Welcome to the 30-Day Organize-athon!
In today’s 5 minutes we’re going to express-organize your library of books, DVDs and/or CDs.
Before you start, inhale a sense of clarity, freedom and order; now let’s get going.
Day 7: Organize Your Books, DVDs, and/or CDs
Decide if you want to tackle books, DVDs, CDs, or a combination. What you can achieve in 5 minutes will depend on the size of your various collections.
Step 1: Take a large box (or bag) to your bookshelves, or wherever you store your library. Moving quickly from top left to bottom right, put into the box:
- Books you’ve read and won’t re-read
- Unread books you’re never likely to read
- Books that contain out-of-date information (that means most reference books, encyclopedias, etc)
- Old textbooks – unless you graduated, like, this decade
- Binders of seminar/course info (unless you really believe you’ll refer to them)
- Archived magazines (do you ever look back at them?)
- Manuals for software or computers you no longer use
- Software CDs for programs you no longer use
- Computer games the kids (or you) have outgrown
- CDs you no longer listen to
- CDs ripped to your iPod and backed up on your computer (if you only want the CD booklet, just keep that)
- DVDs you’ve seen and won’t re-watch
- DVDs the kids have outgrown
- Unseen DVDs you’re never likely to watch
- Photo albums you never look at
- Photo albums that have negative memories
- Video or audio cassettes if you no longer have players for them.
Step 2: Take your box(es) to the door or straight to the car. You can usually donate novels, non-fiction books, CDs and DVDs to libraries; the rest can probably be recycled. Take care with data and photos.
Step 3: Do a quick re-order to make better use of the newly liberated space on your shelves. Dewey Decimal, anyone?
And you’re done!
Got an Extra 5 Minutes?
- If you only did books, do DVDs and/or CDs – or vice-versa.
- Get a damp cloth and wipe down your shelves and your collection.
- If you haven’t already, investigate your local library. It’s a fabulous way to enjoy books, DVDs and CDs without cluttering up your home.
Now don’t you just want to make a cup of coffee and settle down with a good book?
The 30-Day Organize-athon Mantra
Move fast. Don’t overthink. Let it go!
Leave Your Comment Below…
Please leave a comment below to say you’ve completed today’s task.
See you tomorrow!
[Image by aussiegall]
Done! It was a good week.
Done – thats all 7. Luckily for me I still had boxes full of books, so wasn’t hard to sort what was on shelves.
Done…all & complete!!
All 7 done.
All 7 tasks completed .I noticed that started to deal with other stuf the same way….any cleaning tasks in the house is getting done the same way by the timer 🙂
Yes, just finished this task. I’ve done and commented on all 7 tasks this week. Small parts of the house are finally looking good, thank you.
All 7 tasks are done.
all 7 tasks completed – things are really looking and feeling good!
2 baskets to the library. I hope some else enjoys the books as much as I did. All seven tasks done!
I did my books a couple weeks ago, but the dvds really needed it…lots to get donated from the kids:)
I have completed all 7 tasks:)
I have done all 7 tasks. It feels good to be one the way!
Completed all 7 this week minus the books… that will be a longer job than five minutes. I have a problem “letting go” of good books… and where can I take old textbooks?
Question – If I can get my husband to do the task do I get extra points???? 😉
I have done all 7 tasks and am now celebrating that I no longer have 5 garbage bags of “stuff” that I don’t need in my house!!!! YAYAYAYAYAY!!
Done the CD’s – Will tackle the books later….. (that’s more than a 5 minutes job). All 7 tasks done for the week too.
All 7 complete
All 7 done!! Cd’s and DVD’s done tonight. (Will tackle the library over my holidays)
I’m starting to look forward to getting an early start to my day with these quick tips.
All 7 days
Well, that took a little longer but the shelves look great. Maybe I should stop cramming none book stuff into the bookshelf 🙂
Yah! All 7 Done 🙂
I did the cd’s and dvd’s when I did the family room. I feel like the cat that got the cream. I might reward myself with a foot soak and a pedicure tonight once the kids are in bed.