A new year means new goals/resolutions. It also means a whole bunch of reading/blogging challenges. I was reading and commenting on blogs the other day. I know right? I was proud of myself too. And there were tons of posts about all the challenges that everyone is participating in.
I only participate in the Goodreads challenge. I have been tempted to join in on a bunch of them, but I haven't. I don't want to get super stressed over them. And I know myself. I will get stressed. Because I'm stubborn and if I set a goal for myself or join a challenge, I WILL complete it. That's just how I am. And one of my resolutions this year was to blog when I want to blog. Read what and when I want to read. Keep it fun and stress free. I began doing a better job of this in the last few months of 2014 and it was amazing the weight that was lifted from my shoulders. I love this blog. And I love reading. But having it be the only thing I think about stresses me out. And this blog should never be a source of stress. In fact, it should be the opposite. This is supposed to be fun.
So that's why I'm only participating in the Goodreads challenge. Yes, I would love to read more of my TBR. Yes, I would love to reread some books. I would love to read a bunch of debuts. A bunch of standalones. And I will do all those things. Just without the pressure of a challenge.
But I'm not saying that challenges are bad. They aren't. I think they're fun and trust me, my fingers twitch to join. I just don't think that challenges are for me. At least not this year.
What about you? Do you participate in challenges? How many? Does it ever get stressful?
I went crazy in 2013 with challenges! I did zero in 2014 (aside from GR) and now I'm back to a handful BUT I only pledged to do what I know I can do. When I try to push myself too hard, it's not fun so I joined the challenges to play along with others, but only what I know I can do :D
ReplyDeleteYeah, maybe next year I'll participate in a couple, but I think this year I just want to completely relax and do what I want you know?
DeleteI agree with all of this! I understand no one is hurt if I don't fulfill challenges I set, but it still bothers me! I'm only doing two- GR and the Pop Sugar one that had the list of various kinds of books to check off (and I only included it because the criteria would probably already be covered anyway, I just get to check it off on a list now).
ReplyDeleteRight. It's not like the challenge-police are going to come around yelling at you for not finishing. lol but still...it hurts myself. I get mad at myself for failing. I did see the Pop Sugar one and could probably complete it without any additional effort than what I was already going to put in. Maybe I'll join... I do enjoy checking off lists...
DeleteI definitely participate in challenges... I think I'm up to 8?! Now... maybe. I'm thinking about joining another one. I'm obsessed, I wish I had your restraint!
ReplyDeleteI don't know why I like them so much, maybe it's the ticking the items off the list type thing? AND YES it gets so stressful! At least this year I picked ones that are realistic, last year was a mess for me :P
Wow, that's a lot! I am so tempted to join a bunch, but I just know it will stress me out. Maybe I'll join one. That's doable right? I do love ticking items off a list.
DeleteI don't participate in challenges, I just read what I want for the most part (except for ARCs, although technically I requested them because I wanted to read them, right?) And I agree with you about blogging, etc., it can be stressful and sometimes feel like a chore and I hate when I feel like that! ~Pam
ReplyDeleteYeah. That's what I do, aside from arcs, but I agree, I requested them so clearly I want to read them. I could probably complete a bunch of challenges just by what I would normally read, but I don't know. If I sign up then there's that pressure and since I already feel enough pressure to read all the arcs on time, I decided that I don't need more. I definitely don't want blogging/reading to feel like work!
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