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- Books that contain out-of-date information (that means most reference books, encyclopedias, etc)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]
All Done
Day 7 done…I’m officially caught up and completed Day 1 – 7!! Yeah for me!!!
Books are done.
I have a small pile of some I want to take a look at before I donate them.
DVDs are done. I only have a few.
The software and CDs are collected and in their own place. I will check the back up and use the extra 5 min to donate them tonight.
I am also going to find my local library and get a library card.
Completed all 7. Feels very good!
7/7 complete! Six out of the 7 weren’t so bad b/c I had worked on them at some point before the organize-athon. I liked working on these areas again so soon before more stuff invaded; I got rid of even MORE than I could have hoped!
all done! 🙂
that was on my New Year’s resolution list. So happy to have it done!!
Completed all 7!
All 7 days complete, this feels great 🙂
done…..even packaged up some video games to mail out to friends today!
it was good to go through the dvd’s. i need the kids to look through to see if we can get rid of a few more.
completed all 7!
Task #7 done!
All 7 days completed!
This 1 was easy for me. Thanks!
Well, on I went nuts on the cleaning and reorganizing of my home. I started at the ceiling and worked my way down to the floors. I have finished all seven task in the past three days and a few extra ones as well. I have taken everything I no longer use or want and put into my garage sale pile. As I went through everything I inventoried the items I am keeping and put prices and inventoried garage sale items too.
Next I tackle the upstairs. Once I get started I can’t stop until it’s done and this 30 day challenge is just what I needed to get motivated. You make it easy to go further and do more.
7 days of getting more organized well spent.
I may have to finish the rest of this one up tomorrow, going on a trip today!
This was done a long time ago. I keep it maintained as well. I keep certain books that have had meaning in my life, whether personally or professioanlly. I often share these books with colleagues and friends. Also, my DVD’s are safely tucked away in my armoire drawer and out of the way. This helps me avoid dusting them all of the time and they are in categorical order.
All done!
Done. I have completed all tasks. It feels great.
completed and left comments for all 7 tasks this week
I am on top of this one ongoing …….THAT WAS EASY !