And gently does it....with Marie Kondo (The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying).
I found sorting through jewellery so tiring! (Sounds like I have lots of 'jewels'. I haven't!) It wasn't identifying what brought me joy - that was easy - it was having to decide what to do with what was left, until I remembered that it is actually very easy to give it away. I have a little pile which needs cleaning and/or mending....so not quite finished there.
In all categories I find it really useful to ask myself Would I buy it if I saw it for sale today?
This is proving to be particularly helpful in books. With the book in my hand I always know the answer to that question straight away.
I love my books (currently 500 - 600. Soon to be reduced!).
I took them all off the shelves, though not all at once as I wouldn't have been able to walk across the room, and I even brought those from the studio and the guest room and beside the bed into the study. A good chance to clean the shelves.
I found that, just that as Marie Kondo suggests, the very act of moving them and handling each one made me aware how many were.... moribund is the word that came to mind! Dead. Just sitting there because they were sitting there!
Who wants moribund books hanging around?
The difference when I rearranged them and put them back was amazing. Both I and the books were refreshed (I'm beginning to sound like Marie Kondo!)
I worked quite hard at it.
Did you?
But I'm so glad I did it.
Are you?