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- Books that contain out-of-date information (that means most reference books, encyclopedias, etc)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]
My DVD’s were pretty much in order in glass cabinets, but the books were out of control. I have to admit to being a book addict and can’t walk past a book store without buying something. Now myself and my 3 kids have a library card each and we’re going to make use of the huge library in our local area. Got rid of several large boxes of childrens books, reference books and old magazines that I was sure I would get back to for the recipes, but of course never did. I’m very proud of myself as it was most difficult to let go of books, but I did it!
Done, and that marks my week! 🙂
All 7 finished here too?
All 7 complete here!
All 7 done!!
I am proud of myself! 😀 Thank you so much!
done with all seven tasks, while reorganizing file cabinet. not a 5 min job. I have been working on it all week. But feeling good about it
I have completed all 7 tasks, even though I did day 6 & 7 today.
I’m a little confuse about where you want these comments posted but I’ve done all seven tasks and I commented on all seven but maybe not in the right places. But seven tasks later, my books look better, as does the six other areas we’ve worked on. I particularly like walking past my message center desk and it isn’t piled high with junk! I don’t know if anyone else in my household is noticing the little improvements here and there but it makes me feel good!
I’ve completed all 7 tasks! Woohoo!
Looking forward to the next 7!!
All 7 done. The books were hard. I love books.
All seven tasks completed 🙂
this one was very hard, but onward we go to #8.
I found this very hard to do with the books, however I have done it, may need to revisist this again
Yup. All 7 tasks completed, including this book shelf challenge.
Finished today… and the previous 6 (even if some were a little late)!!!!
My 11 year old daughter made an interesting comment to me yesterday – she said she noticed how I have started “organizing” things. I usually do it during the day when they are gone and they have been such tiny (mostly hidden) tasks, that I wasn’t sure if my kids would even notice – but they did. Admittedly, some days it has been easier to do a task than others, but these daily events are keeping me motivated (and accountable). I can do anything for just 5 minutes!!!! Thank you so so much for sharing this amazing project!
Book shelves done and DVDs are a work in progress. I’ve completed and commented on all 7 tasks.
Done the book shelves, it took a lot longer than 5 min but it needed doing and when I get the chance I will organize the cd´s and dvd´s as well. I can´t believe that 7 days have past already. But it feels good to know that all 7 tasks have been completed.
All 7 complete this week. Today I threw out a laundry basket of cassettes, no way to play those anymore. Already got rid of the magazines on the previous living space challenge. Done!
All 7 days done… 23 more… can I make this a habit? I sure hope so!
Once again with a heavy heart, got rid of books & CDs that were gathering dust. 7 up! Completed all tasks & made regular comments too.