Can I read 50 books this year? I could perfectly make up my mind by saying, “who has time for that?” I work full time and home educate my children, so adding more to the pot sounds crazy. Is it possible? Well, I’m being brave by setting my mind to read 50 books this year. I was inspired by Homegrown Learners‘ Mary Prather, when at the end of 2017, she shared a post about how she read 50 books in one year. I’m a book lover, but I have never implemented a set number of books to read before. I’m really motivated about this goal, and I feel very confident in pursuing it, not just for the plain achievement of reading 50 books, but because I’m carefully choosing the titles. I’m choosing books that will benefit me in fulfilling areas in my life that need improvement (spirituality, organization, homeschooling, personal growth).
COMMITING TO A DAILY BIBLE READING PLAN
First I decided that I would read my whole Bible in a year. Every time that I’ve tried to pursue this noble endeavor, I had lost the motivation after skipping several days, which in turn lead to just dropping the cause all together. This year, I decided to be more intentional about it, meaning that I’m committing to nurture a closer relationship with God and scheduling that time daily in my planner, and embracing as much as I can of it, dropping the worries about falling behind. I chose a plan that goes along with a devotional study from The Daily Grace Co.That alone has made a huge difference. Following a process of reading, meditating, and then writing my thoughts in the study guide has been keeping me motivated. I’m currently “behind”, but the reading happens daily, and that’s a win.
“TRUST IN THE LORD WITH ALL YOUR HEART…AND HE WILL MAKE STRAIGHT YOUR PATHS”
Would you believe that besides reading my Bible, I was able to read 6 books in one month? I did! I crushed January reading goals! I wasn’t expecting to read six books, but it makes me so happy, not only because I’m on track with that goal, but I have enjoyed every single one of those books, such that I surpassed my goal of three books! I truly believe that when you place God first, He makes every other goal easier to reach. I doing a combination of physical books and audio books was very time productive.
This is my fulfilled January list:
“Unstuffed: Decluttering Your Home, Mind, and Soul” by Ruth Soukup
Soukup doesn’t just talk about the home clutter, but also tackles the mental and spiritual clutter that holds us back from being our best. It brought peace to my soul and enthusiasm in tackling the clutters that invade my life.
“5 Days to a Clutter-Free House: Quick, Easy Ways to Clear Up your Space” by Sandra Felton and Marsha Sims
The authors offer several methods of getting rid of all the clutter in your home, including a plan on how to implement a team to help you get the job done quicker if you are lacking the motivation, and how to overcome the embarrassment of involving others if you decide that you need the help and support.
“Mere Motherhood: Morning Times, Nursery Rhymes, & my Journey toward Sanctification” by Cindy Rollins
First thing I said aloud when I finished it reading it: “I will re-read this one!”. Loved it! Rollins made me laugh with her genuine motherhood mishaps, she caused me to tear up at the realities of growing children, but above all, her implementation of a reading family culture that brought success to all 9 of her homeschooled children left me inspired to be a better reader and to continue reading with my children.
“Reading People: How Seeing the World Through the Lens of Personality Changes Everything” by Anne Bogel
Do you really know yourself? Your personality? You may think you do, but in this book, Anne guides you to a series of different personality descriptions and shares the sources to have yourself tested. It was quite a surprise for me to find out that I’m opposite of what I thought I was! It is also a helpful guide to understanding others in a way that you can work along with them and to be more aware of how to approach different people.
“The 12 Week Year: Get More Done in 12 Weeks than Others Do in 12 Months” by Brian P. Moran and Michael Lennington
Can I say that I’m so pumped up with this one? I have already started implementing some of it (I really need to get on it), and I’m seeing the difference already. This year for me is not just planning, but implementing productively.
“Your Best Year Ever: A 5-Step Plan for Achieving Your Most Important Goals” by Michael Hyatt
Identifying what matters the most and transform it into an actionable life goal is the basis of this book. Not only the planning is important, but in this book, Michael Hyatt provides plenty of examples for how to implement your goals.
THE SIX JANUARY TITLES:
I’m looking forward to crushing February reading goals, and with God’s help, I will.
Are you crushing your reading goals? What books would you recommend for me based on what I shared on this post?
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