I set a goal to read 24 books in 2019, and reading ended up being the self-care I needed during a challenging year.
At the beginning of the year, I set a goal to read two books a month. For a few years, I had met my goal of reading at least one book a month, and I felt like I needed to challenge myself a bit.
I absolutely love reading, but I don’t always make it a priority. Because, well, TV and social media exist. I often found myself mindlessly scrolling Instagram or spending too much time browsing Netflix to find a show to watch.
My word for 2019 was Nourish, and I wanted to focus on nourishing my body, mind, spirit, business, relationships and more. A part of that was spending less time on my phone and more time in the present moment and more time taking care of me.
For me, having a goal helps me make something more of a priority. I knew setting a reading goal would give me some motivation to read more and scroll less. And I ended up exceeding my goal! I finished my 24th book in November, and ended up reading two more in December.
I always feel a bit of pressure to read personal development books and business development books. My own personal growth is the foundation of my my health coaching business and I’m a self-taught entrepreneur.
But because the year was all about feeling nourished, I allowed myself to read whatever I wanted. Honestly, I was feeling burned out and overwhelmed by personal development and business development books. So I gave myself a break.
Throughout the year, I was drawn to female-centered suspense, memoirs, and biographies. Of the 26 books I read, just four were fiction. I guess I was really into reading about other people’s lives.
Reading ended up being an important part of my self-care in 2019. It was a challenging year in many ways, and reading provided me with a healthy distraction and a way to escape.
Here are the books I read in 2019…
1. The Death of Mrs. Westaway by Ruth Ware
2. Life Will Be the Death of Me by Chelsea Handler
3. This Will Only Hurt a Little by Busy Philips
4. Big Girl by Kelsey Miller
5. The Mister by EL James
6. Sunburn by Laura Lippman
7. Shrill by Lindy West
8. Rosemary: The Hidden Kennedy Daughter by Kate Clifford Larson
9. City of Girls by Elizabeth Gilbert
10. The Greatest Love Story Ever Told by Nick Offerman and Megan Mullaly
11. The Fabulous Bouvier Sisters by Sam Kashner
12. Dietland by Sarai Walker
13. The Girl on the Velvet Swing by Simon Baatz
14. Meditation for Fidgety Skeptics by Dan Harris
15. Hunger: A Memoir of (My) Body by Roxane Gay
16. Talking As Fast As I Can by Lauren Graham
17. Unbelievable: My Front Row Seat to the Craziest Campaign in American History by Katy Tur
18. Life in Parts by Bryan Cranston
19. Primates of Park Avenue by Wednesday Martin
20. How to Be a Woman by Caitlin Moran
21. What Remains: A Memoir of Fate, Friendship and Love by Carole Radziwill
22. My Friend Anna: The True Story of a Fake Heiress by Rachel DeLoache Williams
23. Dare to Lead by Brené Brown
24. The Innocent Man by John Grisham
25. The Valedictorian of Being Dead by Heather B Armstrong
26. I Remember Nothing (and other reflections) by Nora Ephron
I enjoyed all of the books I read, and would recommend every single one.
Now for 2020…
I currently have over 100 books on my Amazon wish list, which I use as a list of books I want to read. I typically don’t buy books. I check out physical books from my local library or I listen to audiobooks using my library’s mobile app. I also have many books on my home book shelf that I haven’t read.
I’m going to increase my reading goal in the new year. However, I haven’t figured out what will be a challenging, yet attainable goal yet. I’m also going to get back to reading personal and business development books. I have so many on my reading list! I’m feeling like 2020 is going to be a better year, and I feel more open to diving back in to intentional growth.
What was the best book you read in 2019?
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