Reading Goals: Motivation, Social Media, and Wellbeing

Clara Pribadi, a 32-year-old from Adelaide/Tarntanya, has not yet met her 2025 reading goal. Last year, she read over 50 books, exceeding her target. As of November, she has 10 books remaining to reach her current goal.

Pribadi attributes her slower progress to recent life changes, including a new job and a new dog. She has stated that not meeting her reading goal is not a concern for her, as she perceives the activity as primarily for enjoyment.

The Role of Goal-Setting in Reading

Julian Novitz, an academic director and senior lecturer in media and communication at Swinburne University of Technology, identifies reading more as a common New Year's resolution. Novitz notes that while specific goal-setting, such as reading a certain number of books or pages, can be motivating for some individuals, it also carries the potential to transform a recreational activity into a task.

Social media platforms and reading communities, such as BookTok, have contributed to reading becoming a publicly shared activity rather than an exclusively private one, according to Dr. Novitz.

Platforms can serve as a method for individuals to track reading progress and meet self-imposed criteria. They can also facilitate the introduction of books into public discourse and generate discussion. However, Novitz cautions that this performative aspect of reading can prioritize statistical metrics over the intrinsic enjoyment and value of reading itself.

Pribadi utilizes the BookTok community to connect with others who share her interest in reading. She sought an outlet to discuss books with individuals sharing similar reading interests, noting that her husband, while listening, did not share the same level of interest. She finds sharing her goals on BookTok provides enjoyment, motivation, and a basis for discussion, clarifying that her reading goal is not subject to external monitoring.

Re-evaluating Reading Goals

Dr. Novitz suggests that numerical reading goals, such as reading one book per month, may be perceived as work rather than leisure. He emphasizes that recreational reading is considered valuable. He also points out that the qualitative aspects of reading, such as depth of understanding or emotional connection with characters, are more challenging to quantify compared to numerical targets.

Novitz proposes re-imagining reading goals to focus on the reading experience rather than solely on quantity. Examples include committing to exploring new genres or authors. He states that the time allocated for reading is more significant than the volume of pages or books completed. Dedicating a specific amount of time, such as half an hour before bed or an hour daily for recreational reading, is presented as a potentially effective goal.

Clara Pribadi's New Year's resolution includes reading at least one author of Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) each month, acknowledging that identifying such books may present challenges. She also finds that a goal of reading at least one page per day is more readily achievable than a high numerical target.

Benefits of Reading

Dr. Novitz states that reading is associated with benefits for wellbeing, particularly when it replaces screen time. He notes that avoiding screens for at least an hour before sleep can provide significant advantages for mental health and sleep patterns. Reading is also reported to reduce stress, lower blood pressure, and increase focus.

While audiobooks offer an alternative method of engaging with stories, Novitz distinguishes them as "distinct experiences." However, for many individuals, the ability to "read" while engaging in other activities is a key appeal. Some experts indicate that listening to books appears to trigger similar, though not identical, brain responses compared to reading physical texts.

For Pribadi, engaging with diverse experiences and perspectives through reading is a primary motivation. She contrasts reading with movie viewing, describing the latter as passive observation, whereas reading is characterized as an immersive experience, providing access to alternative worlds and viewpoints.