Go to one area where you keep your books. Take a stack off the
bookshelf, or wherever they have been staying. Pick up the first book.
There are three possible categories this book could fit in, and I've
listed them below:
1. What you're currently reading.
Ask yourself if you're still enjoying reading the book. Maybe you're
still loving it. Great, it stays. Put it in the "books you're currently
reading" stack. But, sometimes we enjoy a book up to a certain point and
then we're done, though we don't know it until we've checked in with
ourselves. If you're done with the book, put it in the donate box or
bag.
2. What you've already read. If you're
already read the book, ask yourself if you're going to re-read or
reference the book. Some people like to read books more than once, while
some people read a book and that's it for them. You're looking to see
how you actually live so you can decide whether or not something
supports your life. If you realize you are done with the book, put it in
a donate bag or box. If you're going to read it again, put it in a
reference stack.
I've worked with some clients that initially
didn't want to let go of books they'd read because they felt their
collections were a display of their intelligence. I pointed out that it
was their house and they didn't need to get anyone's approval. Their
only job was to give themselves a home that was nurturing. They saw the
pressure that came with presenting an image, and let the collections go.
3. What you're not reading.
If you haven't read the book, start to read the first page. How does it
feel to you? Would you buy this book today at the bookstore? If you
have any hesitation, the book isn't for you. Maybe you saw it was on the
bestseller list or you read a review and you felt compelled to buy it.
Or it was a gift from a friend who said you would love it. But maybe
you're just not interested.
Perhaps you like to have three or four
books in waiting. If that's how you like to do things, great. Still,
read the first page and see if the book still grabs you.
Go
through any books you have on Kindle or the Nook in the same ways I
described above. Sure you can store over 1,000 books on your e-reader.
But electronic clutter is just as energetically intrusive as the solid
stuff. Delete whatever books don't support your life. The goal is your
upliftment. Also use the same procedure if you have audio books.
When
you are done clutter busting the books, find a place for the books that
you are keeping. It should be in a place that doesn't mix with other
things. It helps to have a home within your home for each type of thing.
Libraries
would love the books you are ready to let go of. They will welcome them
with open arms. It feels good to give to an organization that
continually gives to its community. Just think, a book that you aren't
reading may find it's way into someone else's hands, and change their
life.
Please write and tell me your experiences clutter busting your books; it helps inspire people when you share.
If you need help letting go of book clutter (or anything else you feel stuck on) I'd be happy to set up a Skype clutter busting session with you. I can work with you no matter where you are in the world. For more info, click here.