Making resolutions are simply one way of trying to challenge yourself to be better each day. And the resolutions we make each New Year’s Day are in reality those we make or remind ourselves of everyday. This day simply helps us be more conscious of those goals, and to make ourselves accountable.

With that in mind, I also find myself participating in challenges each year. This year, I hope to actually link in more regularly; unlike last year when I know I completed the challenges with all the books I read but failed to link up. And plan to work on the audit challenges for my blog improvement goal.

“Be your biggest competitor – challenge yourself each day to be better than you were yesterday.” – Kaoru Shinmon.

2021 Challenges: Challenge Yourself

Reading Challenges

While I know I easily read many, many books each year, it is meeting the prompt (or the letter, in the first challenge above) that stumps me often. What I like in all these reading challenges is the flexibility offered within the constraints (like that poetic form I discussed last week!).

Of course, I plan to have overlaps all over the place between these challenges; and this year, I want to organize and track my reading better than I have done in the past.

As for the specific books themselves, I will add a few to start with this coming week with the ones I already have on my TBR, and add as I go on.

2021 AtoZ Reading Challenge

This challenge is hosted by Crystal and Megan over at Bookstacks & Golden Moms. I joined this last year as well; and while I am sure I completed it with all the books I read, I never did check or link back 🙁 This year, I resolve to do so.

2021 Netgalley and Edelweiss Reading Challenge

I need to up my NG and Edelweiss ratio.. seriously… so this challenge will help (hopefully, at least a bit). While I know I need to work towards the Diamond level of 100 books, I will start with the Gold Level of 50 books here.

52 Books in 52 Weeks

Like the others, an obvious challenge (obvious in both the type of challenge, and that it is, in fact, challenging!) This one is hosted by the 52 Book Club.

[Addendum: January 11th, 2021]: Since I cannot obviously resist the lure of more challenges, and am a glutton for punishment, here is one more reading challenge.

2021 Nonfiction Reader Challenge

Thanks to Deb Nance for pointing me to this one. The aim of the Nonfiction Reader Challenge is to encourage you to make nonfiction part of your reading experience during the year. And since that is definitely one of my goals this year, with intent this time around, I had to join in! The challenge is hosted by Shelley from Book’d Out, and you can signup here.

While I am guessing I will read many nonfiction books, I decided to stick with the Nonfiction Nibbler level: Read 6 books, from any category (a list, draft version, for all the challenges, to be shared soon). If I do end up reading books in all categories, then that is cool too and I can move up a level.

10 Books in 30 Days

Yes, I know! I must be crazy, but this is also kind of shooting for the moon so we can still land among the stars! Frankly this never made sense to me as the stars are so much further off, but I get it…. So this is another additional challenge. You can check out the details here.

Note that this one starts on the 13th of January (aka tomorrow), and I still have to line up the books for this one (I have a couple in mind to get started).

Other Challenges

2021 Blog Audit Challenge

Thanks Jo for giving me an opportunity to do this. I worked on this or the first couple of months last year, and then it got lost in everything else. This year, I am more committed.

2021 Social Media Audit Challenge

and why not social media auditing too?!

ShutUp&Write Writing Challenge

Do I need to add one more challenge? I am not sure but with this one, my plan is to write using the prompts as often as I can.

[Addendum: January 11th, 2021]: Since I cannot obviously resist the lure of more challenges, and am a glutton for punishment, here is one more challenge.

Comment 4 Comment Challenge

The goal of C4CC is ‘leave no comment un-replied and un-returned’. Reply to all comments on your blog, and visit the commenter’s blog to comment there as well. This is hosted by Gayatri over at ElgeeWrites and you can sign up here.

And Now, the End of this Post

Dear reader, are you participating in any such challenges this year? Any of these specifically? Or any other challenges you have planned for yourself? Do let me know..