2026 Challenge

 

So random though! I had been trying to figure out what challenges I wanted to sign up for this year and then I decided...I wouldn't sign up for any.

Largely because I always feel pressured. I know, I know. I set my goal myself. No one has to tell me it needs to be this. I usually lowball it anyway so that I don't have to feel so pressured or stressed, but then I STILL feel pressured to keep at it. Like with my discussion challenge I went for somewhere down the middle with 20 posts originally and then I just let myself keep going. But then as I did that I REALLY wanted to hit that 41 to be at the top of the tier!

I mean it truly is silly. I don't need to keep going. I can do 1 a month. It's no big deal. So why do I put this pressure on myself when this blog is and always has been just for fun. The extra non-review posts are purely for fun so there doesn't need to be any goals for me to climb to. But yet, when I set out to do a little challenge, I want to do my best! I want to do better than my best!

And there's where the stress came in. Again, totally silly because I am literally doing it to myself. I set low goals specifically so I am not stressing myself out, but then I see that I did a few posts those first few months and I was like I HAVE TO POST EVERY MONTH! I HAVE TO HAVE MORE THAN 1 POST A MONTH! Then I struggled. I had burn out. I couldn't think of anything to discuss! I had a month where I only read 1 TBR book.

And since the blogosphere keeps getting quieter every year, I'm like why am I doing this to myself each year? It DOES NOT need to be like this!

So instead of setting any particular goals (other than my Goodreads one) I decided I would just "record" my journey in the usual tab where I would put challenges! I'll note what I read each month and whether it was a TBR book, a new release, or a possible review book as I did just read one two weeks ago and I still have another waiting for me on that kindle I keep forgetting I have. Lol.

I might still throw in a discussion post every once in awhile if something sparks a thought. But yeah. This year I decided I wanted a stress free reading environment other than trying to complete my Goodreads as I will likely try to at least one up last year's total as Goodreads did those stupid extra stars for you when you hit certain goals, like reading every month. Ugh, why did they have to go and do that? And I keep putting in the back of my head I need to get caught up on JLA's books which are now in the 600+ club. Definitely can't one up myself there with my reading speed! Lol. I might have to ignore those extra checks from Goodreads and just focus on those 50 books!

So that's my "goals" for this year for my blog. Just low key happy reading time and seeing my progress with maybe some discussion posts here but with no commitment goal in mind!

Are you taking part in any challenges this year? Normally I just did the discussion post challenge, a TBR and maybe a new release one but this year I am going for 100% stress free...maybe 99% with Goodreads involved. I'm already "on track" with my goal instead of being ahead. So the pressure is on!