185 How To Declutter Books

Phase 1: Easy Decisions First

There are (hopefully) a number of books that you know, for sure, that you just don’t have to be the owner of anymore.

Go for these easy decisions first.

Separate them out from your collection.

You can either donate them all in one drop-off to someplace like Goodwill of course, or, you could be more detailed and treat titles separately, choosing whether to…

Give Away To:

  • Friends

  • Family

  • Co-workers

Donate:

  • Library

  • Goodwill

  • Little Free Library

Sell:

  • Bookstore

  • Online (eBay, Pango, etc.)

Phase 2: Harder Decisions: Categories That May Help

When deciding whether to keep a book or not, it may help to think in terms of these categories:

  1. Reference books: do you still want access to this info?

  2. Books that you simply love: do you love either the content or the sensory aesthetics of it?

  3. Books that are sentimental: does it have high sentimental value due to being a significant gift, or, from an especially meaningful time in your life?

  4. Books you’re still want to start, or to continue reading, at some point.

If you still have a hard time deciding, you could also apply the thought filter of:

  • Is the book from a past version of your self that you’ve since grown out of, and that you’re super comfortable moving on from? For example, books on co-dependency, and hey, look at you now; you feel like that’s really not an issue for you anymore.

And finally, if you can’t get past Argh! I Still Can’t Decide!!!

Then box up those stubborn books, label the box something like 'Maybe Keep, or, Give Away?' and make a note to yourself to revisit them in a year.

Phase 3: Get Them Out Of Your House

Finally, close the loop on the books you’re giving away. Get them out of the house, put them in the car to donate on your next trip past Goodwill, or the bookstore, or church, or the library, etc.

Happy Decluttering!

NOTE: related episodes on decluttering are

Siena & Toast