2013 Goal: Reading

In my post about my New Year's Resolutions, I talked about how reading was one of the main things I wanted to focus on in 2013. Here are some of the ways I'm going to reach my goal of reading 30 books in 2013. Wanna read more too? Check out these tips!

1. Utilize Goodreads

Goodreads is an AMAZING little website. And it's not only a website--it's an app for your iPhone or iPad as well! Anything you do on the website will sync to all of your devices, and vice versa.

Goodreads is like a reading-centric Facebook. You make lists of the books you own, the books you want to read and the books you've finished. Besides that, there are daily polls, quotes, giveaways you can enter for advanced reader copies, reviews and, my favorite, virtual book clubs you can join. I joined two groups: Oprah's Book Club 2.0 and Classics Without All the Class. Both are reading books for the month of January, and then have discussion boards for them. So cool! I can't wait to get started on January's selections, The Twelve Tribes of Hattie by Ayana Mathis and The Age of Innocence by Edith Wharton.

Goodreads also has a nifty little widget now where you put in the number of books you want to read for 2013, and it'll remind you of your goal by having a progress bar on the side of your main page.

I've said this before, but friend me if you become a member of the site! I'm always interested in what other people are reading!

2. Put a limit on the amount of TV you watch

Instead of spending an half an hour channel surfing, I'd rather spend the time reading a good book. I'm going to try to only watch TV on school breaks, rather than following several TV shows at once. I might make an exception for The Walking Dead and Downton Abbey, but hey, at least they're not as bad as Here Comes Honey Boo Boo.

Even though I love that show. Please don't hate me.

If you can't make the full plunge and go cold turkey on TV, maybe try to only watch a half an hour or so each day, or follow a certain TV show. Track and see how much time you spend watching TV per day--maybe that time could be spent doing other things, like reading!

3. Use an E-reader

I know it sounds strange to a lot of people, but I've become so used to reading on a computer screen or my Nook that I like it MORE than reading from a physical copy. My generation has become so used to using technology that using it for reading seems like second nature.

If you don't mind reading from a screen, I think that the Nook Color is the perfect device for any reader. I love it because I can store so many books on the device. I usually read multiple books at once, so instead of carrying three or four books around, not knowing which one I'll be in the mood for, I just haul around my Nook. I export PDF readings that my college professors assign onto the device, instead of printing the readings out. This saves me a lot of paper and printer ink.

With my Nook Color, I can also highlight and take notes on books that I read for class. Even with a "fun" book, the search tool is perfect when a character from the first chapter of novel pops up again 700 pages later, and I don't remember who he was. I can just type his name in and it'll take me right to his first appearance.

If you don't like the computer-like feel of the Nook Color, Nook Tablet, Nook HD and Kindle Fire, there are also many alternative ereaders that use special technology to make the screen look as close to an actual page in a book as possible. Whatever the case, if you read as much as I do, make the investment in an ereader! It changes the whole reading experience for the better, at least in my opinion.

Are any of you on Goodreads? Do you have ereaders? And do you really think I'll make it until spring break watching barely any TV?

New Year = New Me

When I was younger, every New Year's Eve I would write down a list of 101 things I wanted to accomplish that year. They'd be easy, kid friendly things, like finishing up a color-by-the-numbers set, going to the beach and build a sandcastle, etc. 

Now that I'm older, I've decided to take the traditional resolution route. What was great about the "101 things" list is that it was filled with concrete goals to achieve. I think that's key to keeping your New Year's Resolutions--setting up concrete goals and plans on how to achieve them, then following through! 

Here are my five resolutions for 2013. I'll write separate posts on how I plan to achieve these goals, and will focus on them in my blog all throughout the year.

1. Read More
--Goal: 30 books this year
--Goal: No TV watching except during breaks

Personally, reading is much more fulfilling to me than watching TV. I've loved reading since I was three years old, and was always the girl in school who would read underneath her desk when the teacher wasn't looking. That being said, I'm going to try to stop watching TV this year and strive instead to focus that time towards reading. It's much more relaxing. When I'm watching a TV series on Netflix or Hulu, I get sucked into the "one more episode" vortex, telling myself I'll only watch one more Modern Family show before I study. Guess what happens? I watch Modern Family the rest of the night. Hopefully reading will get me out of this vortex.

I can't wait to share with all of you some of the books I'm reading. I have some great picks to share!

2. Be Persistent
--Goal: create a daily schedule and stick to it
--Goal: post at least 3 times a week on my blog

Yes, this blog was much more active in the summer. I guess that comes with the territory of being a student, but I still wish to be persistent by posting at least three times a week. Please, hold me to this! Bug me if I haven't posted in a while, I'm serious. I also want to create a daily schedule for school including study times. I want studying to become a habit, but also wish leave time in my day for fun things like reading and blogging.

3. Get Organized
--Goal: clean up your dorm room!

My dorm room is a mess, and I don't have any good excuse for it. I personally want to get everything organized by cleaning it up. I'll leave some helpful organization tips for living in a dorm room as I do so.

4. Get Healthy
--Goal: workout 30 min. 4 times a week
--Goal: cook as much as possible; 1200 calories per day

Ok, so this one isn't going that great so far. I have so many plans for getting healthier this year, but I just have to get the motivation to implement them. I'm going to be counting calories and cooking more at school--no more disgusting, unhealthy dining hall food. I also want to get fit. It's a dream of mine to run a 5k--I know, some of you are laughing at me right now, but it's true. Although it might not seem like much of an accomplishment, for a girl who has never played a team sport in her life, it is. So getting fit through exercise is one step towards this goal.

5. Be Positive!
--Goal: daily affirmations
--Goal: weekly "positive" post

I think I've mentioned this on my blog before, but it's hard for me to stay positive at times. I think I am naturally a pessimistic person, because I have to fight hard to think on the bright side of things. I also need to boost my self esteem, and I think I can do so through daily affirmations. Some people think affirmations are a joke, something to make fun of on SNL, but they really work! Once you repeat something to yourself over and over, you start to believe it.

I also want to write a weekly post featuring positive quotes and happy things that are going on in my life. There is goodness in this world, and I want to showcase it on this blog.

I'm sticking with my New Year's resolutions...who's with me? Comment below and tell me your 2013 resolutions, and pledge to stick with them! We're all in this together!