2026: A Year for Slowing Down
2025 wasn’t a wildly successful year in terms of personal goals.
I barely hit my target of wanting to read 52 books. I first drafted project: wisteria, but I made no progress on project: junebug — and neither one of them is anywhere near being publish ready. And as for posting more regularly to social media, well…does it count if I only did it for December?
But I’m okay with not achieving a lot, because what I got instead were important lessons learned. Over the past few weeks, I’ve made a handful of decisions for things that I want to bring into 2026 with me — and others that I want to leave in 2025.
THINGS I’M DITCHING IN 2025
Reading Streak & Reading Challenge
I’ve been a Goodreads member since 2011, and over the years I’ve attempted the Reading Challenge several times. I used to be the kid of person to aim for 100 books in a year, but I’ve never been that kind of reader. On average I can get through a book a week, so 52 books a year is a safe bet. Despite this, for the last few years I’ve set my goal at a safe 26. Something I know I can breeze past with ease and aim for my real goal of 52, which…kinda defeats the purpose?
Likewise, in 2024 I joined Fable. I liked it for its reading streak, and quickly decided that in 2025 I was going to read every single day. Did I achieve that goal? Absolutely. Did I enjoy it? Not in the slightest.
I had off days where I would have preferred to go to bed early instead of reading a chapter. There were books where I got to 75% and would have preferred to DNF, but it feels like a waste to throw away all that time and another addition to the yearly number. So I pushed through, and it absolutely made reading a chore more than a hobby, something I came to dread at times.
So in 2026, I’m ditching both. No more Reading Challenge. No more reading streak. In fact, I’m probably not going to pick up a book today at all — and there’s nothing and nobody that will make me feel guilty about that.
Influencer Culture & Social Media
Okay, so I’m not quitting social media, but I am quitting the idea that I could ever have shelves as beautiful as those I see pasted all over Instagram and Pinterest. Maybe future-Renée will have the space and funds to drop on floor-to-ceiling shelves, rolling ladder, special editions and sprayed edges galore, but present-Renée can’t swing any of that right now. She’s got bills to pay and a house to save for.
So I’m adopted a “look, don’t touch” mindset to those images. I will absolutely keep following those aesthetic accounts and living vicariously through them, but I will no longer chase the dream of having my shelves look like that. That dream is on a shelf of its own for now.
Likewise, for social media in general, I’m ditching the idea that I should have a schedule and going back to the way I used to post — sporadically, whenever I felt like it. Posting three times a week throughout December was fine, but it’s not something I can see myself keeping up, especially when I’d prefer to use that time to write. And with the algorithm changing as much as it does? I don’t have the energy to keep up with that.
Posting once or twice a month works better for me, especially right now when I don’t have much to say. Once I’m ready to start promoting a new book, it’ll amp up. But for now? Frequent posting is definitely not for me, even if it means the algorithm will never be my friend.
Bookish Drama
I am so, so, so over this one. For a while it was fine. There was drama, but it wasn’t overwhelming — an author publishing something unsavoury here, another stirring up ARC drama there. I used to be excited about checking Lady Whistlethreads on Threads every Monday, but at some point it just…got to be too much.
There’s been so much drama this year: writers in reader’s spaces; rules around ARC reviews; generative AI usage in “writing”, “designing”, and advertising; heated political bullying in book groups; hate around people who read 100, 200, 300 books in a year…
Things have been brutal. It’s gotten to the point that (on Facebook, in particular) I’ve stopped commenting on anything that gives even a whiff of drama. I don’t want to know her. Whether I’m involved or not, it’s bad for my mental health, and nobody needs more of than in their life.
So, goodbye drama. I’m no longer listening.
Buying Physical Media
I have a lot of books. Like, a lot. I’ve been an avid reader for over twenty years, and still own most of the books I bought even as a teenager. Unfortunately, I also only have a small space for said books, so most of them have ended up in storage over the years. I also hate clutter, and frequently go into a frenzy where I want to purge everything I own.
I got into one of those moods this week, so I bought a few storage containers and shoved a whole lot more of my books into storage, only leaving out a few favourites that I intend to reread in the coming year, and the twenty or so books on my physical TBR. I’ve been left with nice, clean shelves (not aesthetic, but they make me happy) and a rule to myself that I will stop buying not only books, but also CDs and vinyls.
As much as it pains me, I am going digital. I signed up for Kindle Unlimited. I have six or seven library cards attached to Libby. Spotify is good enough for listening to music, and if I really want to listen to an album start to finish, I buy it on iTunes.
I’ll make an exception if I absolutely love a book or album, but for the most part I’m saying goodbye to physical media in an effort to say goodbye to clutter.
THINGS I’M STARTING IN 2026
Unnecessary Purchases Spreadsheet
Speaking of clutter and cutting back on purchases, I want to stop spending as much in general. So I drew myself up a spreadsheet that details all of my monthly bills, subscriptions, etc. to know how much I should have left at the end of every pay cycle. Of course, this spreadsheet has never accounted for other purchases I make. Especially the frivilous ones!
Now I have a second tab on that spreadsheet dedicated to Unnecessary Purchases.
Every time I make a purchase for something that isn’t necessary, it’s going on the spreadsheet — what it is, how much I paid, and why I bought it. Then I have a section for a three-month follow-up where I have to tell myself whether I’ve used said purchase, and if I regret it.
So yes, I will be shaming myself into spending less. Should be fun! (And hopefully effective.)
Turning Writing Back Into a Hobby
In 2024, I decided that I was going to start taking my writing seriously so I could attempt to make an at least part-time career out of it. And, honestly, since then everything has been pretty downhill.
I spend a lot of time asking myself questions about my work: Is my male love interest enough of a bad boy? Is this the kind of plot that people will like? I know that a lot of successful indie authors are successful specifically because they write to market and rapid release, but I’m not good at doing either. Especially when the genres I’m interested in are currently being flooded with heavy romance and smut. (No shame. Just not really my thing.)
It took me far too long to convince myself that I don’t need to worry about any of that.
This year I’m reclaiming my love of writing by turning it back into a hobby. It doesn’t matter if nobody else likes what I write as long as I do, and I’m bringing that philosophy with me.
Making Time for Other Hobbies
Social media has been overwhelming lately, but one kind of post I’ve been seeing and vibing with is people talking about how they’ve made more time for their hobbies in the last year, and how good it’s been for their mental health.
Alongside turning writing back into a hobby, I’m going to take a leaf out of those peoples’ books and make time for my other hobbies, too.
I want to keep learning to paint (I’ve been dabbling with watercolour and gouche!). I want to find more cosy games to fall into (Tiny Bookshop and Stardew Valley held me captive for a long while!). I’ve seen people romanticising their reading time by grabbing a comfy blanket, a favourite drink, and lighting a candle, and that sounds like a great way to spend a rainy afternoon!
It’s time to put down the phone and get off Netflix, and these hobbies will have me doing exactly that.
Read Less, Review More
Now that I’m not worrying about reading streaks and challenges, I’ll be choosing the books I read more carefully. I’m in my DNF era and if it’s not gripping me, I’ll be trading it for something that is. Life’s too short to spend time on things you’re not enjoying!
That said, I want to review more of the books I read! As an indie author I know how important reviews are, but I also know I’m terrible at leaving them — and writing them. Which is why 2026 is going to be a year of writing more reviews for me.
At some point I want to sit down and figure out a process for myself in terms of how I rate and what goes into a review, but for now I’ll probably still be going on vibes. But as long as I’m reviewing, that’s all that matters!
Hopefully by the end of the year I’ll be a pro!
Overall, 2026 for me is going to be a year of slowing down and getting back to my roots — as a reader, as a writer, as a person. My hope is that by the end of the year I’ll be in a happier, healthier place. And if there’s a finished novel at the end of it, that would be fantastic!
What are you leaving in 2025 and bringing into 2026?
