![Dozens of wrist watch clock faces on display inside the Washington Street Art Center in Somerville for an exhibition exploring \"time\" curated by Bess Paupeck on Friday, Feb. 3, 2023.
69847299007p Ma Som Timeexhibit6ds](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_crop,x_0,y_0,w_2400,h_1350/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/images/ImagnImages/mmsport/514/01jg4mwrnvpfxctqf144.jpg "Dozens of wrist watch clock faces on display inside the Washington Street Art Center in Somerville for an exhibition exploring \\"time\\" curated by Bess Paupeck on Friday, Feb. 3, 2023.
69847299007p Ma Som Timeexhibit6ds")
In 2024, I read more books than I'd like to admit. You might wonder why that's a bad thing, since it seems like I would be enjoying my hobby. This year, the problem lies in quantity over quality.
2024 was a mediocre year when it comes to reading: it was marred with three stars, more skims than I'd like to admit, and I forget half of what I actually read. Part of this can certainly be attributed to my bad habit of binging books, but I rarely saw anything that truly spoke to me or piqued my interest. So in 2025, I want to make drastic changes to how I read. Coming off the back of a lackluster 2024, 2025 feels like a year to regain my passion for reading. So, I want to focus on quitting while I'm ahead.
The first part of my resolution is to DNF more consistently. 2024 saw me actually stick to this and DNF more than I would've in the few years prior, just not as often as I should have. As much as I believe in giving books a fair chance, there is nothing wrong with setting a book down and choosing to move on. I need to be more decisive and DNF books when I'm thinking about if it's worth continuing. This will save me time, prevent reading slumps, and unenjoyable or uninteresting reading experiences, and keep me motivated. I'm all for pausing something, and coming back to it later if the appeal is still there.
Another part of my resolution is to become more attuned to what I am in the mood for. I love reading, so I always like to have something on hand. However, part of that problem is putting too much pressure on myself to always be reading. By taking into account what I've been eager to get through, or DNF, I can make more intentional choices about what I'd actually like to be reading.
Part three of my resolution is to really slow down. As mentioned, I can be quick to do everything except DNF a book. However, part of the process of enjoying something is to take the time to experience, ruminate, and analyze it. When moving too fast, there's a lot that can be lost. I have to learn to slow down a little and recognize that sometimes it's okay to still love a book but only feel like reading a chapter or two.
My resolution is to quit while I'm ahead when it comes to my reading. By that, I truly mean to capitalize on my time and focus on reading the books I want, instead of the ones I feel I have to finish. I want to be more proactive with what and how I read, so I can ensure that I'm doing it for my enjoyment.
I'm starting to get the hang of it, since at the moment, I have a few books on hand but all of them feel like a long commitment that I just don't feel like making. But since I still want to read, my solution is to put them on pause and pick up something significantly shorter. That way, I can still read but not feel like I'm reading something uber long, since I don't seem in the mood for it.
I'm ready to leave the bad reading habits in 2024, and am looking forward to a fresh start in 2025!