I Read Too Much and Now I'm Broken || Anti-Goals [CC]

[@mindysbookjourney]

I love these anti-goals. Reading less and reading whatever you want. Love it.

[@OliviasCatastrophe]

That's the plan 🙌🏾 Let's see how it goes!

[@ameliabarlowbooks]

in complete agreement with 2024 being the year of Anti-Goals! number of books read does not equal value or ability to make content, we can do anything we want! I'm going to do Recent Reads videos as well and continue my Then, Now, Next videos instead of getting stressed about wrap ups. I always splutter and heavily edit wrap ups but when I'm just talking about the books in my immediate past, present and future I find that I can really get the balance right. as for those forever subscribers, you got one right here ♥

[@OliviasCatastrophe]

I love your then, now, next videos and I am glad that is working so much better for you as well 🙌🏾 And thank you 🥺

[@eliza.the.earthling]

🎉 Agreed! It’s intimidating just starting my BookTube channel this year when I read 24 books in 2023 (which was more than the year before) but it seems so little compared to other people - but this isn’t my job, and I don’t want the stress of needing to read an unattainable number that will just stress me out, especially when there are so many hobbies that are worthy of my time as well 🌟

[@OliviasCatastrophe]

Welcome to booktube and I'm so glad you're here! And YES, not your job and no need to stress. Enjoy taking things at your own pace and I hope you enjoy being part of the wonderful community 💛

[@tr_4600]

Sometimes readers get wrapped up in grinding their reads like gamer style. It helps you read yes, but you don't absorb as well. Your anti goals sound like a great idea. I went from an unread tbr of 79 last year to 38 this year. I m focused on my health this year and while I enjoy readathons I won't read books just to fill a prompt. I just want to read what I want and not stress about it. I have read one book so far "from the ashes" by Jesse thistle it was non fiction and very emotional I had to put it down a lot as his struggle with addiction strikes close to home as I have cousins that also struggle with addiction. Still I was happy I read it. Hope you have a very happy reading year olivia.

[@Nothereforit174]

I enjoy prompts. They help me engage more meaningfully with literature. I use them to broaden my horizons and stay educated as well as empathetic be it through fiction or nonfiction. I would be aimless and less developed personally if I didn’t use prompts of my own design/that I pick out from pre-made lists. I haven’t found it’s made reading any less enjoyable, but has actually exposed me to new interests and form I’d have previously overlooked if I hadn’t insisted on the self challenge

[@OliviasCatastrophe]

I'm glad I still had a lot of fun and entertainment reading last year, but it definitely did get a bit grinding. Amazing that you knocked down your unread TBR so much!! And that you took good care of your health as well (so important)

[@OliviasCatastrophe]

@@Nothereforit174 l'm glad prompts help you with choosing your next read so much. I know they serve a lot of people well. Everyone has different things that work for them when it comes to their reading ^^

[@lyepez4435]

ahh this video was so refreshing

[@OliviasCatastrophe]

I have really been enjoying the reading chaos so far 💛 And going with the flow suits life so much better ^.^ Fellow multi reader, and multi format reader too!

[@the_creepy_geek]

I love this!! 2024 is definitely the year of cutting ourselves some slack and going with the flow more!

[@OliviasCatastrophe]

All for going with the flow 💛

[@SoleilCeline]

Yesssss! I’ve been exactly in the same page. Having this pressure on myself to read more and to make reading “productive” has sucked the fun out of reading for me the last few years. And I barely read any fantasy in two years because it felt so much larger and daunting, even though fantasy is my original reading love. I’ve read so much romance (which don’t get me wrong, I love) because they were easier to get through and shorter and faster.

[@OliviasCatastrophe]

I hope you can find peace with reading at your own pace, and return to the genre you love more and more 🌻

[@CaughtBetweenPages]

This is so smart especially after the insanity of the tbr challenge. I'm glad you're taking care of yourself readingwise this year after that absolute marathon!! Leaning into the mood reading is a great call, and while I can't relate to comfortably reading 12 books at once (!!? literally how??) I hope it makes you happy! Focusing on maximizing happiness is always good. If you've got any long classic SFF books you want a buddy reader for, let me know! If they're ones I own (because I'm reading primarily owned books this year), I'm your guy for those. Ditto for rereading The Raven Cycle!! Definitely a favorite I want to revisit.

[@OliviasCatastrophe]

It was a sprint to the end and I am very much enjoying the respite that has followed so far! Haha, my multi reading habits aren't for everyone but you do have quite a few on the go yourself as well 🌻

[@ThatsSoPoe]

Such a good plan! I'm doing a no-goal year for 2024 - I just want to have fun and enjoy my reading, same as you. I completely feel you on so many of these things - I love rereading, I love going down a rabbit hole of whatever catches my interest at the moment, I love reading multiple things at once, and I love (obviously) DNFing. I am behind you 100%! I think leaving behind the stress of your TBR and just focusing on a year of enjoying your reading is such a great idea. Here's to a fantastic 2024!

[@Nothereforit174]

I wonder if we can afford that though. More book bans are happening in the States at least and history classes are being erased. I find it almost irresponsible(referring to myself) to avoid supporting certain authors and books, or not delving into the undertold(now actively removed) histories of the land I inhabit. I feel owe it to myself as a BIPOC woman, to other marginalized citizens, and I don’t particularly find it to be a burden to expect consistent knowledge intake. But I know some don’t see reading as essential anyway and view the reading they do as a purely selfish endeavor. I can understand that, but then I wonder if we expect each other to be educated through other shorter reading materials and when can we say a topic can’t be handled in an article? That’s getting into the place of reading and the job of the reader though I suppose 😅 but it feels relevant when discussing a whole year of laxity

[@OliviasCatastrophe]

Yay for a no goal year! I hope we both relish in and enjoy the freedom that it brings us 💛

[@OliviasCatastrophe]

@@Nothereforit174knowing Shannon, she will probably end up reading diversely and widely while mood reading because she just that great! I acctually think you’d like her channel, she recommends so many great books by BIPOC authors or with themes of identity 😊

[@GunpowderFictionPlot]

I love these anti goals - although one of my favourite things about your wrap ups is how I always learn about new books, we always have books in common and you often push me towards books just a bit outside my comfort zone... But I'll get over it.

[@OliviasCatastrophe]

Don't worry, the wrap ups will still likely end up varied (as they have done so far). So hopefully that won't be lost out 😇

[@heabooktubes]

Rereading is such a joy. ♥️♥️♥️

[@OliviasCatastrophe]

Truly 🌻

[@ReadingwithRylanne]

i honestly love this! i want to prioritize writing more this year, and i know this means i’ll have to read less to make time for my writing, but i’m actually really excited about it

[@OliviasCatastrophe]

Ah amazing! I hope your writing goes well 💛

[@WellTraveledBooks]

I love this idea! There are perfect anti-goals imo. I haven't set any really strict goals for myself this year. Last year I feel as though I became better at my own mood reading and I want to continue that into 2024 too =)

[@OliviasCatastrophe]

I hope continuing to mood read serves you well 💛 Happy reading this year!

[@TheBookSanctum]

I love the idea of an anti-goal year - best of luck with reading great books in a more relaxed way!

[@OliviasCatastrophe]

Thank you! You too!

[@ChanelChapters]

Your reading plans make a lot of sense

[@OliviasCatastrophe]

Hehe thanks!

[@BecxReadz]

Totally feel this, last year I read the most books of my life and this year I'm not even setting a reading goal. I'm just reading when I feel like it instead of only reading.

[@Nothereforit174]

I think you just described something great. Reading a lot and not scrolling for example which shortens attention span while damaging skin and eyes(if you go tech free). It’s not bad to read a lot unless you just haven’t enjoyed reading. If so, I hope you get the spark back and I recommend you try some new genres😊

[@OliviasCatastrophe]

Yes! Free yourself of any expectations and I hope you have a good time with reading according to your mood 😇

[@KierTheScrivener]

It's so fair to get caught up in that. I have been in the mood for big classics too. It's so wonderful. Rep for the 6 currently reading books. This is soooo me 😂

[@OliviasCatastrophe]

Currently reading all the books team haha ^.^ I hope you're enjoying those chunky classics 💛

[@emmanovella]

Here for these!! I haven't thought too hard about goals/anti-goals but I know I want to priortise reading and making it a habit again, but not a chore! And also writing more 100%. I maybe need to make a video about writing plans so I feel like I'm being held accountable lol!

[@OliviasCatastrophe]

I hope making reading a habit and not a chore goes well 🙌🏾 It sounds like we have similar aims of making reading fun for ourselves again.

[@caprisbookisland]

Yeah I feel like everyone in the community is slowing down with numbers/ amounts and just making reading a slow hobby again. It’s honestly way less overwhelming

[@OliviasCatastrophe]

As we should! Happiness in reading above all else 💛

[@BaReader]

I can indeed imagine that after the intense reading year you've had you might want to put a little less pressure on yourself😅I have set goals for 2024 regarding types of books I would like to read and number of books from my own shelves, but I don't really mind if I don't complete them. I never complete all of the goals I set for the year, but I find that I enjoy having a sense of direction regarding what I want to prioritise.

[@OliviasCatastrophe]

It sounds like you're doing goals exactly the way they should be -- nice to give yourself an aim to shoot for, without the pressure of constantly measuring yourself against them 😙

[@Pixiewithpens]

love all this for you olivia!! live your best reading (and other interests!) life, chase your bliss

[@OliviasCatastrophe]

I have complete faith in your ability to read your entire TBR, and I hope you have fun discovering those books in the process. Haha yes! You know your reading taste well 🙌🏾

[@Catsandcamera]

love that you've done a 180 on last year, enjoy your reading!

[@OliviasCatastrophe]

Complete switch up of the vibe ^.^

[@SabrinaMSabrinasStories]

I loveee the concept of antigoals, what a great idea! I have set myself 8 reading goals this year, but the one that is most in the spirit of this video is to reread at least 5 books. I used to love rereading my favourites, but it's always a low priority for me these days because I feel like I'm not accomplishing anything.. now I will be accomplishing something though, because I've set this totally arbitrary goal 😅 I hope you get to achieve these antigoals this year! Will especially be looking forward to hearing about chunky fantasy and sci-fi.

[@OliviasCatastrophe]

I like the idea of rereading five books, and that you're giving yourself time to do that when it sometimes gets overshadowed by the other books you could be reading. I think that's exactly how goal setting is supposed to work -- getting that accomplishment feeling from things you'd avoid otherwise 🌻

[@jacobneale5844]

As a mood reader myself I definitely enjoyed seeing Booktubers read so many different books, different mediums of books and just the vast amount of different books. It’s awesome :)

[@OliviasCatastrophe]

Mood readers unite! Absolutely, I'm gonna continue to read my mishmash of different genres and books as I love reading across everything ^.^

[@booksandbargains]

The fact that I am on a buying ban means that you can NOT be on a buying ban and the world is in balance :)

[@OliviasCatastrophe]

Hahaha love this book balance! After January though, I think although I'm not setting any strict limits, I'm going to try and be intentional and maybe pick up some I have read already and loved, but don't own in my collection. Rather than unread ones for a little bit :)

[@WhatVictoriaRead]

Yes to all of this! 👏👏👏👏

[@OliviasCatastrophe]

💛💛💛

[@rasaslase]

Best of luck!! You deserve a low pressure reading year. The less pressure and rules the better. I have some reading intentions, but you already know about them. 😹

[@OliviasCatastrophe]

Thank you :) It is down to you and some of my other patreons reminding me to take it easy that it helped with getting there 🌻

[@PageTurnersWithKatja]

oh my gosh! I was just thinking that and with far less books than you 😂 125 and this year I'm aiming for 120 which makes sense. Then along comes a friend who goes no one can read 10 books a month. Me: oh have you watched booktube there's people reading 300. Anyway after that conversation my self-competitiveness must have kicked in with my subconscious because I've now read 13 books in the last 17 days and I'm feeling a bit tired of reading. I feel like I may need to not read anything tomorrow or for a few days 😅 I have the same woes about fully mood reading too, though I mostly do mood read. I was reading historical fiction and sci-fi and then boom I read four urban-fantasy novels which was not the plan 😂 I've never read more than three books together - it's usually 1 audio, 1 ebook and 1 physical. So much of this video is relatable

[@OliviasCatastrophe]

I don't think quantity contributes to scale of exhaustion, so it makes sense you'd still be feeling the same things as well! I hope you find the time and space to take reading breaks and not feel like you have to compete (even if it's with yourself!) Love that you read one of each type of format on the go🌻

[@redheadreading]

Love love love this! I've started the year focusing on chunky non-fictions and it's proving to be soooo delightful 😊 Excited for you and looking forward to seeing what you do get up to!

[@OliviasCatastrophe]

Yess for enjoying the time reading your chunky non-fiction books! 🙌🏾 I think the only one that I read last year was long walk to freedom but I have got black and british which I've been eyeing up...

[@LeanneRose]

I need to get myself into the same mindset as you! Love the anti-goal energy

[@OliviasCatastrophe]

You can do it! 🌸

[@sharreadsallday]

I always felt so chaotic cause I do read 6+ books at a time. But glad to know that I am not the only one who does this

[@OliviasCatastrophe]

You're definitely not alone 😉

[@OnlyIfForAPage]

I like the idea of antigoals, I've had some unusual ones as well like using the library less :- D Reading what you want is a mood and what you said about audience perception also made a lot of sense :- )

[@OliviasCatastrophe]

Using the library less sounds like an antigoal to me as well! 🌻 Still working on the audience perception mindset but I'm getting there...

[@awanderingmind]

I wish I had the problem of reading too many books 😂 you can do it!! I haven’t done monthly wrap ups for a while now and it’s definitely the best thing

[@JanissaBessong-yl4ut]

I’ve just read a short fiction ‘Bleeding Stubs’ . It is in kindle. Amazing writer with a funny style.

[@OliviasCatastrophe]

The freedom of not having to post them monthly is immeasurable right??

[@dompishere3014]

Watch an episode like Attack on Titan 😌😌 "Stay subscribed to me forever please" i gotchu lol. Honestly I love this. Reading became so much more fun when I decided to do whatever I wanted and threw goals out the window lol. The only 2 goals I do every year is read a certain amount of books (which changes depending on how I think the year will go) and to try reading non-American authors. My other goal this year is to read more manga but I didn't put a number on that either.

[@OliviasCatastrophe]

I should, shouldn't I? I should really get back to Attack on Titan. Thank you for being a top tier subscriber (and consistent commenter!) I like your goals a lot, I'm sure you're going to ace them 😇

[@CharlieBrookReads]

I love the idea of Anti goals. I want to read less too!! Sometimes when you focus on one thing too much it kind of loses the magic of why you loved it so much to begin with. We have to be kinder to ourselves so I am all for this 💪❤️

[@OliviasCatastrophe]

Absolutely agree with what you have said here. All for being kinder to ourselves and rediscovering that magic 💛

[@janethansen9612]

Taking the pressure off, yes, and enjoying your mood reading sounds like a great approach to the year. Enjoy the ride.

[@OliviasCatastrophe]

Thank you 💛

[@CreativelyBria]

I have similar goals for reading - I’m exciting to have fun again

[@OliviasCatastrophe]

Fun sounds like a good plan for us both! Enjoy Bria 💛

[@StarsAndEmbers]

love this anti-goals idea!

[@OliviasCatastrophe]

Thank you ^^

[@Lilboozibert]

You read 224 BOOKS IN 2023 (including Dune and some of Les Mis)?! That's amazing! Well done. I'm behind on a lot of scifi and classics. I'm excited for you to dig in to some and give us some recommendations. I'm looking forward to reading Terry Pratchett and Nnedi Okorafor.

[@OliviasCatastrophe]

It was quite the year for reading last year! At the moment I've been taken over by fantasy books, but I am currently reading my first classic of the year and still anticipating the sci-fi to come (we're just getting started!) Oh Nnedi Okorafor is such a gem. My favourite fiction book of 2023 was one of hers -- happy reading 💛

[@Phillybookfairy]

Hi Olivia! I really enjoy your channel and I’ve seen your confidence grow over the last few years! I’m on a book buying ban this year bc I have so many books that I really do want to get to, I have to whittle it down a little bit! I take my ban as a chance to read all the big books and not worry about how much I’m reading.

[@OliviasCatastrophe]

I hope your book buying ban goes well and that you can enjoy reading the books on your shelves meanwhile. That sounds like a great reading goal to me 💛

[@Phillybookfairy]

@@OliviasCatastrophe it’s going well. I actually did buy an audiobook and one book bc it’s a sequel soooo I haven’t exactly been perfect with it but I’ve decided one now and then one for my birthday then one for Xmas I will allow myself. But I ammm really looking forward to the books on my shelves bc I bought every book I figured would be a 5 star read and I’m excited to be reading them this year!! Right now I’m reading The Warmth of Other Suns by Isabel Wilkerson and up next will probably be Chain Gang all Stars by Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyan. Looking forward to that one and soo many others like North Woods, the Covenant of Water, The Heaven and Earth Grocery Store, The Overstory, and about 100 others on that 2024 hopeful tbr shelf! I sure hope I can get to the lot of them by year’s end!

[@AbiofPellinor]

I did miss you when reading Les Mis but I totally got it! I'm excited to hopefully be slowly making our way through some more classics this year! I've got a few goals for this year. Mainly not buying any books!!!

[@OliviasCatastrophe]

I think we're going steady with our first classic so far! I'm glad we started off with a shorter one for a practice get warmed up :)

[@AbiofPellinor]

@@OliviasCatastrophe We are! (apart from me sleeping instead of reading yesterday haha, I promise I'll get to those chapters soon today!) And definitely a good idea to start with a smaller one (and to have smaller in comparison books for the rest of the year!)

[@EllenFelicity]

Love it. I'm also hoping to do some re-reading this year. And I like seeing where mood reading takes people :-)

[@OliviasCatastrophe]

I hope revisiting some of your favourites is a good time 💛 Hopefully the recent reads will be full of fun books ^.^

[@Izzymeakin]

I never set a numerical reading goal because it makes me feel stressed about reading haha. Reading what you want, when you want, and finding enjoyment in it again is a vibe that I am here for 🤍📖

[@OliviasCatastrophe]

Yess!! I am so glad you don't pressure yourself and just have fun with your reading 🌞

[@Priscilla_Bettis]

I don't have any reading-number goals except what Goodreads always prompts me to do (which, in turn, I promptly forget). I just read. My writing goal is to draft a literary Christian novel by September.

[@OliviasCatastrophe]

"Just reading" sounds like the best way to go about it to be honest. 🌻 Ooh, I hope your writing goes well this year

[@novellenovels]

I love anti goals.. I’ve done some anti goals as I want to read less and live more. I also want to read bigger books and focus less on my unread Tbr

[@OliviasCatastrophe]

I really like the idea of living more, even if it means less time for reading. Hope it goes well 💛

[@novellenovels]

@@OliviasCatastrophe thank you sweetie 💜

[@booksandbargains]

I love this idea!

[@OliviasCatastrophe]

Thank you 💛

[@Yondong]

It shouldn't be that difficult to read less books. 😂 i want to read more. Last year wasn't that much. Also i want to read more Fantasy.

[@OliviasCatastrophe]

I'm actually not doing too great at that anti-goal so far, but have been doing better with the rest of them 🙈 I hope reading more, and more fantasy, goes well for you this year!

[@PerusingHannah]

My GR goal is at 100 because I always hit it without effort. Other than that, I've accepted tbrs make me itch now, and I want to fully mood read 😋

[@OliviasCatastrophe]

Team down with the TBRs here! I hope mood reading goes well for you this year 💛

[@EvieM1]

💜

[@OliviasCatastrophe]

💛💛💛

[@LunaciaBooks]

Maybe I should have said anti goals in my video as well, as I'm aiming to slow down as well. Recent reads sounds like a good thing to do.

[@OliviasCatastrophe]

I hope slowing down works out well for you too 😊

[@LunaciaBooks]

@@OliviasCatastrophe About that... 😬

[@OliviasCatastrophe]

😂😂😂

[@aimeewhitehead2639]

❤

[@OliviasCatastrophe]

💛💛💛

[@MaryAmongStories]

💚💚💚

[@OliviasCatastrophe]

💛💛💛

[@_d0ser]

To be fair, Les Miserable should be seen live on stage!

[@OliviasCatastrophe]

I'm looking forward to watching the musical in theatres once I finish the original classic 😇

[@JanissaBessong-yl4ut]

Do you sometimes read from Amazon kindle?

[@OliviasCatastrophe]

I do sometimes! I have a kindle

[@literarydiversions]

“Oh I NEED TO…” is basically the mantra of the inside of my brain. How dare you post these private thoughts of mine that I use to beat myself with out loud. RUDE.

[@OliviasCatastrophe]

Yup! The need to mindset plays on a constant loop for me too and this year we are saying NO 💪🏾