For What It's Worth


Tuesday, January 9, 2018

tell me something tuesday: Goals for 2018


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Tell Me Something Tuesday is hosted by Rainy Day Ramblings and discusses a wide range of topics from books to blogging.

Topic: Goals for 2018

As I’ve mentioned on here many times before, I don’t like goals. Too much pressure and I crack like an egg. I do have a few book-ish things I want to keep in mind while heading into the new year though. Other than my Goodreads challenge and READ MY OWN DAMN BOOKS, it’s all kind of vague-ish so if I do it yay! but if I don’t that’s cool too.

Challenges for the challenge challenged

My only official goal is Goodreads. It’s the only reading challenge I ever do and I start a little lower (50 books) and usually up it as I go. Since I read over 200 books in 2017 I felt ambitious and picked 100 books for 2018. Let’s hope that doesn’t come back to haunt me. lol

2018 Reading Challenge

2018 Reading Challenge
Karen has read 1 book toward her goal of 100 books.
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view books        


blog about it challengeI signed up for Herding Cats Burning Soup’s Blog All About It Challenge 

It’s pretty low key and more of a post prompt than a high pressure challenge. And Anna is always super laid back about the challenges she hosts – so if I can’t join in one month – no worries.

“Each month there's a different prompt that you can interpret as you'd like then create a blog post around it.

January’s prompt is winter and I’ve already been collecting a few ideas for my post.



Books & Where to Find Them

I did an excellent job with limiting my review requests, Netgalley and impulse purchases last year so I want to keep on that track.

I STILL need to wrangle my physical TBR pile under control. I currently have around 80-90 books and would like it get it down closer to 50 or less at any given time. Seems easy because that’s not a huge number but I said – cracks under pressure!

I also want o take better advantage of things I already pay for and free resources to obtain new books.

I have Amazon Prime and that includes Prime Reading which gives you access to thousands of books, magazines and audio books. I used it a bit to try out graphic novels and magazines last year and I want to use it even more in 2018 to read books in genres I might not necessarily buy on my own. I

I also have Kindle Unlimited, which I do use regularly, but I want to see if it’s been worth the price. I did get it at 40% off during Prime Days but the quality isn’t always the best so is it worth it? I need to explore outside of romance a bit more and decide if it’s worth renewing or is Prime Reading more than enough fr how I read.

I updated my library card since I hadn’t been in over a decade. I now have access to the online library which will work much better for me than going there to check out physical books.

Blogging

Just keep on keepin' on!

I seem to have hit a groove that works for me. I’m super relaxed and seat of my pants about it. I have a small but loyal and interactive group of followers and that makes me happy. I know that everyone has a different style and goal with blogging so I always want to add YOU DO YOU but for now, I think I finally came out the other side of my years long blogging rut.

WORD up

I already posted about my One Word choice (rather than a New Year resolution and you can check it out here if you missed it.

Going the distance

We bought bikes this Christmas and I guess the #1 thing would be to use them! We had bikes many, many years ago and they rusted due to neglect. lol

20171210_084618
I found a trail not too far from our house that has gorgeous views and one trail is about 5 miles round trip.


I do workout, but grudgingly, and I have crappy endurance.

While we’ve walked the 5 miles a couple of times, I would love to be able to make it on my bike. Without passing out or not being able to walk for a week when I’m done though :-)



What are your goals for 2018? Reading, blogging or other?

44 comments:

  1. Ah, so your goals are like mine, vague-ish things to keep in mind but not stress too much about! But girl, you should totally be taking advantage of KU! I don't have it, but I have a list saved of books available that I want to read in case I do decide to try it. Good luck w/ your goals!

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    1. Yeah - I just can't with set in stone goals. I freak out and shut down or do the exact opposite lol

      I do use KU a lot! But some of the quality is ehhh. Like, I wouldn't have bought the books even though I don't regret reading them ya know? I usually just go for what's recommended via friends/twitter though and I need to explore on my own a bit more. Try different genres maybe or choose because it's something I'M interested in - not a an impulse one click.

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  2. I think my bike has rusted to, ugh. Maybe I'll do something about it because I do want to be more active this year.

    One of my long-term goals is to read the books I own as well, luckily I don't buy that many books so it's not too overwhelming but it's still ridiculous!

    And I just learned about Prime Reading; I'm going to have to look into it some more.

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    1. We stored our last ones in the shed but have the new ones in the garage - staring me down every morning lol so I'm hoping that gives me the kick in the pants I need.

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  3. I also picked a word for this year, I'm never good at resolutions so I like the idea of having a focus word (Embrace).

    I think I've changed my GoodReads goal every year. Up/Down lol. I say it's a goal to read x amount of books, but it's more of a fluid goal for me for sure. I need it to say completed! I hope you hope your year is awesome! :)

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    1. That's a great word Kimberly.

      I'm pretty flexible with my Goodreads goal. I usually start at 50 and go from there so maybe I'm sabotaging myself with 100 lol

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  4. I have never made an actual goal about how many books to read, but I average 1-2 a week. My TBR pile gets longer and longer though.

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    1. I always list it but really it's not anything I worry about too much. I read really fast so it's always kind of high. But if I don't feel like reading or whatever it's ok with me.

      Those TBR piles!! I cut back so much last year but I need to catch up on all the previous years books.

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  5. Great goals, Karen! I really need to tackle my TBR, which has just gotten out of control the past year (oh, the dangers of working at a bookstore!) and I meant to do that in December, but then I got the flu. Hopefully I'll be able to physically cull it and get it more realistic shape. I'll have to check out the challenge you're doing, even if I don't officially sign up for it. Here's to a great 2018!

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    1. My problem is all the cons I went to since 2011. I didn't go to nay last year which helps me at least get a small grip on it but this year is actually obliterating that pile! lol

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  6. I forgot to mention the GR challlenge! Sigh

    But great goals! yes read those books you got

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    1. I neeeeeeed to! They're just sitting there - judging me lol

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  7. I think I'm discovering that most people who read a lot of books do it with the help of audio books. Is that how you get to 100 books per year? Or are you a traditional reader?

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    1. No, I can't do audio books. i get too distracted lol I read really fast. I can easily read one book per day and average about 20-ish books per month.

      Last year I read just over 200 and I would say, of those, at least 50% were novellas - the other 50 % regular length books.

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  8. We don't want you cracking like an egg!!! Great goals...I definitely need to try to find my groove again blogging. And I am seriously thinking about joining that discussion challenge.

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    1. It took me about 2 years to fully find my groove and actually be happy about blogging again.

      I'm blogging totally different now though. I don't always post regularly and it's not always about books anymore but that's what's working for me at the moment and I just go with it.

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  9. Hang in there on the endurance, just keep doing it and you will get there. When we got our new elliptical, I could barely do five minutes and then my muscles were screaming, and I had been walking regularly before that. Anyway, I did 25 minutes today, my endurance has slowly built up. I feel so much better too. Love your readign goals. I am also going through and reading many of my blacklisted books. Have a lovely week, Karen!

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    1. Oh I just hate exercise lol I can make about 20 minutes in interval training and forget about the elliptical. We have one too and I hate it.

      I do not get endorphin highs after I work out lol

      I'm thinking the bike is different though. More just a day out than specifically a workout so I hope that will work better. I'm up to 2 miles just riding around my neighborhood.

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  10. Quote:
    "I have a small but loyal and interactive group of followers and that makes me happy."
    BIG YES! That's the best thing, and the one I'm striving for. I hope becoming a more reliable blogger will help.

    On a side note...you know we never fail to come back because we're curious about the new banner/template, don't you? 😂

    I hope you'll manage to strike a truce with your new bike...and any wandering squirrel with suicidal tendencies!

    Kill that TBR list, lay back and enjoy the ride! Happy 2018 again!

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    1. For the longest time I couldn't figure out the right size and look for this new blog layout to do the changes and the site I used to be able to do my sidebar pic links started charging so... It's fun for me to do though.

      If I get chased by a suicidal (or homicidal!) bear on the trail I'm DONE lol

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  11. Just keep blogging or whatever makes you happy. You will be able to bike that 5 miles in no time at all. You will also keep reading that list just fine <3

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  12. I need to pick a few more challenges for this year :)

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  13. Vague-ish goals are still goals and these are good ones! Yay for a library card. I love using the online library access. I need to check out the Blog All About It challenge. Good luck with the goals!

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    1. I'm ok with them as long as they aren't set in stone so I don't feel like it's pass or fail.

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  14. These are still great goals. :) I don't like to set mine too high so that I'm overwhelmed. Biking is great exercise!! I want to use my library more this year.

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    1. I need to set up the online account for the library and start using it. I hope it works better than going there lol

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  15. We have bikes but haven’t used them I think close to a year now. Yeah, we’ve been so busy but lazy. Not proud of it. One of Goal this year is to have as much as physical activities as possible. Anyway, good luck with your challenges this year. I’m terrible at doing challenges. Never succeeded. I did manage to cut my book budget the last two months though. So proud of it.

    I hope you have a wonderful week, my friend. Enjoy your books. 😘😁❤️

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    1. When we bought our first bikes, there were lots of quiet roads to ride on but then they built houses everywhere so there's traffic. Hauling them to trails was too much effort lol but we found one less than a mile from us and it's beautiful too so fingers crossed we keep up with it.

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  16. I love biking! I purchased one with a stroller attachment after William was born! We went everywhere on that thing and loved it! It's not big enough now for him and the girls, so it's been neglected. I miss our adventures on it, and I hope that we'll be able to start again soon. The girls still aren't quite old enough to ride in it anyways, but maybe W and I can start making new trips. I'll have to build my endurance back up.

    I have an issue with impulse buying and requesting. Then I feel obligated to read those books even if I'm not in the mood for them. I'm also trying to build my NetGalley back up since I took off all those years. It's a process! I'm trying to remember my word for the year: Balance.

    Do You Dog-ear?

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    1. I hope you can get back to riding and find that balance. That's tough with all the kiddos around!

      I'm pretty good at the requesting/buying now. My problem is reading all the books from the impulse grabbing at cons years back lol

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  17. I don't make goals either and I don't usually do any of the reading challenges. Good luck with your goals.

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    1. I only do the one but I don't really pressure myself about it or feel bad if I don't make it.

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  18. I always say to myself not to make goals for the New Year but I end up making them anyway. Otherwise I feel like I don't try to get things done at all.
    A 5 mile walk is a pretty long walk! Just trying to run/walk 3.1 miles takes forever. At least with me.
    You reminded me I need to take my bike out for a spin more often. Problem is it's super heavy.
    Hope you have a great year!

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    1. If goals work for you then that's great!

      I don't walk 5 miles all the time and honestly it's only when my husband drags me lol I do walk 1 mile regularly because of the dogs.

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  19. My goal is to write a post about my goals hahaha. Idk but I'm starting the year feeling all behind. I think I set my GR goal at 120, same as last year, and then I was able to surpass that. I can't believe I used to read 200+ books - not interested in that pace anymore.
    Happy (belated) New Year!
    Jen Ryland Reviews

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    1. I'm surprised I read that much last year. I think if I broke it down though a lot of those books were shorter or novella length.

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  20. I keep thinking of getting a bike again but I don't really live in a good place to ride a bike. There isn't that many places to go and my neighborhood doesn't have a sidewalk. I hope you can use yours a lot this year though. That's great you are in a good blogging groove. I also want to read more of my own books this year.

    -Lauren
    www.shootingstarsmag.net

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    1. That was our problem before. We started out having all these empty roads in our area but then they built houses everywhere. The traffic was too bad to ride. Then the closest trail required a bike hitch...blah blah blah lol

      Kevin has a truck now though so they're easy to load and the new trail is just a mile from my house.

      So fingers crossed that I stick with it!

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  21. I didn't do any resolutions for this year, why bother? lol have Amazon Prime too bit never really use the books component of it- I need to look into that.

    I kinda feel the same way about blogging, I'm sorta comfortable where I'm at and that's a good feeling. No pressure! :)

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    1. You should! There are a lot of thrillers featured on there and that seems to be what your'e reading a lot of now.

      I also get an email for Amazon First Reads which is kind of like their ARC program https://www.amazon.com/kindle-dbs/firstreads You can choose one book per month.

      I'm trying to utilize it more since I'm paying for it lol

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  22. I'm the same way with challenges, so I'm doing the GR thing and trying to read between 3-5 books per month from my physical TBR. Even that is almost enough pressure to crack me like an egg, as you said, haha. Oh my gosh, grudging gym-goers unite! The only thing that motivates me is cute workout clothes. 😂

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  23. Sounds like a good plan for the year. I love me some challenges/goals, though. It's the list maker in me. I like being able to add little check marks and bullet points and cross things off. lol

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