The start of the year is the perfect time to take on a fresh perspective. Sure, you could follow the fitness crowd or go the way of inner peace and wellness or whatever, but have you seen your book shelves lately? Honestly, when was the last time you broke the spine of Calculus of Variations? When, exactly, are you going to get around to Mastering the Art of French Cooking…or any cooking for that matter?

Sounds like it’s time for a shelf detox. We’ve outlined some practices to help you successfully declutter, then restock, your book shelves.

Step 1: Survey the books you own.
Take a long hard look at what you claim to have been reading.

Step 2: Keep your favorites.
Let me be perfectly clear: All of them are not your favorite. You are going to have to get rid of some books. Just accept that now. I know we tend to get attached but relax, you’re clearing out your book shelves so that you can replenish them. You’re going to get more. Breathe through this. Take this time to bask in the nostalgia of your favorite reads as you add them to a separate pile and schedule some future time to revisit them. Try to focus on books you find yourself reading several times. Continue reading →