2020 is almost here. I can actually feel the new-ness of the year ahead creeping up on me.
This year has taught me many things but among all the lessons, I appreciate the ‘Spark Joy’ principle that Marie Kondo explains in her book, ‘The Life Changing Magic of Tidying’. (Read my review of her book here)
I’ll probably write a wrap up post for 2019 later this month (because I love how this year has turned out).
In the meantime though, I’ve come up with a very different resolution for the year ahead.
This one has to do with my reading habit.
For the last few years, I’ve fallen into the act of racking up books on my Amazon wishlist, primarily because I see good friends recommending them on their blogs or Instagram feeds.
When people ask me what I want for a gift, I invariably send them my wishlist of books.
And second hand bookstores? Sigh, they are designed to draw me in and I end up spending a lot of time (which is good) and a lot of money (not that good) when I enter one of those places.
Net result? I keep having an ever-growing TBR (to be read) list and wind up not doing justice to them at all.
Instead, for the year ahead I am going to refrain from buying any new books.
We’ll see how long that resolution actually lasts though. 😉
My intention is to read all the unread books I already have, both on my bookshelves and on my Kindle.
I also intend to read books that I can borrow from friends. I so wish that we had good public libraries in India the way they exist in the US or other countries.
Finally, I want to re-read some of my favourite books through the year.
There’s so much joy in re-reading a book or re-watching a movie, have you noticed?
Apart from the expense saving bit (which is a very small reason for the resolution), I am hoping that this will encourage me to be more mindful of what I read.
Information overwhelm is a real thing. And as much as I’ve enjoyed absorbing all the new information over the years, I think I’ve reached a kind of saturation point when it comes to daily stimulation.
I’d like my reading to be relaxing.
If I pick up a book, I want to do it with the idea that I’m completely devoting myself to it.
Reading has always given me joy and I’d like to marry that joy with some frugality when it comes to buying new titles.
As much as I haven’t used the word resolution in the last few years, I’d like to begin 2020 with the idea that this one will be more than a resolution.
It’s an intention.
Wish me luck 🙂
(Oh, and share your own resolutions/intentions for the year ahead in the comments below)
I have been in the same boat with wish lists and then asking for gifts of books on bdays, etc. So yes I can totally relate to the unread TBR piled up in every corner of the house. But this year I was quite good with my no book buying pact (lasted till December) and have been making quite a dent in my reading as I had joined 2-3 reading challenges too
The whole idea was to just read up or give away the unread pile – I think I made some headway there. I also re-read old favorites this year and have some lined up for next year too.
Wish you all the luck in keeping your resolution and reading loads of books that excite you.
Oh my Shy! It’s like you read my mind and wrote this post. I have the exact intention for 2020. No, I wouldn’t change a single thing here. Just the way I thought this out Shy. I was thinking to write about it along with my word for 2020 though. Though you’ve put it so much better than me ? yay, I have someone who’s on this with me. ♥️
Way to go Shailaja. I had a similar resolution last year and I did pretty well the first 7 or 8 months and then everything rushed downhill. Also, I love the idea of relaxed reading.
For me it’s the other way around. I am still waiting to rediscover my reading mojo. This entire year went past and I must have read about 12 books. I didn’t keep count or leave reviews to know for sure. I have so many physical books and those on Kindle, it’s not funny. But luckily, I don’t feel any pressure. I will get to them when the time comes, hopefully soon. For that reason, I do like your resolution. I can’t promise that I wouldn’t buy new books, but I surely will try to read those I currently own first. 🙂
That IS a good resolution, Shy!
Me? Last month, I was thinking about what WOTY to choose for 2020, and I picked HEALTH. But then, I thought why wait till the 1st of Jan 2020 to begin working on my health? Why not begin right away?
And that’s why, after careful consideration, I started with my diet and eliminated coffee and junk from my everyday diet.
Of course, there will be days when I WILL need the chocolates and the pani puri to lift my spirits and keep my taste buds happy, but those will be ‘occasional
Next on the list is regularising my yoga practice which took a beating as my sleep has gone for a toss. So, first I need to work on my sleep and then yoga.
That’s all that I am going to focus on. Less the better, right? For, too many things to work on will take away the joy behind it all. I know how important health is, and how much I need to take care.
Oh, I also resolved to write more, and so I created a new blog for my essays. 😛
And, I am feeling SO good! Now I have 3 blogs and I am finding utmost happiness writing on three different topics every week.
Love your new resolution!
I have a very similar one when it comes to my reading in 2020. Slow down, be more intentional, and get through the existing TBR.
Though I have to say – I have finally made significant progress on my existing TBR this year, after years and years of procrastinating on those books. And I cannot tell you how amazing it’s felt to get to them. So it’s something I am definitely planning to stick to for 2020. 🙂
I know exactly how that feels, Simrit! I used to be a voracious reader and then found myself putting reading on the back burner.
Earlier this year (or late last year) I fell back in love with my reading routine and have had an amazing year, book wise.
Reading definitely calms me down and quiets the overwhelm in my brain.
Wishing you much love and luck with your workout and blog in the coming year. I am sure you can do it!
This is a lovely resolution Shailaja… I love to read books but after I got married..I got involved in my new routine and I stopped reading.. I tarted reading again after my son was born.. now I try and wake up half an hour early.. have my cup of coffee and read. I feel reading calms me down…my new year resolution is to be regular with my workout and write more on my blog:)