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- Books that contain out-of-date information (that means most reference books, encyclopedias, etc)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]
WOW! Really needed that. What a mess. My husband’s sports stuff was every where. And, my 19 year old daughter has got to get rid of her preschool VHS’s. thanks again, 7 days done!
All 7 done and commented on…
And can I just say thank you for today’s mission?! I thought I had done this on day 1, but I went through an actual CD/DVD sleeve I hadn’t gone through before and found a treasured video of a play I was in that I thought no longer existed. It was a joy to find. And I got rid of some things, too, I promise!
Done. Organized and swapped out the books in the reading room as well. I’ve posted and complete the 7 tasks so far.
I’ve done and posted on all 7 days – today as well. Our cds/dvds/books are organized (except for the book we each keep on our bedside table that we’re currently reading).
done!
interesting 7 days, just add a wedding to organise and it gets a whole lot more fun! (Make that stress-filled to the max).
Still hangin’ in there though. Gee today made me realise how much money i wasted on cds!
We already keep all of our Cds and DVDs ultra organized in 10 Discgear units. These are well worth the time and energy to set up. I have only reference books and a few old favorites from childhood, everything else is from the library or electronic.I have done the seven tasks and left comments this week.
Just completed #7. Some of it was done before I even got started as one of my children does it on a regular basis but … now it is all done 🙂
Man do I love de-cluttering the house.
7 Tasks completed, 7 comments blogged
I have completed all 7 tasks and left comments on each. WOOHOO!!!
7 tasks done
7 comments posted
Ahhhhh… got me on this one. As it isn’t just about me. All four of us have lots of books & c.d’s But…. i can only take care of myself and cleared out my small bedroom drawer of books & sorted out my c.d.s Managed to get rid of a dozen+ of each and will get them over to a local donation center. Truly, this will be an ongoing job.
Took a little longer for me this morning, as I put a BUNCH of things- books and CD’s on amazon. The rest, I am donating to goodwill or throwing.
Day 7 complete (but still a bit of work to do on the books).
Day 7 done. Wow, those old magazines were heavy. Did all 7 tasks this week 🙂 House is looking better already:) Thanks
7th Task Done, 7 Comments for the Week. This one here was a chore! Definitely took longer than the prescribed 5 minutes, but do my shelves look fantastic!!!!
These first few tasks have been completed. Some will have to be worked on again. Working full time doesn’t leave a lot of time to work on organization during the week.
Seven done—twenty-three to go!! This is a great challenge!!
Only got the magazines sorted. This will be a long job for me. I have done all 7 tasks this week though.
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All 7 tasks done and feeling great! Thanks for the spring cleaning kick in the butt. 🙂