Goals for 2010

As you have seen or heard, it's been snowing more than is normal here in the UK. I've been stuck indoors for about a week now. I can drive, but I don't feel comfortable doing so in the snow. It took me long enough to drive under normal conditions, I sure am not going to drive in these conditions. We live on the top of a steepish hill. Luckily, Oldest's nursery is only a few minutes walk away. Everything else will have to wait. With all this time indoors, I've had a little while to think of some of my goals for 2010. I thought I'd share them today.

Reading goals:

First, I'd like to complete all the challenges I've set for myself this year. I've had a lot of fun compiling lists for the Women Unbound, GLBT, and Rory Gilmore challenges in particular. Progress on these challenges and other can be found on a link in the sidebar. I'd forgotten to include the 1% well-read challenge, which runs until the end of March. I thought I had four titles to go, turns out I have seven. Wish me luck!

Next, I'd like to read 150 books this year. Last year's goal was 100 and I made to 145, so this only a small stretch for me. It's just about my limit though!

I'd like to read a lot more non-fiction. I'm reading virtually no non-fiction titles these days and that really is a shame. I need to widen the focus of my reading. I've been a little close-minded when it comes to what I will and won't read and this has to change. I'd like to be reading different types of books, ebooks, audio books, graphic novels. Shake things up a bit.

As always, I need to be reading more of my own books. I love my library and will always support them. In 2009, half of my reading material was from libraries and I don't feel like this was change at all. I'd just like that other half to be making room on my bookshelves. That'd be nice.

Blog Goals:

As for my little blog, I'd like to review better/more. It's very easy for me to not review a book, and I don't want to force myself into reviewing everything I read, but a large majority. No stress about it though, which may mean many mini-reviews until I feel up to proper reviews again. That works for me. We'll work on 'better' reviews another time.

I missed out on another Bloggiesta event, but I've written down quite a few ideas I'd like to implement to improve things around here. ALT images, tabs, tidying things up. This is all included on another list of mine, I won't bore you all with it here.

This should probably be first on my list, but I'd like to be more active in my participation with other bloggers. This includes commenting more, responding better to commenters etc.

I'd like to write some more discussion posts. I used to write more of them than I have been recently. Topics on my mind that I think would apply to some of my readers. Maybe in order to do this I should be asking for guest bloggers? Anyone out there brave enough to send in guest posts for me to use? I'd love it particularly if it related in some way to the themes already on my blog.About reading or blogging. Experiences of an expat. Being a woman, a parent, any difficult situations or decisions? Those thoughts that lay around in your head. I'd love that.

I'd like to take some of the stress out of blogging and write more posts in advance. Guest bloggers would help in that respect, but so would those better written reviews!

And finally, so it's not all work, work, work, I'd like to participate in Dewey's 24 hour read-a-thon in April. It always looks like such fun and I want to be involved!

Personal goals:

Just briefly on the personal goals, I'd like to be more present when I'm with my children. More activities together, trips out. I'd like to enjoy myself more together. I need less stress and more fun in my life.

I'd like to stay on top of my coursework again this year. I officially got my results back from last year's course, and I've just sent in my second assignment for this year. It's big stuff going on, and I don't want to be too scared about it. I'm just taking it all one step at a time.

Finally, of course, eat well and do some more exercise. I'd love to start running outdoors. Since my treadmill broke I've been a little heartbroken without my running. Even smaller than full-scale running, I should be walking more of my shorter journeys. I've become lazy since I started driving.

What are your goals for 2010?