30-Day Organize-athon | Day 7: Organize Your Books, DVDs, and/or CDs

30-Day Organize-athon 07

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  • Books that contain out-of-date information (that means most reference books, encyclopedias, etc)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?

  1. If you only did books, do DVDs and/or CDs – or vice-versa.
  2. Get a damp cloth and wipe down your shelves and your collection.
  3. 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!

Start the 5-minute timer now.

Leave Your Comment Below…

Please leave a comment below to say you’ve completed today’s task.

See you tomorrow!

[Image by aussiegall]

248 thoughts on “30-Day Organize-athon | Day 7: Organize Your Books, DVDs, and/or CDs

  1. Olga says:

    All 7 tasks completed .I noticed that started to deal with other stuf the same way….any cleaning tasks in the house is getting done the same way by the timer 🙂

  2. Ruth says:

    Yes, just finished this task. I’ve done and commented on all 7 tasks this week. Small parts of the house are finally looking good, thank you.

  3. jennifer dulmaine says:

    I did my books a couple weeks ago, but the dvds really needed it…lots to get donated from the kids:)
    I have completed all 7 tasks:)

  4. Jessica says:

    Completed all 7 this week minus the books… that will be a longer job than five minutes. I have a problem “letting go” of good books… and where can I take old textbooks?

  5. Denise says:

    I have done all 7 tasks and am now celebrating that I no longer have 5 garbage bags of “stuff” that I don’t need in my house!!!! YAYAYAYAYAY!!

  6. Cathy says:

    Done the CD’s – Will tackle the books later….. (that’s more than a 5 minutes job). All 7 tasks done for the week too.

  7. Dawn Yates says:

    All 7 days

    Well, that took a little longer but the shelves look great. Maybe I should stop cramming none book stuff into the bookshelf 🙂

  8. Raleigh says:

    Yah! All 7 Done 🙂
    I did the cd’s and dvd’s when I did the family room. I feel like the cat that got the cream. I might reward myself with a foot soak and a pedicure tonight once the kids are in bed.

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