Happy new year! As I mentioned in my Best Books Read in 2025 post, last year was fairly transformative for me. I had to refocus a lot of my attention and priorities as my life evolved, and with that came some major shifts in my reading habits. 

For the most part, I slowed way down and had to be more intentional in the books I selected. In this season of life, which involves balancing motherhood, health, family and relationships, and a demanding career, I just don’t have the same kind of time that I used to. I did a lot of thinking over the holidays about how I wanted my reading life and my hobbies in general to look in 2026 and I’m quite happy with the direction I’m heading in.

Here’s where I plan to be focused in 2026:

Hitting a reasonable reading goal while focusing on quality over quantity

This year I’m setting my reading goal at just 30 books. While I’ve had 100+ book years in the past, those kind of numbers just aren’t attainable to me in this season of life.

I’m going to work on hitting this goal by being laser focused on quality over quantity when it comes to the books I select. The stronger a story is, the more likely I am to find the time to pick it up, even on a busy day. This doesn’t mean I won’t stray outside of my comfort zone, but when I do, it’ll be with intention and to try something that sounds like a strong enough premise that I think it’ll hit well for me. 

Only investing in books I genuinely love or am really excited about

I am a firm believer that buying books and reading books are two distinct hobbies, and I am guilty of being obsessive about both. That said, I simply can’t keep up with my physical TBR anymore and I’m beginning to run out of space.

In 2026, I’m going to be focusing on purchasing only books I really want on my shelf. This means buying either books that I have flagged as a high priority for reading, or books I’ve already read and loved but don’t have copies of. 

Speaking of which, I’m also going to be focused on picking up more library books again! I loved utilizing the library extensively when I was on maternity leave but found I couldn’t keep up when I returned to work. For Christmas this year I treated myself to a Kobo Clara Colour, so now I can read library books at home again and I could not be more excited about it if I tried.

Reading through my physical TBR 

I have a heavy physical TBR right now, with more books than I’m even prioritizing in 2026. While I’m not naïve enough to think I’ll only read what I already own (the curse of a mood reader—sometimes I simply don’t want to pick any of them up), I am going to make an effort to chip away at them. There are a lot of really promising stories on my shelves if I can just focus on getting to them.

Romanticizing the ordinary

When life is moving as fast as it feels like it is lately, it can be easy to get swept away without noticing the little things. This year, I want to be more focused on romanticizing the little joys that come up every day and taking time to appreciate them. Things like a nice, strong coffee that I get to drink hot, or reading under a cozy blanket. A hot chocolate after a winter walk or a snuggle with baby girl as we read through bedtime stories. There are so many little moments that compound if we just take the time to slow down and appreciate them. 

Cozying up my reading routine

There’s something about snuggling up with a book and a good tea, your favourite blanket, and some ambiance that makes the whole reading experience even more enjoyable. This year, I want to make my reading time something that I really look forward to and can relax during, so I’m refocusing on making it a time where I get to enjoy some tiny luxuries and recentre myself after a long day.

I’m excited for 2026 and all the possibility that it brings. I feel like I’m headed into the new year in one of the best headspaces I’ve been in a long time and can’t wait to see what time will bring, both bookish and otherwise!