Top Ten Tuesday: Goals for 2026

Inevitably, I always want to do better with my new year’s resolutions or goals than I actually do. Here’s my list of goals for 2025. Let’s got through them and you can see just how not great I did!

Log reading for the year on The Storygraph – Didn’t do it at all! I recorded most of my reading on Goodreads, but that’s a lot easier because my Kindle is connected to it directly so I don’t actively have to do anything for eBooks, of which I read a lot last year.

Clear out some of my TBR books I own – Nope! For whatever reason, once a book enters my personal library, it will sit there. It’s as if I feel like it’s “safe” because I don’t have to return it to the library, but I don’t always force myself to read them!

Declutter my bookshelves – I actually had to do this! I networked with a number of publishers at the ALA conference last June and I needed to find room for a bunch of new titles. Plus, by creating my new book nook, I moved some books on to those shelves opening up a little more room in my office!

Try more audiobooks – I read a few audiobooks this year. I found that I enjoy listening to audiobooks while I walk around the neighborhood getting my steps in. It’s kind of a “kills two birds with one stone” situation and it works for me. Hopefully, once it starts warming up, I’ll get back out to walking more.

Choose reading over scrolling social media – I can always do better with this one. My phone is so accessible all the time and I don’t always have a book next to me on the couch. I kept this on my goals for 2026 because I think it’s something I can work on again!

And since I’m not sure how much you know about me, reader, I notoriously don’t include a “read X number of books” as a goal each year. I find the pressure of trying to hit a specific target is more stress than it’s worth. I want to pick and choose books that catch my eye, I want to read books that entertain, engage, and teach me something. But, I don’t want to have to worry about how many books I’ve read each year. So, with that being said, here are just five bookish goals for 2026.

Goals for 2026

Keep updated with book reviews on social media

As I mentioned above, I’ve connected with a couple of publishers and did a great job throughout December, posting book reviews to my Instagram account. I’m hoping that I can keep this process up and maybe even create some additional content for social media too!

Read more middle grade and YA titles

While I’m aware of a ton of middle grade and YA titles, I’m really hoping to spend more time actually reading middle grade and YA titles. It’s definitely more of a time commitment, but it’s something I want to do this year.

Create themed 2026 book lists for holiday gifts

Each year I create an adorable (if I do say so myself) gift guide of picture books, but I’d love to create some wider book lists as gift guides, hence the reading of middle grade and young adult titles this year.

Update Etsy shop

My Etsy shop is a work in progress and one that isn’t really making me any money. It’s time to take a closer look at what I have available and making a concerted effort to promote the items I have and maybe launch some new ideas.

Choose reading over scrolling

As I said earlier, I think it’s important to pick up a book rather than scrolling mindlessly on Instagram. So, I want to make it a point to read rather than scroll this year.

I’ve got plenty of other ideas and goals for my personal life this year, but I’m not going to bore you with those right now! What are your bookish goals for 2026? Are you planning to read a certain number of books, a new genre or try out a reading challenge? Leave a comment below, I’d love to hear!

Top Ten Tuesday was created by The Broke and the Bookish in June of 2010 and was moved to That Artsy Reader Girl in January of 2018. It was born of a love of lists, a love of books, and a desire to bring bookish friends together.