Organize DVDs simply

Have you ever wondered where one of your DVDs is? Have you forgotten which DVDs you even own? You've been purchasing DVDs or CDs for a long time. It can be hard remembering which ones you have, or which ones you just thought about buying, or if one you have now is one you borrowed from someone and should be returned. If you can write numbers and words, then here is a simple way to organize your DVDs, CDs, VHS tapes, cassette tapes, or record albums (yes, I'm showing my age here). Does anyone still have 8-track tapes? They might be valuable by now!

Step 1. Write a unique number on each one where the numbers will be easiest to see when they are on the shelf. Start with 1 and contine until they each have a number. Depending on how fancy you want to get, use a permanent black marker or a label maker.

Step 2. On a piece of paper, write those same numbers down a row. In the column beside each number, write the title of the item.

That's it. Now you have an organized list of all your DVDs, or CDs, or whatever. Just put the piece of paper somewhere where you'll be able to find it when you want it. See below for steps on easy retrieval.

Getting fancier:

Fancy 1: In order to find one when you want it, you could simply store them in the order of their numbers with the number showing. Let's say you want to watch Spiderman. You look at your list and see that it is #26 on your list. Then you go to your stack and follow the numbers until you reach # 26. That one should be Spiderman. Important: When you are finished watching it, put it back in the same place in numerical order so it will be easy to find the next time. See Putting things back.

Fancy 2: Stack them in order in a DVD case or shelf made specifically for DVDs, or whatever item you are organizing. It will look good in the corner or wherever you keep them.

Fancy 3: This winter when you are bored, put your list on a spreadsheet. Your first two columns would be the numbers and titles. You can then add a column for Year of Release, Rating, Main Actors. Now they can be sorted by any column you want. Suppose you are in the mood to watch movies staring Harrison Ford. You can sort your list by Actor and discover that numbers 4, 18, and 45 all feature Harrison Ford. Then you are set for an enjoyable night or weekend. Or suppose you want to watch all your Matrix series. Sorting by Title, you see they are numbers 8, 23, and 35. Now they are easy to find and you can spend your time watching them instead of hunting for them and finally giving up in frustration.

Fancy 4: If you keep your DVDs or CDs in a couple of locations, say upstairs and downstairs, or maybe the CDs are in the house, and two different vehicles, you can add a column for "Location." Then you will know where to look for that particular one.

May your watching and listening now be happier because you are organized!

Organize by putting things back

A big time-waster is looking for things we've misplaced. Just a few days ago, I found a water nozzle on top of the air conditioner. I had intended to put it away when I was finished putting the hoses away for the winter. Several weeks later, it was still laying outside. If I had wanted to use it in the mean time, I would have had no idea where to start looking for it. Whether we are in a hurry, feeling lazy that day, or whatever excuse we want to use, it wastes time later. Or things get ruined in the rain, or simply lost forever. All this is because we didn't take a few seconds to immediately put it back where it belonged.

This can all be avoided if we simply discipline ourselves a little more. Teach yourself, remind yourself, train yourself to put things away immediately. Tell yourself you will never wait until later. If you discover you didn't put something away, gently remind yourself that you want to put things away immediately. Then put it away now.

So, when you get done with the garden tool, put it away. Hang up the car keys where they belong as soon as you get home. Put the screw driver back in the tool box. Hang up the towel. Put the pen in the drawer. Replace the book on the shelf. Put the DVD or CD back, file the paper you want to keep, and put the cordless phone where it belongs. This one bit of organizational discipline will pay off in time and equipment saved. You will have been good to yourself.