How Setting a Reading Goal Changed My Life

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Books have always been a big part of my childhood. I grew up surrounded by stories, spending hours lost in new worlds and characters. But somewhere along the way, as life got busier, that habit quietly faded. Days turned into months, and before I knew it, I was spending more time scrolling through social media or engaged in my other hobbies than turning the pages of a book.

At the start of this year, I decided to change that. I set a simple but realistic goal, which is to read 12 books within the year. One book a month didn’t sound too ambitious, but it was enough to remind me of how much I used to love reading. What I didn’t expect was how quickly that goal would reignite my passion. By April, I had already finished all 12 books.

That early success felt amazing. It gave me momentum, so I raised the bar this time to 24 books for the year. And to my surprise, I hit that goal too by October.

Looking back, what made the biggest difference wasn’t the number of books I read, but how reading changed my everyday life. I started reaching for a book instead of my phone whenever I had a spare moment. Those endless minutes of doom scrolling were replaced by quiet, meaningful time spent with stories that inspired me, taught me, and sometimes just helped me unwind. This doesn’t mean I completely stopped using my phone, but the amount of time I spent on it noticeably reduced. I also started carrying a book wherever I went, so whenever I had a few minutes to spare, I would read instead of scrolling through my phone.

Not every month went perfectly. Some months, I devoured five books without realising it. Other times, I couldn’t finish a single one. But that’s part og the beauty of setting a goal. It's not about perfection, it’s about progress.

Through this journey, I’ve rediscovered how much joy and clarity reading brings. It has improved my focus, reduced stress, and given me a sense of calm that I rarely found while staring at screens. Reading also helped me think more deeply, express myself better, and even sleep more peacefully at night. Each book added something new. A lesson, a perspective, or simply a few hours of escape that felt good for the soul.

Now, it’s not only about completing a goal anymore; it’s become a lifestyle I genuinely love. Books have once again found their place in my everyday rhythm, and I’m grateful I decided to make time for them.

If you’ve been waiting to read more but haven’t known where to start, begin small. Maybe one book a month, or even a few pages a day. Carry a book with you, replace a few minutes of scrolling with a few minutes of reading, and let yourself get lost in a story. You’ll be surprised how quickly it becomes something you look forward to.