In an earlier post, I touched upon spring cleaning and living a simple life with less. Here’s one way to start your process of simplifying. Books are hard for many people to let go of. They have a memory and many people define themselves with the books and library that they keep. Some, don’t even read the book, they just keep it unused in the bookshelf, perhaps as a sign of prestige or to keep up an appearance. Simplifying a bookshelf is a challenge for many people.

I used to have thousands of books. Some of them barely used reference books. A large collection of WWII and escape stories, various philosophical and self help and a wide range of others. I had read them all and only a handful of them were ever touched again. The rest….they got touched when I moved and otherwise the dust was building up on them.

Over a decade ago I started to move from location to location. I noticed the boxes of unopened things and realized all the storage and time they were costing me. Dozens of boxes, back breaking to lift and the cost of gas just to get them from door to door was substantial. They took up space in a closet, basement or storage area. No one was getting the opportunity to enjoy the benefit of reading them – the true purpose of a book. Someone should be enjoying them, I thought.

I wanted to reduce the loads and trips and storage space. The books were the place to start. Eventually, it became one of the key catalyst that helped me to simplify other aspects of my life….but today, let’s start with the bookshelf.

Books, music, files, gadgets and sentimental things seem to be the hardest to let go. But let’s look at the reality of it. If you move a lot and have a large book collection there are a number of downsides.

1. They are heavy (quick moving tip use a wine box, it is about the right size and weight)
2. They take up a lot of space
3. The cost to move and ship them is expensive – pound for pound only heavy furniture costs more
4. They often remain in storage (hint – this means you don’t need or use them)
5. They will get damaged over time with many moves
6. You keep buying books (which are expensive now) and that annual total can really add up

Here’s a few ways to reduce your book collection easily and painlessly (or at least with less stress). Don’t decide to get your 2000 books down to 50 overnight. Do it in stages and ask yourself the following:

1. Are these books getting worn? Time to say goodbye.
2. Could someone else be enjoying and using this?
3. Do I refer to this book anymore?
4. Can I use the Internet as a source for info instead?
5. Do I really need to keep my University text books that you last looked at in 1987
6. Is there a charity sale that would benefit a good cause?

Now start small and get rid of a few at a time. Perhaps the old worn out books first. Then target text books and reference books. Pick the ones you know you will never read again or the ones you didn’t like. When you have your next garage sale, post them as “must go” items. You can even put them in a box outside your house with a note “free to a good home” to encourage people to take them. If you want to make a little money on it, then sell them on eBay or have a garage sale.

If you have a large quantity of books in your first attempt to cull, separate them and donate all the texts to a University Bookstore – they may even pay you for them if they are still on the book list. You will also find several bookstores buy used books or will give you a trade in value.This is a good way to start as you can trade 4 books that you have read for one book that you haven’t. Take the remaining books to a charity store.

So, what can you do to ensure that those books don’t start piling up again.

1. When you read a book, start a pile of “trade-ins” – get replacements only when you get rid of the pile
2. Learn to use the library – they have books there, lots of books, you can return them
3. Do you really need the book or can it wait (how many books do you have unread in your house)
4. Tell your friends and family that you are reducing your clutter and don’t need any more books or would prefer a “gift certificate” or consumable item (perhaps your favourite wine) instead

This is just a start. Each time I move or go for an adventure somewhere I go through my books and reduce them. It is down to about 50 books. Some of these are yearbooks & some are green, writing or web reference books that I use but otherwise I only keep a few of my memorable books. A few will be something different for different people, some a couple hundred and some a handful. I know that I can always buy them again. As for reference…I can always find what information I need on the internet.

It’s time to rethink your bookshelf. You can apply this rule to so many other items of your life. Over time it will become second nature. This will eventually lead to a more simple, peaceful and decluttered world. The end result, an abundant and peaceful life can be achieved with the essence of simplicity. Try it – you just might like it.

if you liked this post, take a gander at these ones!

• Downsizing Your Personal Life
• getting rid of your stuff – 3 fundamentals to simplify
• first steps to a life of voluntary simplicity
• environmental benefits of online media
• instead of having many items, have one