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- Books that contain out-of-date information (that means most reference books, encyclopedias, etc)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]
i was so on this. DONE DONE AND DONE!!!!!!!
Done – I had gazillion videos but no player to play them in GONE
I sorted the WII games
and put all DVDs back into folder
I will load this post onto blog over the week end
Thanks I have now completed all 7 tasks! !!! YEAH YEAH
Slowly Getting Sorted – thanks Michele
Done and commented on all 7 days! Thanks!
DONE! All 7 done, and I feel so good about it. I really feel like life has changed just a little bit. *sigh* Thanks so much! Looking forward to the rest of the month!
I did something on the list all 7 days, but today’s would take an entire day. Our basement has an entire wall of books. So I did a stack of magazines and will tackle CDs and books when I have a whole weekend.
Actually did this last week since we were having a yard sale with a friend, but I did another sweep through anyway 😉
All 7 tasks done and feeling good about it. Also doing a liver cleanse at the same time so I am feeling very ‘clean’ this week!
Done all 7 tasks!! This one was harder and longer so far.
DaY 7! Thank you! DVD’s…went through those a few months ago.
Done and done!
Day 7 ~ huge accomplishment ~ DONE!!
All 7 are done!!! Looking forward to tomorrow!
7 tasks done, 7 comments posted!
Loved it, can’t wait for the rest! I also hope to get some money by selling some cds we don’t listen to. Yeah!
Just went through my bookcases last month, but had stacked up more things on the sofa so went through those things (magazines, catalogs, books) and got rid of tons sof those things.
I have worked on all of the tasks. Some will require a second look as I need more than 5 minutes to finish them completely.
wow, I dreaded this one. Thanks to your nudge it is done!!!
Oops! Forgot to mention that I completed the 7 tasks for the week
oh, forgot to confirm that I’ve done all 7 tasks–didn’t forget any of the tasks themselves.
Finally a good reason to sort through my cookbooks. Love that I was able to get rid of some! Thanks for the idea:)
Check!! All 7 done! Even put the old textbooks up for sale on amazon and already sold 2 within the day! Woohoo!