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- Books that contain out-of-date information (that means most reference books, encyclopedias, etc)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]
Love it! I realized that I was holding onto books that I had to read back in high school and college that I will NEVER read again. And now…we just have to purchase a bookshelf. 🙂
Done
I’m getting through these slowly! Life keeps getting in the way. 🙂 Finally got around to resuming. Done with this task, as far as I can take it. I need my scholar-husband to weed through his books. I can’t begin to imagine what might be trash or treasure in there. 🙂
done, but a bit late getting to it.
5 mins done. long way to go.Found a zumba dvd thats been lost for ages 🙂
Done
done
5 min done…but have tons more to go thru 🙁
Done
done 🙂
You’re so right – once I start, I can’t stop. This is the cleanest my house has been in years! I’m finding myself doing extra things in anticipation of what tomorrow’s will be! “I’ll clean out my laundry room, just in case…”
Great idea, and thanks so much!
Ouch, big reader. So many titles…This is another 5 minutes just is not enough for this one. 5 minutes done, but need more time to gather up books and shelve and purge…Done, but incomplete…
done on facebook
This took me most of last night as I love books and I have a boxful that I’ve been ‘meaning’ to read…..
that is…playing catch-up and almost there!
DVDs — I’ve been meaning to sort through them and get some on a sale list! No need to own with Netflix… Though I missed the giveaway, I’m better for all this decluttering. Thanks! Play
Done
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all 7 tasks done!
All 7 Done!
Most of this I did on Day 1. Only had kids bookshelf in their room and a small one in ours to do.