BookishRealm Discussion: Reading Challenges & Why I've Stopped for the Year ~ BookishRealm

Happy Tuesday Everyone! It feels good to be back with another BookishRealm Discussion. This week I wanted to focus on the one thing that we ALL take part in: Reading/Blogging Challenges. Like everyone else, my month of December is spent determining exactly what challenges I plan to take part in for the following year. This year I went above and beyond the call of duty and decided to participate in the following challenges:

Pop Sugar
Diverse Reads
Netflix & Books
Manga/Graphic Novel
Picture Book Challenge
Sherlock Holmes Challenge
Around the World
Goodreads Goal: 200 Books

While my intentions were great in trying to challenge myself, I truly believe I committed to too many challenges. By the middle of this year I was so far behind I didn't even see the chance of catching up before December 31st. As of today, I've given up not because I completely want to, but I'm finally being true and honest with myself. There is no way that any of these challenges (outside of the manga and graphic novel challenge) will be completed. Was a I heartbroken when I came to this initial thought? Of course! I wanted nothing more than to complete every single challenge that I set forward to complete. But honestly, it became too stressful. I was so bogged down in reading for these challenges that I didn't even read for fun. It was extremely structured and as a mood reader I became resentful. So what do I plan to do next year?? Well, I won't completely count myself out for participating in challenges for the upcoming year, but I will give myself some limitations. For instance, I know that I read a lot of comics, manga, and graphic novels and it usually only takes me half a year to get through that challenge so I'll continue to participate in that. I would also like to challenge myself to continue reading diversely so I would most likely continue to focus on things such as the Around the World Reading Challenge and the Diverse Books Challenge. Other than that, I just want to read freely for the rest of the year.

Here are some tips for those of you who are interested in participating in reading challenges:

Pick 1 or 2 that you know you will be committed to finishing.
If you're a mood reader such as myself pick challenges that allow for some flexibility. The more structured challenges will become too intense.
Don't feel pressured to finish. These are things we do for fun. If you don't complete a challenge give yourself credit for even trying.
Have fun! Don't ever let a challenge become a chore.

If you guys have any additional thoughts, comments, or advice to add about reading/blogging challenges let me know in the comments below.