how my reading will change in 2025

 

january reads

Book lover, coffee drinker, kindle owner- a few phrases that describe me... now I'll add graduate student in two universities to this mix. This means that my focus will be divided and reading time will be curtailed for non-academic works.

I need fiction like some people need cream in their coffee so I won't make any loud, "I won't be reading fiction in 2025" statements. What I will say is that 2025 will be an even more selective  reading year than years past. 

I'm already a huge re-reader and so I don't seek to have high numbers of "books read" or anything like that. I just pick up what my soul leans towards and sink deeply into it. 

I read to access certain emotions and therefore reading is a therapeutic practice for me. I don't expect others to understand that, but it's true. This catalyst for reading makes it easy to ignore the trends and chase the Goodreads goal. It's really entertaining and fun to see others do it, and I enjoy watching that content, but alas that will also have to take a backseat in 2025.

Changes I'm anticipating making:

1. Reading less novels
2. Reading more poetry and short stories
3. Watching less BookTube (to keep FOMO at bay)
4. 5 total books purchased by the end of 2025
5. Keep a physical book journal (very simple- will post photos as I create it)
6. Return to BookTube for sprints

As the first day of my second university approaches, I have dnfed my first book of 2025. The highly selective lens that I must apply to my leisure literature is already in full swing. 

In summation

Reading lights up my soul. I read to heal myself... to access emotions that lie latent because my life is so stressful I can't keep my hand on the pulse of those intense emotions and remain functional. For this season of my life, I am focusing on reading what my soul craves and what entertains me.

I highly recommend that if you are struggling with your reading choices, you do a BookTube fast, listen to some calming music and then scroll your physical or digital shelves for any and all titles that call out to your heart. If you're the type of reader for whom that is too "touchy feely", I still implore you to seek the novels that you desire. Push against the trend to purchase tons more than you can read, and return (or enter) a slow, deep reading year. 

All the best in 2025 ☕️