At the start of every year, I feel the urge to reset my reading life. Not with a long list of books I must finish, but with a clearer sense of how I want reading to fit into my days. This year, I’m less interested in numbers and more interested in intention.

Last year reminded me that my reading habits shift with my energy and my schedule. Some months I read nonstop. Other months I barely picked up a book. Audiobooks surprised me. I didn’t love all of them, but I did enjoy having stories in my ears while doing everyday things. Most of all, I learned that forcing myself to read never works.

This year, I want to read more books that match my mood. I want stories that pull me in without feeling like work. I want to spend more time with authors I already love and give myself permission to reread favorites when that’s what I need. I also want to keep experimenting with format, especially audiobooks, without feeling like I have to finish every single one.

I want less pressure. Less guilt about unfinished books. Less chasing trends just because everyone else is reading them.

One thing that’s helped me ease up on reading pressure is using a simple Google Sheets reading tracker. I use it to notice patterns and habits rather than to chase numbers. It gives me structure without making reading feel like work.

I don’t need to keep up. I want reading to feel personal again.

More than anything, I want reading to feel comforting, curious, and joyful. I want it to be something I look forward to, not something I track or measure. If I read fewer books but enjoy them more, that feels like a win.

As this year unfolds, I’m choosing to be a reader who listens to herself. A reader who reads for pleasure, connection, and rest. That’s the kind of reader I want to be.

What kind of reader do you want to be this year?