Can’t post photos but we got to meet and hold our latest grandchild yesterday. Born on Christmas Day, he’s a little over two weeks old, and so early that it’s clear he doesn’t take after me. He wasn’t even due till Tuesday! 😉
On our way home, we heard someone on the radio wish her on-air colleague “Happy New Year”, and then announce she was going to keep wishing everyone a happy new year all month. Or maybe she said “all year”. Either way, I didn’t catch her reason why. Maybe testing the power of positive thinking? Or just to be annoying!?
Anyway, I decided I’m going to try mindfulness techniques to improve my reading and blogging this year. Instead of feeling that I should be thinking about or worrying about more important things than my personal hobbies, I’m going to consider it stress relief for my health and dedicate time each day to be off my phone and to focus on books, reading, blog visiting, commenting, etc. This is NOT a New Year’s resolution! (Not to jinx myself.)
Signing up for these challenges to help me stay focused this year:
2026 Immigration Reading Challenge
2026 Speccy Fiction Challenge
2026 Massachusetts Center for the Book Reading Challenge
I got a lot of inspiration for taking on these challenges from Deb Nance of Readerbuzz. She keeps track of her challenges in a great graphic. I’m not that organized! Also inspired by Jen at Introverted Reader and Shelley at Book’d Out, who are hosting the first two challenges in my list!
Sunday Salon is to encourage conversations about books and book-ish things. The weekly link-up and Facebook group are hosted by Deb Nance of Readerbuzz. Sunday Salon has a long history in the book blogging community, but it took me a long time to join in.
Congratulations on your latest grandbaby!
I love your decision to focus on your personal hobbies. Since Daddy’s passing, I’ve lost focus – almost completely. It’s been five months and I feel like I’m barely finding my land legs. Your post encourages me to keep my focus on activities I enjoy. Thank you for sharing!
Oh, it makes me feel happy to know that I’m a little inspiring. lol
I downloaded an app (it’s called Silentium) to use for meditation. I set the timer for five minutes, but I’m starting small at just one minute for now. It has some beautiful bells.
Here, here for focusing on reading and positivity! I bought a Brick to keep me off social media, and it’s working really well. I am only on Instagram and Facebook about every other day now and manage to get off after 5 minutes. Yay!
Congrats on the safe arrival of the new baby!
I’m delighted you are joining the Speccy Fiction Challenge.
Good luck with your goals, and Happy New Year;)
[…] yesterday’s Sunday Salon post, I announced the reading challenges I’m joining this year. What I find happens is, I often […]
Wow congrats on your grandchild born on Christmas Day. I guess he really wanted that day. More presents each year. Have a great reading week.