Bookish Beginnings January 2026 Exercise Thread

[Elizabeth Smith]

Welcome to the January 2026 exercise thread, in which we'll be looking at the books that inspired some of our favorite Disney movies!

If you’re returning, we’re excited to have you back! If you’re new, welcome to the team! Here’s how it works:

Each person chooses a time goal and posts minutes towards that goal as they exercise. You can post daily or just catch up when you can. You decide what movement counts towards your goal - which can be a nice round total for the month, a specific number that means something to you, or a calculation based on a target number of minutes per day. Since January has 31 days, here are some common conversions:

15 minutes/day = 465
20 minutes/day = 620
30 minutes/day = 930
45 minutes/day = 1395
1 hour/day = 1860

One of the special motivations of our Disney challenge is color changing! Page one will be updated with individual and team color changes as we make more and more progress:

10% - Bookish Blue
25% - Author Orange
50% - Page-Turning Purple
75% - Published Pink
90% - Reader Red
100% - Epilogue Green

We’re officially starting this challenge on January 1st, but if you don’t find the thread until later in the month, you’re still welcome to join! There's no better time than the present to start toward your goals!! Just post your goal and I’ll add you to the list. Feel free to PM me if you have any questions and to check out old threads to see what’s been going on.


Participants:
Elizabeth Smith /575

 

[Elizabeth Smith]

The first book we'll look at is one that I recently read! (I'm actually working through reading the whole series).

The Princess Diaries book is radically different from the movies! A few notable differences: the book takes place in Manhattan rather than San Francisco, Mia's father is still alive, and Mia is only a freshman!

The Princess Diaries is one of my all-time favorite movies and the books are a fun read too! Has anyone else given these books a try?

 

[Alicatt]

I haven't but the look fun. What a great theme! I'd like to honorably mention the Peter and the Starcatchers series, which I realize isn't the same thing but are books based on beloved Disney characters and are a great read.
As I mentioned last month, I am in it to win it this month and want you make up for my low December. I'm in for 1000.
I started my year off on the right foot by joining the Asbury Woods first day hike. This year it was in snoe shoes since we had over a foot of new snow. I had never snow shoed before and it was a great experience.
60/1000

 

[PollyannaMom]

Love the theme!

I'm in for 700 again.

 

[clappyclaps]

Love the book theme! And I've never read The Princess Diaries either, will have to give them a go.

Put me in for 1700 this month and hopefully I can reach it this time!

 

[PollyannaMom]

Started off well yesterday because there was snow to shovel (50 min)

And did 25 min of treadmill walking this morning,

for a total so far of 75/700.