How I FINALLY Hit my Reading Goal (+ my 2022 READING LIST)

For the third year in a row, “read two books a month” is on my goals list. The only difference: this year I’ll actually do it. 😉 It sounded like a good and fine goal last year (and the year before that), except I didn’t quite take into consideration that I’m not naturally a huge reader. While I lovelovelove reading and have a whole SLEW of good reads on my bookshelves, I admittedly prefer vegging out with J on the couch and tuning out with a movie or TV series if I have an hour to spare before bed. Since I’ve got quite a few bestsellers and fan favorites on my reading list still, it’s about dang time I made it happen.

SO. To FINALLY hit my reading goal – it takes strategy.

And that strategy is: 15 minutes midday, on the calendar, and 30 minutes before bed. My 15-minute midday break is replacing what might otherwise have been watching a YouTube video with lunch, so it’s a guaranteed time block that I can just swap out with a different activity to get the job done. (Which I’d highly recommend as a time management tool in general if you swear you “just don’t have time” for one thing or another – tack it onto or replace something ELSE!)

My 30 minutes before bed is reserved for devotionals, the Bible. But otherwise, that midday break keeps momentum going between weekends when I might get a BIT more time to sit down and ~read~.

GOAL: 2 books/month (24 in a year, yay math!). To any avid readers in the house, this might be laughable – and man, do I respect your dedication to the task at hand. But while I’m an optimistic heart, I’m also a realistic one, and I KNOW THYSELF. Namely, that reading is something I have to set aside time, space, and a place to do sans toddler, husband, or really, any distractions of any sort. And that kinda time, my friends, is few and far between.

So far, this is my running reading list. I’m leaving grace + space for things to come in or out as books are released and/or as life allows. But as it stands…

Fierce, Free, & Full of Fire – Jen Hatmaker
Rich as F*ck – Amanda Frances
The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry – John Mark Comer – How to stay Emotionally Healthy and Spiritually Alive in the Chaos of the Modern World
Think Again– Adam Grant – The Power of Knowing what you Don’t Know
Rhythms of Renewal – Rebekah Lyons – Trading Stress and Anxiety for a Life of Peace and Purpose
Holy Hot Mess – Mary Katherine Backstrom – Finding God in the Details of this Weird and Wonderful Life
Simple & Free – Jen Hatmaker – 7 Experiments Against Excess
A Stranger in the House – Shari Lapena
How to Get Sh*t Done – Erin Falconer – Why Women Need to Stop Doing Everything so they can Achieve Anything
The Fringe Hours – Jessica Turner – Making Time for You
Of Mess & Moxie – Jen Hatmaker – Wrangling Delight out of this Wild and Glorious Life
The Fight to Flourish – Jennie Lusko – Engaging in the Struggle to Cultivate the Life you were Born to Live
Midnight Sun – Stephanie Meyer
High Performance Habits – Brendan Burchard – How Extraordinary People Become that Way
Interrupted – Jen Hatmaker – When Jesus Wrecks your Comfortable Christianity
The Productivity Project – Chris Bailey – Accomplishing More by Managing your Time, Energy, and Attention
On Purpose – Tanya Dalton – The Busy Woman’s Guide to an Extraordinary Life of Meaning and Success
The Missing Years – Lexie Elliott
Big Magic – Elizabeth Gilbert – Creative Living Beyond Fear
For the Love – Jen Hatmaker – Fighting for Grace in a World of Impossible Standards
The 5 Second Rule – Mel Robbins – Transform your Life, Work, and Confidence with Everyday Courage
Mere Christianity – C.S. Lewis
The Happiness Project – Gretchen Rubin – Or, Why I spent a Year Trying to Sing in the Morning, Clean my Closets, Fight Right, Read Aristotle, and Generally Have More Fun
Present Over Perfect – Shauna Nequist – Leaving Behind Frantic for a Simpler, More Soulful Way of Living