Clara Pribadi is a "bit behind" on her reading goal for 2025.
The 32-year-old from Adelaide/Tarntanya exceeded her 50-book goal last year. But as of November, she still has 10 to go.
"This year I'm really slow — I got a new job, a new dog, life keeps happening. Which is good."
Clara, who shares her love of reading on BookTok, says not meeting her reading goal is not a big deal.
"It's just for fun. I'm not going to be bothered if I don't meet it."
Julian Novitz, an academic director and senior lecturer in media and communication at Swinburne University of Technology, says reading more is a common New Year's resolution.
And while some people might find goal-setting motivating — such as reading X number of books each year or pages each day — he says there is a risk of turning what is supposed to be a pleasurable activity into a chore.
Are reading goals performative?
Social media and reading platforms have played a role in transforming reading into something that is publicly performed rather than something enjoyed privately for pleasure, says Dr Novitz.
"Discussing what we have read and posting reading goals can be a great way of just getting through books and making sure we are reading and meeting that criteria.
"It can also be a way of introducing books and reading into public discourse … generating discussion."
But performative reading can "outstrip" the joy and value of reading itself, he says, becoming more about stats.
Clara says sharing her reading passion with the BookTok community is about connection.
"I needed an output to talk about my books more to people that actually like reading as much as I do.
"I feel like I used to just talk to my husband about it, and he was listening, but he didn't share this passion."
Sharing her goals with BookTok is fun and motivating, she says, but most importantly, a talking point.
"I don't think anyone cares about my reading goal — no-one is checking on that. It's not like a KPI."
Reading shouldn't feel like a chore
Using number goals, such as reading one book a month, can feel more like work than play, Dr Novitz says.
"In many different types of roles and occupations, there is reading for work and general information we need to be a part of a wider culture.
"Reading we do for recreation is precious."
Number goals also make it harder to measure the benefit of reading, Dr Novitz says.
"It's much harder to quantify the quality of reading we do. Have we genuinely understood the passages we read, or been emphatically connecting with a character?"
Re-imagining reading goals
When done right, Dr Novitz says reading goals can be handy for dedicating space and time for reading.
He suggests setting targets that are more around the experience of reading, rather than quantity.
For example, committing to work through some new genres, or new authors.
The other element is time. You might commit to reading for half an hour before bed. Whether you get through five pages or 15 pages is less important.
"Think about reading goals not so much about volume, but about the time you allot to reading in the day," Dr Novitz says.
"Blocking out an hour in the day [for example], for recreational reading can be the most effective reading goal we can ever set."
Clara is making a New Year's resolution to read at least one BIPOC (black, Indigenous, and other people of colour) author each month.
"I always try to do that, but it's harder to find those books … and I want to actively look for them."
Sometimes, an easier goal for Clara is to read at least one page a day.
"That's so much more achievable than having a [large] number looming over you."
Benefits of reading more
Reading is good for our wellbeing, says Dr Novitz, especially when it replaces screen time.
"Avoiding screens for at least an hour at the end of the day can have huge benefits for mental health and sleeping," he says.
Reading can reduce stress, lower blood pressure and increase focus, for example.
While audiobooks are also a great way to engage with reading, Dr Novitz says they are "distinct experiences".
But for many people who enjoy audiobooks, a chance to "read" while doing something else is a key attraction.
And some experts say it appears that listening to books triggers a similar, although not identical, reaction in the brain.
For Clara, "exploring other walks of life" is what keeps her reading.
"When watching a movie, you are like a voyager, just watching things happen.
"When you're reading, you are immersed in other worlds, in other perspectives."
