Transparency Item: The Perspectives section of the Graphic is comprised of articles based on opinion. This is the opinion and perspective of the writer.
In online reader spaces such as BookTube, BookTok and countless blogs, the Goodreads goal is ubiquitous. Readers set goals for each month and add up the number of books read each year, often reaching a grand total of 50 to 100.
This method of assigning deadlines to hobbies is not exclusive to reading. Writers often use websites and contests such as NaNoWriMo that guide them through word count goals.
There is a tendency, in ourselves and in our education system, to turn recreational activities into competitive games. Even athletic programs in school are typically focused on nurturing competition, with about 60% of high school athletes reporting unhealthy levels of stress according to a 2023 study by Ganti and colleagues.
This practice is not inherently bad. It does not work for everyone and certainly needs improvement in school settings, but it can be helpful in several aspects.
The advantages of setting deadlines are particularly present for people transitioning into adulthood. When you begin learning to juggle school, multiple jobs and a social life, it can be easy to allow passions and hobbies to fall by the wayside.
Personally, I have loved to read since early childhood, but it is a relatively time-consuming hobby and is easy to ignore in my spare time. It is easier to do something that requires less concentration such as scrolling on my phone or even completing a low-effort assignment.
By keeping a low-stakes list of books I would like to get to by the end of the month, I can begin to make plans for allocating time toward reading. I do not feel guilty when that goal is not met, but I feel proud of myself when I do manage to read everything I planned to.
I receive no monetary rewards or prizes for reading a certain number of books, but the sense that I have accomplished something by reading is motivating for me. Reading is an important part of my life and has enriched my understanding of the human experience, and I am glad to have found ways to keep it consistent in my daily routine.
However, there are also downsides to this approach to hobbies, particularly in an educational setting. For example, creating deadlines for students to read “for fun” may cause stress, which could cause them to dread picking up a book.
A 2023 study by Martin-Chang and colleagues suggests that early experiences with reading in school can impact lifelong reading habits. This information is crucial for developing strategies that encourage students to read.
A helpful approach may involve allowing kids in a classroom to read from a personal book for a certain amount of time per day without requiring them to meet a goal or complete quizzes. This would allow them to comprehend and enjoy the story for themselves rather than for a grade.
The approach of creating games around hobbies reveals an obsession with productivity. When even passive activities such as watching Netflix become tasks to procrastinate, the association between free time and relaxation can be lost.
Sometimes we need discipline and dedication to make time for the things we love, and it is good to be intentional about how you spend your time. However, even for me, creating self-imposed deadlines may create pressure, which can make the hobby feel like another daily task.
Ultimately, the extent to which deadlines, goals and games are helpful can depend on the individual. If strict requirements and competition make it more difficult to face the task or lead to procrastination, creating to-do lists for the movies you want to watch may not be the best idea.
If you benefit from structure and are positively motivated by deadlines, creating a Goodreads goal or hobby checklist might allow you to finally make time for the activities you have less time for.
In difficult phases of life, it is especially important to set aside time away from work. While work is important, our passions are what make us who we are.
Personally, I become more energized about life and more appreciative of others when I am consistently engaging with things that make me happy. It is crucial to create time for our hobbies and, therefore, necessary to find the methods that work best for us.
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Email Alyssa Johnson: alyssa.johnson@pepperdine.edu
