Steps in decluttering Books



📚 Letting Go of Books (Without Losing Yourself)



A Gentle Guide Through the Emotional Landscape of Decluttering Your Library


Good morning, friends,


I recently received a thoughtful question:

“What’s the best way to begin letting go of books—especially when they carry so much emotional weight?”


It’s a beautiful question, and I understand it deeply.

Books have always meant more to me than paper and ink. They’ve been a mirror, a comfort, a dream, and—let’s be honest—a little piece of who I imagined myself to be.


So before I share my practical steps, here’s a gentle reminder:


Decluttering books isn’t about denying your love for knowledge, imagination, or personal growth.


It’s about asking yourself: Do I need the physical presence of these books to reflect who I am?





📦 My Own Journey



Over the last two years, I’ve let go of thousands of books. Slowly. Intentionally.

But it wasn’t until the last three months—when my decluttering journey got serious—that I parted with the largest share.


Here’s how I did it:





✨ Step-by-Step: Releasing the Books with Love




1. 

Start with the Easy Ones



Let go of:


  • Books you’ve already read but didn’t enjoy
  • Books you bought with good intentions but never touched



No guilt. Just gratitude for the clarity.





2. 

Children’s Books (Yours or Theirs)



If your children are grown, or if you’re holding onto your own childhood favorites (Dr. Seuss, Eric Carle, anyone?), consider this:


📚 Books are meant to be read and loved—not gather dust.


Ask your kids if they’d like to keep any. If not, donate them to:


  • Local libraries
  • Family shelters
  • Community literacy programs



Let those stories bring joy to new little hearts.





3. 

Books for a ‘Fantasy Self’



Oh, this one is tender.


These are the books we collect for the version of ourselves we hope to be:


  • The master chef
  • The serene yogi
  • The savvy investor
  • The dog trainer for cadaver search teams (yes… that was me 😉)



But here’s the truth:


If you haven’t used them, they’re not inspiring you—they’re silently whispering that you’ve failed.


Let. Them. Go.

You can always return to the dream later—with new resources, energy, and focus.





4. 

Reference & Research Books



We used to need them.

Now? We have smartphones, apps, and Google.


Ask yourself:


  • Do I actually use this book?
  • Or do I reach for my device instead?



Lugging a hiking guide in your backpack is rarely more useful than a GPS app—especially one that updates in real-time.





5. 

Fiction Series from Seasons of Life



I had so many:


  • Philippa Gregory
  • Diana Gabaldon
  • Harry Potter (of course)
  • And a long list of beloved stories from my teens to my 50s



But here’s what I realized:


I carry the stories in my heart.

I don’t need them on my shelves.


So I passed them on—to neighbors, friends, and libraries—so they could live again in someone else’s world.





📚 What I Kept



Out of thousands of books collected over 50+ years, I now own about 50 to 70 books.


I kept:


  • The few I truly love and reread
  • A handful in German, which our local library wasn’t interested in
  • A tiny “guest library” for visitors to enjoy in our guest bedroom



And the rest?

They live in my Kindle app or in my Audible library—ready to be discovered, again and again.


(Okay, yes… I’ll need a separate strategy to declutter those someday. But first, I’ll have to face the 20,000 digital photos on my phone… One mountain at a time.)





💭 In Closing



If you’re standing in front of your shelves, overwhelmed—

Be kind.

Be curious.

Ask yourself:


  • Do I still love this?
  • Will I read it again?
  • Or has it already served its purpose?



Books are beautiful.

But you are not your bookshelf.

You are the living, evolving, breathing story that they only hinted at.


Hugs,

Anke




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