 books | Stretch: 90 books
Libraries are magical, amazing places, so why not use them when available? (Also, much like dogs, if I bring any more books into the house, I think my husband may just disappear me, which seems . . . inconvenient.) Plus, it’s also kind of nice to focus on buying books that I love and/or can’t get any other way.
Read more nonfiction
Low: 10 books | Flex: 15 books | Stretch: 20 books
I used to absolutely be in love with nonfiction, and I’m not exactly sure when that changed. I still read it every now and then, but some of the great nonfiction books I read in 2023 have me scratching my head as to why I don’t read it as often anymore? They’re awesome. Learning something new or exploring new things is such an amazing feeling. So this year, I want to be intentional about picking up some nonfiction books. Because they’re worth it.
What are your 2024 bookish goals? Do we have any in common?
Welcome back Sammie! These sound like solid, attainable goals, good luck! That NetGalley goal is a good one. I’ve actually never counted how many reviews I post there but now I’m curious. And good luck with your diagnosis, it seems like you’re on the way to feeling much better, even if its hard at first😁
Thank you! Of course, catching up on NG has been a goal of mine for several years, so that’s maybe not so promising. xD You should keep track, though. Bet you’d be surprised how many reviews you do there in a year!
It’s nice to hear from you again! I was quietly wondering what was going on in your life, but I didn’t want to pry. 🙂
Congratulations on becoming Interim Director at your library.
I hope your diet and lifestyle changes help.
Here is my Top Ten Tuesday post.
Well, I appreciate you wondering. 🙂 Thanks for the congrats! I’m excited, if not a little busier than I thought haha.
Setting low goals is a good idea. I try to do that, too.
Here is our Top Ten Tuesday.
Astilbe recently posted…Solarpunk Creatures by Christoph Rupprecht (editor)
It’s a really neat psychology trick that really works. I do it with big tasks, too: chunk them down into smaller, easily accomplishable bits. 🙂
I definitely read more graphic novels and manga last year which I’m hoping to carry over into this year. Some favorite manga series I started last year and loved: Spy x Family, Blood on the Tracks, and The Way of the Househusband.
Good luck in 2024!
I started (and love) Spy x Family, too! Oh my gosh, such a good series. For some reason, I couldn’t get into Way of the Househusband (though hubby loves it). I’ve really enjoyed Overgeared and Solo Leveling, though, if you haven’t tried those yet. 🙂 They’re technically Manhwa, but they’ve released full color versions that are absolutely stunning!
I’ve hardly read any manwha so I’ll have to check into them. Thanks!
Glad to see you back and congratulations on our position!
Thanks so much! 😀
Good luck on your goals!
My TTT: https://laurieisreading.com/2024/01/16/top-ten-tuesday-2024-bookish-goals/
Thank you!
Welcome back!
2023 sounds like a whirlwind! Congratulations on your new position! I have several NetGalley arcs that I need to catch up on this year. My goal is to get all the delinquent ones finished up.
Happy reading and good luck with your conference!
It definitely was. Not always in a good way, but mostly in a good way, so I’ll take it. 🙂 I hope you’re able to meet your NetGalley goal! Best of luck!
Congrats on the job!! I thought I hadn’t seen you in a while. Welcome back! Granted, I’ve been MIA since June of last year bc I had a baby and just barely popping on and off. haha. I’m getting my groove back a bit, I think. I am glad that you finally have a diagnosis and you can do things to actually help you feel better now! Good luck with all of your goals this year, Sammie!
Thank you! I kept telling myself I should post, but then something would come up and derail my plans. xD I’m still working on that elusive work/life balance!
Oh my gosh, congrats on the baby!!! That’s a great reason to be MIA (and understandable in the way they demand your time, of course). We can get back into it together. 🙂
This year I trying to used the library more too. Good luck on you goals.
Snapdragon recently posted…Top Ten Tuesday: 2024 Bookish Goals
I hope you’re able to! Libraries are such an amazing resource. 🙂 (Although, I may be a teensy bit biased.)
I’m trying to read more manga this year too
Felice recently posted…My Brain is Different: Stories of ADHD and Other Developmental Disorders Thoughts
I hope you get a chance to! I’ve really enjoyed the new ones I’ve been reading lately. 🙂
Welcome back Sammie! You’ve definitely been missed :).Congratulations on your interim position!! I’m happy you’ve finally got your diagnosis, even though I get that that comes with some mixed feelings. Reading more romantasy is a perfect goal for this year, I’ve read so many brilliant ones recently & it’s becoming a favourite sub-genre of mine. I hope you have an amazing 2024 🙂
Thank you so much! I haven’t read as many as I’d like (I came over to the dark side late in 2023), but I guess that just means I’ve got lots of making up ahead of me. 🙂 Which I’m obviously looking forward to. I hope your 2024 is wonderful as well!
Wow, you have had A LOT going on! I’m glad you’re back to blogging, but it’s totally understandable that something had to give in such a busy life. Also, I love the way you make goals. The tier thing makes perfect sense to me. Good luck with all your goals in 2024.
Happy TTT (on a Wednesday)!
Susan
http://www.blogginboutbooks.com
I have! Never a dull moment! (Well . . . except we had a snowstorm last week and I was stuck inside with my family, but we won’t count that.)
I’m pretty sure I stole the tiers thing from another blogger? I think? But it’s been so long ago that I’m not sure. xD At some point, I realized that I set my goals high and was disappointed if I didn’t reach them, but if I set them two low, I didn’t feel incentivized to challenge myself. So tiers seemed like a good middle ground. 🙂
Welcome back! I’m sorry that it took you so long to get a diagnosis, thyroid disease is so often overlooked because the symptoms could be 10 million other things. I was fortunate when I was diagnosed that my doctor listened to my request to be tested, though they were running tests for other things, and found out it was my thyroid causing the problems. I hope that 2024 is good to you!
Pam @ Read! Bake! Create!
https://readbakecreate.com/goals-for-2024-book-and-blog-goals/
Pam @ Read! Bake! Create! recently posted…Goals for 2024: Book and Blog Goals
So very true! Luckily, my thyroid isn’t damaged yet (which almost makes it harder to detect at this point), so I’m thankful that it was caught early enough to hopefully eke out a few more years of life in it! I hope that you have a wonderful 2024, too. 🙂
I’d love to see a list of your fav manga and graphic novels. I always feel like I don’t pick up enough of the medium. Congrats on becoming interim director! I hope 2024 is kind to you in your personal and professional life.
I’ll definitely have to put something together! It’s always hard choosing favorites, but I love sharing all my new discoveries. xD
Welcome back, Sammie! I’ve missed seeing you around the blogosphere but I totally get that 2023 was a heckuva year and not all good at all. I hope your positive changes will help you deal with the diagnosis and help you feel better! You are a total badass 🙂 I love how you’ve broken down the goals into three tiers. I feel like it’d be more motivating and also fun to see how well you can do! I’ve got tackling the NG backlist as one of my goals this year as well, lol. I feel like I say that every year but I swear I’m going to do better this year. I hope you enjoy working towards these goals and happy reading, Sammie!
Dini @ dinipandareads recently posted…#WWWWednesday: 17 January 2024
Thank you! It feels weird having been gone so long. I missed it. 🙂 Thank you, but I definitely don’t feel like a badass when something like milk (or beef or soy or eggs or *continues with a never-ending list of allergies*) can randomly take me out at any given moment. xD I am the butt of many (lighthearted) family jokes.
I’m almost positive that I say NG every year, as well, and I think we can all tell how well that one’s gone. xD Here’s to hoping that 2024 is finally our year. 😉
I want to be more intentional about reading nonfiction, too. I really enjoy it, but it usually takes me longer to read, so I just don’t get through as much nonfiction. You did great with your goals last year! Here’s to a wonderful 2024 as well! (And welcome back! We missed you here on the blogosphere. I’m glad to hear you have a health diagnosis that is helping you to manage things better!)
Nicole @ BookWyrm Knits recently posted…Top 12 Books: 2024 goals and 2023 review
Saaaame. Every time I sit down with a new nonfiction book, I think, “Why don’t I read this more?” Then, two or three weeks later when I finally finish it, I’m like, “Oh yeah, there it is.” xD
Thank you. I’ve missed seeing you (and your creations). I need to go stalk your blog and see how your blanket turned out, because I am invested, darn it! 😀
Good to see you back! Congratulations on the interim position. Here’s hoping 2024 is stress free and gives you plenty of time to read! Your goals seem pretty fun and manageable! I plan to read some more classics, nonfiction, and backlist books this year, though I haven’t set any officials goals. Because that would stress me out, lol!
Thank you! I doubt it will be stress free, but I will settle for not more than I can handle. xD I’m glad that you don’t set specific goals if it’ll stress you out. Defeats the point of enjoying something. 😀 I hope you read lots of great things this year!
Hello! Welcome back 🙂 2023 looks like it had some big changes for you! Congrats on becoming interim director~ It’s impressive that you still read 170 books last year. Good luck with your 2024 goals!
Thank you! To be fair, a very large portion of those 170 books were manga. xD Which *was* one of my goals but also feels a little less impressive when you look at the number that way lol.
You did amazing in 2023 considering all that happened. Finding out you have a disease and becoming the interim director? Huge things.
Thanks! It was definitely a life-changing year, but mostly in a good way. 🙂