Less Guilt, More Books: Reader Resolutions for the New Year

A new year brings fresh starts, hopeful plans, and—if you’re a reader—a dangerously optimistic TBR list.

January has a way of making us believe this is the year we’ll finally read all the books we already own, never abandon a story halfway through, and always remember to bring a book everywhere we go. (Bless our hopeful hearts.)

Instead of lofty, stress-inducing goals, what if this year’s reading resolutions were lighter, kinder, and—dare we say—more fun?

Here are a few reader resolutions for the new year worth keeping. Or at least worth laughing about when we forget them by February.

1. Read for Joy, Not Just Productivity

Let’s go ahead and say it out loud: reading is not a competition.

This year, resolve to read because you want to—not because a chart, challenge, or well-meaning friend says you should. One book a month or one book a week both count. Audiobooks count. Rereading an old favorite absolutely counts.

If a story brings comfort, laughter, or a moment of peace at the end of a long day, it’s doing holy work already.

2. Release the Guilt of the DNF

Not every book is meant to be finished—and that’s okay.

A book can be beautifully written, widely loved, and still not be right for you at this moment. Life is too short to push through stories that drain your joy instead of fueling it.

This year’s resolution: permission to close the book, whisper a polite “maybe another time,” and move on without shame.

3. Revisit Old Favorites Without Apology

There’s a certain comfort in returning to a story you already love.

Familiar characters. Beloved settings. That one scene you know is coming and still enjoy every single time.

Re-reading isn’t lazy—it’s restorative. Sometimes the book hasn’t changed, but you have—and that makes the story feel new all over again.

4. Try One New Thing (Just One)

New genres can be intimidating. So can unfamiliar authors or settings outside your usual reading lane.

Instead of overhauling your entire TBR, choose one small stretch this year:

• A genre you don’t usually read

• A new-to-you author

• A setting you’ve never visited (real or fictional)

If you love it, great. If not, see Resolution #2.

5. Leave a Review (Even a Short One)

This might be the simplest resolution—and one of the most meaningful.

Leaving a review doesn’t require polished prose or deep analysis. A sentence or two about what you enjoyed is enough. Those small reviews help other readers discover books they might love—and they deeply encourage authors who often work quietly behind the scenes.

Think of it as passing along a kindness. If a story made you smile, pause, or feel less alone, letting others know is a gift that keeps the story going.

6. Let Reading Fit Real Life

Reading doesn’t have to happen in perfectly curated moments.

It happens in waiting rooms, on lunch breaks, before bedtime, and sometimes in five-minute snippets while dinner is in the oven. (Multitasking saints, unite.)

Release the pressure to read “the right way.” The right way is the way that fits your life now.

7. Make Space for Stories That Matter

Some books entertain. Others gently remind us of hope, faith, love, and what matters most.

This year, leave room on your shelf—and in your heart—for stories that encourage, uplift, and point you toward truth, even in ordinary moments.

Those are the stories that tend to stay with us long after the last page.

A Final Resolution (The Most Important One)

Resolve to be kind to yourself as a reader.

Your reading life doesn’t need to look like anyone else’s. It just needs to bring joy, rest, and maybe a little laughter along the way.

Here’s to a year full of good books, grace-filled choices, and stories worth savoring—one page at a time.