2026: No Goals, Just Good Intentions
This week’s Top Ten Tuesday topic is all about Goals for 2026.
If I stuck strictly to that topic, this could turn out to be my shortest post of all time. Why? Because I’ve decided that my one and only goal for 2026 is not to have any goals.
Some bloggers seem to relish having multiple and often very specific goals. They might be numerical as in the number of books they want to read in 2026, or how much of a reduction in their TBR they want to achieve). Or aspirational (eg, aiming for more diversity in genre or geography.)
If that’s what works for them, I’ll wish them good luck. I was of those goal-setters once but in recent years I’ve moved more and more away from the idea of having targets for my reading. It’s been so liberating. I’ve loved having the freedom to read whatever took my fancy in 2025 instead of “worrying” whether it fitted into any of my plans.
So I’m going to make 2026 a goal-free year.
Instead of specific goals/targets/plans I’m leaning more towards the idea of using “directions” to act as a sort of general framework for my reading.
Here’s what I’m thinking as a framework so far…
1. Beware shiny new objects
Sometimes I just have to shut off all the chatter about what’s just been published, what’s about to be published and what we can expect to see in the months ahead. It’s far too tempting to click that buy/borrow button.
The thing is that when I do succumb, I’m often disappointed. I don’t know whether the rise of creative writing courses is to blame, guiding (encouraging?) newbie authors to adopt particular formulas and writing styles designed to appeal to the mass market. Split time narratives and family secrets uncovered seem especially popular.
Whatever the reason, the result is frustrating. There’s obviously the cost factor (an insignificant issue given the way book prices just keep on rising). But there’s also the fact that by succumbing to the new stuff, I’m neglecting what I already have on the shelves.
So in 2026 I’m going to try and reign in my curiosity about shiny new things. That doesn’t mean I’ll stop buying new publications, just that I’ll select them more wisely. I want more of my reading to come from my TBR stack and my Classics Club list. By “oldies” I don’t necessarily mean books published centuries ago; just books that have been around on my shelves for a long time.
2. Charge up the reading projects
I’m really good at starting new reading projects. I’m less good at completing them. I currently have four reading projects underway. Progress on each of these was — putting it kindly — stately in 2026.
I did reasonably well with the Classics Club project, reading eight titles from my list. But only one book from my Emile Zola project and one from Adventures in African literature. The Anthony Trollope project was neglected completely.
If I’m to make any inroads into these projects, I need to give them more attention. Four, I’ve decided, is too many. So I shall bid farewell to Anthony Trollope. I enjoyed the Chronicles of Barsetshire though they were incredibly long winded at times. I fear the Palliser novels could be similar and I don’t think I have the energy for the whole series. The individual books are on my Classics Club anyway so if I should get a sudden yearning for more Trollope I can just pick one of them.
3. Explore
Looking at what I read in 2026, it was sad how much it lacked geographic diversity.
The majority of the authors came from the UK, USA, Canada and Australia. France scored just one, ditto Sweden, Norway and New Zealand. In contrast to previous years I read nothing from Asia or India.
What’s particularly disappointing is that particularly the years between 2013 and 2023 when I was doing my World of Literature Project. That started because I felt I was reading within too narrow a geographic band. And now look what’s happened — I’ve fallen back into bad habits. I could kick myself because I loved the way that project exposed me to completely different cultures and ideas.
This year, I want to try and rectify that by reading more broadly from around the world. Having joined an online event tonight with Ann Morgan, author of A Year of Reading the World, I’m now fired up to get travelling.
Those are my non-plan, plans for 2026. I’d love to know what you think. If you’re a planner or a goal-setter would you ever think of having a year of completely unrestricted, goal-less reading? Or does that idea send shivers down your spine?
.
Danielle @ The Part Everyone Skips
I love the “beware shiny new objects” goal! Ha.
BookerTalk
I’ve already succumbed to one new book this month…
Liz Dexter
A good idea. I have a plan to read my hardback books before the paperbacks come out, otherwise I’m just wasting money – I’ve been picking off those whose paperbacks had come out before I even acquired them this month to keep things tidy and because they still tend to take up more space on the shelves, and that has gone reasonably well so far. Apart from that I have the general plan to get the TBR down and it is inching down a bit (as in, I can fit my birthday books on without having to form Piles), so there’s that. I’ll be taking part in various challenges but that’s more for the community of things and should be done from the TBR with any luck … Happy reading this year!
BookerTalk
That seems a very sound plan. I don’t tend to buy hardbacks except on very rare occasions. If there is a new release I want I’ll usually get it from the library unless it’s from one of my absolute favourite authors
Marwah @ The Booklore Fairy
I love the idea of having directions instead of goals! It makes it less stressful to try to complete them. Shiny new things are certainly hard to resist, but I believe in you! 😊
If you’d like to visit, here’s my TTT: https://thebooklorefairyreads.wordpress.com/2026/01/20/top-ten-tuesday-goals-for-2026/
BookerTalk
Easier the achieve and also less stressful.
Calmgrove
I saw a comment somewhere where somebody who just completed her doctorate had declared that 2026 would be her Year of Frivolous Reading. As it happens, that’s my resolution every year, and as you’d expect it never happens … So I’m not going to recommend you try it!
BookerTalk
Frivolous reading wouldn’t get me excited – why waste time on silly books? Unless she has a different understanding of the word.
Calmgrove
I think what she means by ‘frivolous’ is reading whatever she’s in the mood for rather than the endless specialist material she had to study for her higher degree.
BookerTalk
I can buy into that approach – I did a lot of it last year.
shelleyrae @ Book'd Out
I have found some sort of structure and accountability works best for me.
Thanks for sharing your #TTT
Susan
I’m the same way. I tend to stick to reading books by white female authors from the U.S., Canada, the U.K., and Australia. I DEFINITELY need to broaden my horizons. Good luck to both of us!
Happy TTT (on a Wednesday)!
Susan
http://www.blogginboutbooks.com
lydiaschoch
Yeah, this is why I like to wait several months to a year or so after a new book comes out to read it in many cases. It’s helpful to read reviews and see what its strengths and weaknesses might be if I’m not already familiar with the author’s work.
This Reading Life
I have some ongoing projects to give my reading year a little structure, but mostly I just read what I want when I want. This year the project is non-fiction. I always read a Zola in April and Bill usually has an Australian classic in mind that I try to join in. NetGalley has become my biggest problem in the past year – I now feel obligated to read them above all others.
BookerTalk
A little structure is fine because it still gives you plenty of flexibility. It’s easy to get sucked into NetGalley – I found I was clicking on requests late at night but never getting around to reading the books so I took a two year holiday. Have only just returned to it
This Reading Life
Good idea!
kaggsysbookishramblings
I think those are excellent intentions and much better than having too many plans or goals. I always make loose ones but I’m never going to beat myself up if I don’t stick to them!!
BookerTalk
Definitely not worth getting stressed out about. Too many other things in the world happening that are stressful enough without adding to them
Jane
Reading intentions is a good idea, this year I’m actually doing a bit of planning!
BookerTalk
A bit of planning I can cope with – I find if I start a plan it somehow gets bigger and bigger. So probably best if I steer clear
radiosarahc
I don’t set specific goals either, I do have reading intentions. Great plan for 2026, happy reading 😊
BookerTalk
So glad to find a like minded person!!
A Life in Books
Goals are associated with work rather than pleasure for me. I think your plan is much better. Happy reading, Karen!
BookerTalk
Especially this time of the year when we had to review our achievements for the previous year (upon which any salary increase was determined) and set our goals for the year ahead. So stressful…
whatcathyreadnext
To me these sound like goals!
BookerTalk
It was drummed into me at work that goals had to be SMART – Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-driven. None of my intentions are SMART
wadholloway
I have a series of ongoing projects (including, like you, Africa) which guide me towards my next read – between the inevitable ‘shiny new objects’. I don’t (I no longer) keep a count, so that reduces the guilt.
BookerTalk
We’re on the same wavelength in that case Bill. These ideas are just guidelines, not fixed plans
Shaharee
My only goal for 2026 is not to have any goals is a paradoxical, self-referential statement. Logically, it is a form of self-negating, or “performative contradiction,” similar to saying “I am not talking.”
BookerTalk
Not sure I understand you point sorry
FictionFan
Good luck with your non-targets! One of the reasons I do keep doing various challenges is exactly because of what you’ve found with your travelling – if I don’t make an effort, I fall back into my old ruts of British crime and new release fiction (and I do agree about the disappointing quality of a lot of it). Reading exactly what you feel like in the moment is the way to get most enjoyment, though – hope you find the perfect balance this year!
BookerTalk
I read more crime last year than normally. My brain just needed something not too demanding at certain points in the year. I wouldn’t want that to become a permanent thing though
curlygeek04
I completely understand the idea of not setting specific goals. I do have a number of challenges because I feel like if I don’t push myself, I may only read “shiny new things”. I share your wish to read more diversely geographically, and to read more of what’s on my shelf. I hope you have a wonderful year of reading in 2026!
BookerTalk
Those shiny new things have a lot to answer for…
I haven’t read your post on this yet so haven’t got up to speed on how many challenges you’re undertaking. If that helps you, then I’m glad. We’re all different so there’s plenty of scope for us to do what works for us individually
Lisa Hill
I like the idea of reading intentions. I don’t want to have goals either. I think they do suit a certain type of personality, and they can help people stay on track, but I have this nagging feeling that at least some of the goal-setting we see around us is steered by marketing departments.
BookerTalk
I thought it had more to do with people seeing others setting goals/joining challenges and thinking a) it sounded fun or b) they thought that was what they should be doing
Lisa Hill
I think that is how most of it is. Or the ones we follow, at least.
Carol
I love your thoughtful list of reading intentions! 🙌📚
BookerTalk
I kept changing my mind about what to call them
WordsAndPeace
Have a great reaing year! I love how you phrased your first intention!
My goals: https://wordsandpeace.com/2026/01/04/2026-reading-plans-and-challenges/
BookerTalk
I know you do well with a more structured approach.