☘️ How To SAVE MORE SPACE With A Book UNhaul 2020 - Decluttering Bookcase - Declutter Challenge 2020

[@valerie2158]

Close your eyes and grab a random book off the shelf and thats the next book you read. What a great idea! If you don’t want to read the book it might be time to donate the book. This tip will be helpful to separate the fantasy self from the real self.

[@HowToGYST]

Definitely a good indication. Sometimes you might not be in the mood for a particular book, but if you keep passing it up, it's probably time to let it go.

[@annatanzania9789]

I see my books more like others see music, when in the mood, go for a specific song / book. So I have books that I read every winter or Christmas or summer or when I am in the mood for murder etc etc. At the moment I am sorting out the books I have twice (same book, different language) That should already free up some space...😂💚

[@nataliebutler]

Ooh interesting. Do you find books are a very different experience in different languages?

[@plannerchaos4229]

I am a chronic purger. It always makes me feel better and more at peace. I love these short spurts of work! I have a tendency to do whole areas of the house at once so this will help keep me under control. Thank you!

[@mrslhaldane306]

I re-read SO many books. But these days I borrow them from my public library whenever possible. Just need to return what looks like my little outpost of it!

[@jolyngardner3894]

Done ✅ and in trunk of the car ready to go!!

[@HowToGYST]

Fantastic! Well done you!

[@harmony1307]

You could scan the page from a cookbook. Then file or print.

[@HowToGYST]

Absolutely, or snap a pic and save it in a 'recipes' folder on your phone. =)

[@jessicastevens5782]

Relying on the internet seems like a no-brainer, but in the last year, I've snapped back the other way. I've been so used to looking up user manuals online that I was bummed when the last 3 I tried were missing or had a broken link...eventually found a youtube video w/the info I was looking for, but was days rather than minutes. Same w/a few fav recipes where I lost the physical ones in a flood. A few years ago, I found them online, but now they're missing, even bookmarks. W/recipes, too, I forget to take notes when online, so results don't retain the hard-won improvements

[@itoshiibaka8267]

I have an app for recipes: recipe keeper

[@Greekkisses]

Writing to you from California. Thanks much for your inspiring videos. I have been on a de-clutter and minimize kick for a few years but sorta let it all go. Made the typical excuses of no time, kids, no energy and all the other ones. When Covid hit so did my de-clutter bug. I've been going room by room or corner by corner depending on the job. Books was one on my to-do list. I am a bookworm as well and have a Kindle for downstairs (one of the original ones, gift from my husband back in 2011), a Kindle Paperwhite (gift to myself a few years ago) for upstairs or travel, plus physical books. I went through my China hutch and got rid of beautiful cookbooks, 2 big piles. Nowadays I don't open them, I use KZbin mostly for new recipe ideas but I mostly have my go-to recipes each week, make my menu and shop. I have probably 20-30 go to/family favorite recipes and I rotate those. Makes menu planning easy and most of the time all the ingredients are on hand. I might try one or two new recipes every few weeks. I have a handful of sentimental cookbooks and that is it. I then went through my other physical books. My "good intentions" books from authors I love. But I can get them all on Kindle so why keep the physical copy to not only take up space but collect dust. Dozens of books, donated. I do have a handful of books I am keeping from childhood that are used decoratively in my office (stack of hardcover that my 2nd monitor sits on and some my mom bought for me) as well as a paperback copy of The Princess Bride which I got in Greece in 1983 and have read so many times over I couldn't even give you a guess. Sorry this was so long but I enjoyed your video so much I wanted to share a little bit of my journey with you. I became a subscriber a few weeks ago and thoroughly enjoy your videos, especially this new series. Thank you.

[@liviamusolino2573]

Books are my friends too. I decluttered some in the past but it's really hard. I'll try to declutter more with your advices 🙂

[@Irene-gq4jr]

How timely. At the weekend I emptied and cleaned my large bookcase. All the books are piled up on the living room floor, staring me out. Some classics and reference books I will never part with, but others I know I've outgrown. My local library accept donations and charity shops usually sell books too. Better that someone gets the chance to read them than they sit here gathering dust.

[@HowToGYST]

Absolutely! Share the love of reading.

[@isyframe]

@@HowToGYST a friend of mine once organized a book exchange party at home. Everyone had to take a book wrapped in paper so that the title was invisible, they put them on a table and then, after tea, coffe and cakes, before leaving everyone could take another book to take home, without knowing which one! Isn't it nice?

[@vivianhudacek1556]

Great advice! I’m a bookworm & former English teacher, so I have thousands of books. Over the last few years I have donated many, but I “have miles to go before I sleep.” Yes, indeed, books are friends, & it’s hard to part with them! Enjoying your channel!

[@itoshiibaka8267]

Marie Kondo says that the time to read a book is usually when you got it. I find it's often true for me. Of course I have a few favourites, but if I haven't read it yet, I rarely will later. Unless it's a classic.

[@rhinoloupe]

Such a great tip! I like to flip a coin to make decisions. Sometimes you don't even need to see the result to realise what you really wanted.

[@flightlessphoenix77]

I decluttered my fiction books again not long ago, I find it really hard but tried to be ruthless. I have cut out maybe another 50 books or so in this round but I still own probably in excess of 400 books. I currently live in a tiny one bed flat so many are in the attic. My biggest life goal is to have my own library though. With a ladder. And a cosy reading chair.

[@jeannebowes2898]

I am a retired teacher and donated most of my library before I moved two thousand miles. I have less than 20 books I cherish. Alan is completely another story , I no longer have periodicals, manuals, or paper clutter. I am a senior senior facing a move soon, so Alan will have to cope with his excess pretty soon, but seriously dragging his feet. I am at the point of selling , donating, and giving away every day. I am enjoying your daily challenge.

[@missinthecastle3335]

I am a Kindle Book girl. I own 2 books. One is a cookbook. I need this video in my work!

[@nemo7782]

Don't know if this would work, but gather all the books you have NOT read and spend an afternoon seeing if the first couple chapters grab you. If it does, keep it. If not, DONATE IT. As a Bookie, I have my tried-and-true that I read at least a few times a year. The rest are- let me be blunt- not that essential for me to hold on to. My cookbooks are the only exception as I love cooking and food. I agree that purging the stacks is sometimes very necessary to a bibliophile. Sometimes there is no place- or option- to get another bookcase. Good video!

[@hanaandjerryforbes8878]

I have a few reservations about your comments about books. 1. I have been happily married for 46 years to another book lover. Books are ours, not mine or his. I may not be interested in a book, but if my husband is, I won't discard it. 2. My library is primarily non fiction and reference. I read and reread books, or parts of them constantly. My books are more for study. 3. Don't hurry to discard books. Sometimes I return to a book after decades to get new insights. 4. Finally, retired and in poor health, if I had to get to the public library in order to get books, I would have a major problem. (P. S. I'm a retired librarian.)

[@jennyjenkins877]

4:45 What a great exercise!

[@cmooshi33]

I have kon Mari decluttered my books twice before... did not think I would find many... however this time the criteria I used was 'When I move, do I want this book to take up weight and space in a box that I would gladly lug to a new home.' And I managed to find 32 books that didn't make the cut! Woohoo! 2 years ago I had 500+ books. After another round of brutal decluttering today its 139 books. OK that sounds like a lot, but they fit nicely with lots of room still on my bookshelves and some shelves don't even have books on them. I am happy with that! Thank you Laura!

[@jessicaalexander-lillicrap9527]

In case it’s helpful as an idea, while libraries were closed I bagged up a pile of books I had put aside for donating and sent them to my Nan who loves to read too. If your donation bins are closed then there might be people in the community who would appreciate them

[@janetwray6089]

I agree with the need in communities. During our lockdown due to the pandemic a couple of elderly ladies in my neighborhood asked if anyone had books to loan. Happily I could provide a few as did others in the neighborhood

[@leonacoburn5852]

We have a little library and pantry by churches here

[@edelinprogress]

I'm giving myself a free pass on book decluttering as I have 6 at the moment. I generally buy secondhand books and donate them as soon as I'm finished reading. I make good use of the library both physical and digital. I have one small bookcase of childhood treasures which I am keeping for DD.

[@MissVasques]

Considering how things could be beloved by someone else rather than focous the purchase cost have helped me the most to let go things. Things I used to keep out of a guilty concious rather than Actually enjoying having them. It has also made me cherish things more that I do Keep.

[@conniecline201]

I was an art major and I had some beautiful art books so I called the university I went to. They were thrilled to receive them, they also but Donated by Connie Cline inside the cover. So cool

[@HowToGYST]

Aw, that's lovely.

[@sherithomas5098]

Love the glasees! So fun and very flattering on you! 🙂

[@tanyakryder9660]

This is going to to take way more time than 5 minutes! Oy! I have tons of books still in boxes because we are moving. Yes, they are friends also. The rest will be little to no problem, but books this will be a challenge for sure. * fingers crossed * FYI: love the glasses. :)

[@HowToGYST]

The whole idea of the challenge is to spend 5 minutes so you can see progress and get results, not to complete the entire task. ;) If you have more time and energy after the 5 minutes, keep going. But the challenge is about getting results in a short amount of time. =) Hope that helps!

[@andrewbrendan1579]

For many years I was involved in the American Red Cross Book Fair in my town. We eventually had a policy that if text books were more than four years old and/or didn't have a bar code they were generally put into recycling. Keepers were literature books because good writing continues to be good. People might buy a literature text not for a class but simply for the content. We also kept math books because mathematical content doesn't change. The public library may have been more flexible in their weekly sales because people who were involved with home schooling liked to shop there.

[@annastiscia6511]

Yes, totally resonate with 'books as friends'. I de-cluttered my cookbooks many years ago: they were the easiest ones for me to do. Like the close your eyes and pick a book idea and of course, making space for new books, ideas and opportunities. Yes, I like passing books on: sharing. Totally, most of the 'best' books have been second-hand books I wouldn't have come across other wise.

[@michaelconnolly7681]

Another excellent video. Lots of creative and practical ideas. I definitely have books that I probably wont read and I will check it out

[@MaryHamerMusic]

I see "Big Magic" in your book stack!!! Yay! Love that book! 🌈♥️

[@tanjaaufdermaur9468]

I love your glasses!💖💖💖💖💖💖

[@vickigsolomon1241]

The first book I looked at was my husbands--on gardening. I can't get rid of his books, but I CAN get rid of my gardening books (I don't garden.) And then, on to the yoga books! Doing it by categories is going to work for me, I think.

[@mehis_meh2110]

We just decluttered our bookshelves a week ago and I am watching this anyway :) We got rid of like 6 shelves worth of books and I’m might go through it again!

[@callneedz2980]

What will you or did you replace the books with?

[@mehis_meh2110]

@@callneedz2980 well we put in some vases and other things plus a few new books. Turned some books sideways and stacked them to make book stoppers.

[@margaretjohnson6633]

My friend took photos of the one or two recipes they loved in each of their many cookery books. They printed and laminated those (or put in hole punched pockets, and placed them all into a lever arch file. Got rid of every other cookery book. I keep meaning to do that. I have about 40 cookery books and I don't even like cooking!

[@HowToGYST]

I have a small number but they're more for sentimental reasons coz I also dislike cooking. Ha ha.

[@kimhr1069]

The only problem with picking a random book to read is that, when my authors write a series, I refuse to read one out of order. I did that once and it spoiled the previous book in the series. But your other ideas are wonderful and are so motivating. Thank you very much for sharing. ❤

[@judysbakeryandtestkitchen1654]

Thank you. I decided to list what I declutter. Today was 20 paperbacks and 5 hardbacks. Hard to realize I won’t read them. Or read them again. It took longer than five minutes. Once I pulled it out. But worth it. Great tips on manuals!!!

[@HowToGYST]

Great job, Judy!

[@thisnthat42]

A lot of user manuals can be found online at the manufacturers website or if it's building instructions for furniture some of the shops where you purchased it hold pdf copies of the instructions. Argos being one example that I can think of.

[@maleaann]

Funny that I found this video today! I was just thinking about taking a few cookbooks I love but hardly use and scanning the few recipes I love and then selling the cookbooks.

[@HowToGYST]

It's a sign. ;)

[@eyejay404]

I wish I could show you my Mam’s face when you said cookbooks! 🤣

[@lindasokolnicki5286]

I am a kindle person but still the book clutter is reai!! So here we go...

[@shawkins2665]

Love this series of videos, thank you! Definitely keeps my momentum going, a little bit every day. I'm not too bad with letting books go but first have to make notes for future reference! In the habit now also of reading library books or rotating books at the charity shops.

[@CeeLeeLEMT]

Only kept the books that were: not available as ebooks (Kindle, iBooks, or Kobo- or from the library); authored by family; or a family 'heirloom'. Kept all the user manual tho, as they are part of the information package (in a binder) that I would provide when I sell my condo.

[@wendyperdue7794]

So helpful! Thank you!

[@HowToGYST]

Thank YOU for watching.

[@lindsey361]

Loving the bins laura, bins in London are glasses btw...you total legand xx

[@julietannOsfan1972]

Great tips. I love the glasses.😀

[@donnagarnet]

Check out local recycling programs. Here, the city recycling program allows putting paper backs in recycling bins, & I've been able to get rid of seriously outdated travel & technology books. But it's hard to get rid of my other books. For me, being rich has nothing to do with money: it's owning as many books as I want.

[@lillianbrooks5129]

Sadly wont use the idea to declutter quickly but, plan to grab random book off bookshelf and read it. Once read will go into the corner library box. So still declutter just take a little longer.

[@HowToGYST]

It's not really to declutter quickly, it's to make progress in short bursts of time. =) I know how overwhelming decluttering can be, and how easy it is to think that you need to set aside a huge chunk of time. So I'm trying to show that you can still get results in just a few minutes.

[@shawnaford5540]

I also will not be declutter in quickly due to fatigue, Yet is so meaningful to me get the 5 done each day. As well I am using the information that looking closely at these 5 minute moments and building a list of related tasks. If I have energy again in the day I go back for another 5. This really helping me deal with my all or non perfectionist tendencies. It is ok to do 5 and stop. So instead of finding this sad I find it joyful.

[@miffyonabike]

Anyone got any idea what to do with outdated text books? I have all my old uni books still (graduated 20 years ago!). Law books go off the boil so quickly, I can't really see any use for them apart from paper recycling (or a few very big door stops).

[@HowToGYST]

I had the same problem with my old law books and unfortunately had to recycle them, yes.

[@tr_4600]

My biggest problem is that I don't reread but I save them for others a habit I am trying to curb. when I buy a book after I read it I say to myself was this book amazing? Or truly exceptional? If not I donate it to my local library if they are hard back or thrift shop if softcover.

[@trishtraynor]

I'm so glad I switched to kindle a few years ago but I still have hard copies of books by friends who are writers and I will never be parted from Edna O' Brien. 😂

[@nataliebutler]

I dropped my Kindle so now I read books using the Kindle app on my phone.

[@ima.happy.hippie]

Believe it or not, decluttering paper is not a problem or me. I can take a huge stack of papers and declutter them in mere minutes. My problem is the stuff that needs to stay and be filed. I let it pile up because I hate filing it. Most of it is stuff that only needs kept for 1-3 years. my brain is like, it can stay in a pile since we'll have to shred it soon enough. 😳😂

[@HowToGYST]

As long as the pile is in an out-of-the-way place where it's not interfering with things you need on a more regular basis, that sounds just fine to me. 🙂

[@isyframe]

Last year I had to declutter my books as I changed the bookshelf in my bedroom. I realized it was less hard than how imagined. A lot of books that I really loved sounded even weird to me (you know that "Did I really read this one??") or easily forgotten. The problem is that I still have a few books (errr... "few" isn't the right word, maybe...) in some boxes, that didn't reached the bookshelf, so I think I'll go for a second decluttering round. I have a small house, and I started to think that maybe buying an ebook reader could be a good choice. At least I could buy the phisycal copy if I really really REALLY love the book I'm reading. Do you think it could be a good idea?

[@marthasalter405]

I made the switch to e-reader about a year ago even though I said I never would. Love physical books but I had to seriously cut back. I dont regret my choice and did keep about 20 "forever" books in physical form.

[@callneedz2980]

How do you get rid of items? Magazines that maybe of value later? Do you donate or throw away? I've declutter several times, only to have a pile or boxes of items that I try to find a donation home.

[@HowToGYST]

I donate as much as I can, either to a charity shop, local school, food bank, etc. After that I recycle if possible. Otherwise yes, I may have to dump some stuff. Not ideal but needs must.

[@Print229]

Where is your reading book? I would love to see it.😊

[@sandrabart5924]

I am interested in book reading as well as decluttering. I thought you might know what are the chances of a book being read as time passes from the date of the initial purchase or borrowing weeks or months? When does that reach less than 50%, 25% and 10 % 1 week or 1 month?

[@HowToGYST]

I don't have exact statistics but, to me, if it's not read within the first few days when the "excitement" is highest, the chances of it being read thereafter drop significantly. (That's assuming you buy one book. If you buy, or borrow, multiple it'll naturally take longer to work your way through them.) But there are no hard and fast rules. I've had books for years before reading them.

[@randaray24]

I just discovered you and absolutely love your videos! I am wondering what the set of books with the rainbow colours on the tops of the spines is? Just curious. Thank you for your voice. I need help! 😂

[@HowToGYST]

That's my collection of Enid Blyton's Famous Five books. I loved them as a kid but only ever borrowed them from the library, so when I spotted the collection in a shop a few years ago, I nabbed it. :D

[@randaray24]

How to Get Your Shit Together Fantastic choice for S.’s future library!

[@AuthorKatKaye]

Love the nerdy specs! I just did this the other day. I have a pile of books. Where can I take them to? I don't believe that my library is accepting donations & the FLL I was going to drop them at got taken down! Halp!!! TIA

[@sheelfjohnson]

I think prisons used to take book donations, if you want to check into that.

[@AuthorKatKaye]

@@sheelfjohnson thank you!

[@TinaThevarge]

My donation centre doesn’t accept books anymore. My last book declutter went to the recycling. It was kind of bitter sweet. But the information was outdated, so not really useful anymore. For new books, I usually go on amazon and buy the cheapest used version available. It might take a month or more to get to me. But for something I'll essentially be tossing once I'm done, I'm not paying full sticker price. I have a couple of collections I keep for sentimental reasons. But now reference books and paperback fiction just go once I've read it. Not even worth me trying to put it back into amazon circulation because postage would make it cost more than it’s worth. I do prefer an actual book to digital ebooks though. I tried liking ebooks when I moved into a tiny home, but it just didn’t float my boat.

[@faeriesmak]

Tina Thevarge My locks thrift store throws a lot of their donated books out so I donate my books to the library. They take donations for a book sale that they have yearly.

[@TinaThevarge]

faeriesmak my library isn’t taking them yet. We were starting to trip over donation piles. They had to go.

[@faeriesmak]

@@TinaThevarge I can understand that!!

[@koko137591]

🖐🏼🙂

[@SP-lt5xr]

Hi, what are you writing down, when you put everything on your bed?

[@HowToGYST]

Number of books before and after, how long it took me, anything I noticed during the process. =)

[@SP-lt5xr]

@@HowToGYST thank you. I'm starting to keep a journal, to remind me what I have achieved. S

[@kimberlybrenner6331]

Stuck- I have textbooks from over 10 years ago that i want to part with, but saw they are selling on Amazon for a decent price. I really don't want to deal with shipping and selling them, but I like the idea of the money. What is your suggestion? Have you been able to sell textbooks online?

[@HowToGYST]

Anything I've ever managed to sell was 100% never worth the hassle. Think of all the time and energy you're trading for that money. If you really need the cash, of course, go for it. Otherwise, be at peace with your decision. Just because you CAN make money doesn't mean you HAVE to, especially if you'll despise the process.

[@faeriesmak]

Are they actually selling for the price that you saw on Amazon or is that what sellers are asking for them. There is often a huge difference. Sometimes sellers on amazon will ask a lot for an item but that doesn’t mean that people are paying that price.

[@HowToGYST]

Great point!

[@kimberlybrenner6331]

Thanks- very helpful

[@judysbakeryandtestkitchen1654]

I haven’t taken pictures of my house yet, or filled out the workbook. Should I put off following the daily declutter till I do?

[@HowToGYST]

You don't have to but the photos and workbooks exercises are really great foundational pieces so I'd definitely recommend starting there if you can.

[@jennywrenn469]

1st 🙂

[@HowToGYST]

WHOOP!

[@AStateofDeNile]

I just moved a few months ago and purged a whole bunch. All my books are contained on one bookshelf at this time. But my curiosity is getting the better of me ... which books did you donate? the ones on the floor? or the ones on the bed?