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- Books that contain out-of-date information (that means most reference books, encyclopedias, etc)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! I still have a couple to catch up on but this one is good to go!
All 7 tasks complete!!!
I actually enjoyed doing this one. I was listening to the news while searching through ALL our movies and got rid of about 25. Now the video cabinet looks neater. Now when we get a new movie an old one needs to go OUT.
Have a nice, satisfying pile of craft books to donate! Already, a month ago, let go of all the old DVDs to a charity shop. CDs still to do but I did my full five mins. and then some—just didn’t have a chance to comment ’til now!
Well, this one has been the most time consuming – it took me 2 days to get it to where I wanted it to be! But the result is amazing!
Done all 7 tasks.
Done all 7!
We got a start on this yesterday, but since I have grad classes on Thursday, we didn’t get quite as much done. I did, however, find the beginner band book I had bought my husband a year ago so he could re-learn the trumpet (being married to a music teacher got him all excited about possibly playing again!). It’s going to take a LONG time to work on this project (especially since this task involves my music library), so we’ll call it a work-in-progress!
All 7 days completed!
I do my books etc. on a regular basis. I get in a lot of reading material because I sell on eBay so sorting them and getting rid of them either online or to Half Price Books or the charity shop is an ongoing job for me.
Done and completed all 7 days!!
Done. Have completed all 7 this week!
Did this yesterday! Thanks and done with all 7 days! 🙂
Done all 7 days. (yes, I am late in posting this, but I DID do it yesterday) I have a pile of 60+ books and several movies to donate. I pulled ALL the CD’s and hubby is going through them. (it’s mostly his library, so I couldn’t just toss).
This day will take many days to complete, but have worded more than 1/2 hr on it so far!!
Thanks again!
This is the task at hand RIGHT NOW!! To work, to work I go!
Done.
I found an auto repair manual for a car I just sold. Since I had to pay $28 for it, and I only used it once, I’m popping that bad boy on Craigs List.
Yes, 7 tasks done and house is shaping up!
I’ve really been neededing to do this! I think it’s well past time to get rid of all those casette tapes… especially considering that I haven’t had a casette player in about 10 years! I finished this late last night, but I finished!
And yes, I have now finished all 7 challenges! =)
all 7 completed – unable to post yesterday pm
And I forgot as well to say that I’ve done and left comments for all 7 tasks!
I did this with books when I moved, but I finally put away the few CDs and DVDs I have and pulled out the random computer CDs I don’t need!
I checked in yesterday but forgot to say…
Yes, I completed all 7 day!