Advice on Reading and Writing Resolutions

I used to have reading and writing new years resolutions. They were usually something resembling, "I will read 30 books and finish my novel." However, after years of rarely hitting my goals I have discovered something that actually works.

Now, instead of resolutions, I have benchmarks I aim for each month in reading and writing. And if there is a resolution at all, it is to get within a good range of those benchmarks as many months as I can.

Try it. I think you'll find yourself more productive. It has worked for me. I hope it will for you.