I don't know about you, but every time New Year's rolls around, I have always made "read more books" one of my resolutions. It is a lot easier to stick to than going to the gym on a regular basis, that's for sure, but sometimes just aiming to read more is too vague and not really motivating. Where's the fun in just "reading more?" Where's the real challenge in that? The fact of the matter is, without concrete goals, this resolution can just as easily fall to the wayside as any other, so that is why I started doing reading challenges. There are approximately a bazillion different challenges out there, ranging from the broad to the very specific. Here are eight of these lists that will satisfy anyone's New Years Resolution, even if you're starting a bit late.

1. NPR's 100 Best-Ever Teen Novels

NPR is pretty well known for its book lists, or at the very least the one that they released in 2012 that was designated "Your Favorites: 100 Best-Ever Teen Novels". This list was compiled after people voted on the Young Adult books they thought were, well, the best ever. Titles that made this list include "Harry Potter," "Hunger Games," "Catcher in the Rye" and pretty much all of John Green's books, as well as a number of others.

What makes this an interesting "challenge," even though it is not staged as such on NPR's website, is that depending on how much YA literature you already read this list can either be ridiculously easy or insanely hard. It is almost an assumption at this point that every 20-something has read the "Harry Potter" series, right? Well, as with most things, I am here to be the one to tell you that this particular statistic has at least one outlier: Me.

I have only read the first book in the HP series, and I honestly do not have any intentions of reading the rest. If I were to do this challenge though, I would have a long road ahead of me, because there are a ton of books on this list that I have never even thought about reading. So if you're like me and you suck at reading what's popular, or you just want to read more YA, this is the list for you.

2. The Rory Gilmore Reading Challenge

Ever since the series in its entirety was put up on Netflix it seems as though this show has rise from the ashes like some kind of sitcom phoenix. They're even doing a reboot and a bunch of actors are coming back for it (including the mighty fine Jared Padalecki). So when I found this challenge, I knew you would all be chomping at the bit for it, but it's definitely not for a novice reading.

Apparently Rory is a huge nerd, and this list consists of over 300 books that she has been seen reading throughout the series. I'm sure that more can be added to this list after the reboot comes out, but for now, this list is more than enough to get you binge-reading. I feel obligated to issue a warning that reading this many books in one year might actually cause your head to explode, so approach with caution.

3. Banned Books Challenge

What I love even more than feeling smart and well-rounded is the sense of rebellion I get when I read a book that schools across the country consider to be "inappropriate" for the youth of today. Granted, it is far less likely for a college to ban a book than a high school (though more likely than you'd think) so the chances that you have already read quite a few banned books is pretty high.

However, there are books that have also been "contested," which basically means enough parents got upset to make a fuss about the book, but not enough to get it completely banned. The Banned Books Challenge has different levels to it, so depending on your pace, you can read as few as one or two books or as many as 15 and up. Either way, the Banned Books Challenge is the ultimate way to stick it to the man.

4. PopSugar's Ultimate Reading Challenge for 2016

PopSugar's Ultimate Reading Challenge is one that I myself have been meaning to try for a while, because this particular challenge isn't so much about what books you read, yet what kind of books you read. It allows you a sense of freedom because instead of a list telling you to read all the classics, it's a list that tells you read "a book that takes place on an island" and "the first book you see in a bookstore" as well as a number of other tasks.

This list gives you the freedom to choose what books you will read but challenges you to think outside the box of your traditional reading material. It's definitely for someone who wants to expand their range of reading. Free your minds and read something you'd never think about reading before.

5. Around the World 2016 Challenge

Speaking of expanding, how many books do you read that actually take place somewhere other than the United States? If you're worried that your current reading list feels a little too 'MERICA, then the Around the World Challenge is the solution to your problems.

This one has a unique set up in that it has you great a map of all the locations that your books take place in. You "pin" each location, and the main goal is to have as widespread a map as possible. There are also plenty of mini challenges for you to complete if you need something more focused, such as reading a book for each continent/state/country/etc. This challenge is another one that is great if you want your reading list to be a little more well rounded.

6. BookRiot's Read Harder Challenge

Out of all of the previous challenges, this is the one that I am actively doing this year, and it is seriously cool. The Read Harder Challenge is only in its second year, but I can see why it is a pretty popular one on Goodreads. It holds similarities to PopSugar's challenge in that it suggests books with certain traits rather than specific titles, but, as the title suggests, it's harder. The tasks are a lot more specific and, therefore, finding a book that both fits the criteria as well as intrigues you as a person can be very challenging indeed.

Personally I am stuck on the "Read a book about religion (fiction or non-fiction)" task. One of my roommates is also doing this challenge and while she has all of her books picked out, she hasn't finished any of them yet because she's reading a gigantic "Sherlock Holmes" anthology. Choose your books wisely, but remember that you also have all year to complete this quest.

7. Goodreads Reading Challenge

If these previous challenges intimidated you/made you never want to read another book again, fear not, because there is one challenge that anyone can complete because it is entirely up to you. If you have an account on Goodreads, you have probably seen advertising for their yearly reading challenge.

All you do is set a goal for how many books to read, and then you start reading. You can track your progress on Goodreads and find out if you are behind, ahead or on track toward completing your challenge by the end of the year. Some people like to be modest with their goals, some people like to be ambitious. One of my roommates has a goal of 50 books by the end of the year, and one has a goal of six. My goal for this year? 100.

So there you have it friends. If this doesn't get you off your butts to your local library (and then back on your butts because who reads standing up? Weirdos, that's who.) then I don't know what will. While you're at it, a lot of gym equipment has the capability of holding your book for you while you workout. Maybe you'll kill two birds with one stone.