Today, take 10 minutes to sort through magazines and books.

Last week, I had hip replacement surgery, and when I returned home from the hospital, a friend kindly dropped off a bunch of magazines and catalogs for me to peruse. I loved catching up on the celebrity gossip in People magazine, checking out the "Beach Reads" and recipes in Good Housekeeping, and the latest gadgets and goodies for the home in Frontgate.

It has been ages since I've taken the time to flip through a magazine leisurely. Once I had worked through every article, advertisement, and recipe, I had a pile of magazines on my nightstand next to my Book Club Book for July. The cluttered magazines and books took up valuable space, making the room look unkempt. Ugh.

To get started, choose whether you would like to set a time for 10 minutes or select 10 items to remove (this will help you stay focused and ensure the task feels manageable.

Take a few seconds to flip through each magazine, catalog, and book. You will need to create three piles: "Keep," "Read Later," and "Leaves the House" (Donate, Recycle, Give to a Friend, Return to the Library).

Decide if it's something you want to read now, save it for later, or discard it.

Consider whether you still want to read the books or if they can be donated. While sorting through the books on the nightstand, I finally accepted that one of the library books I had checked out was no longer of interest and could quickly be returned to the library.

Once you finish your sort, arrange the magazines and books you plan to keep in a neat stack or on a bookshelf and ensure they are easily accessible.

Books or magazines in your "Read Later" may be placed in a designated spot where you can find them easily but where they won't contribute to clutter. For me, it is the nightstand, as this is where most of my recovery occurs.

Now, my nightstand looks clean, and plenty of room for a bottle of water, my medications, tissues, etc.

I hope you have a wonderful (and productive) week!

I help professional women with ADHD reduce overwhelm so they can accomplish their work and enjoy their lives with confidence. https://kl.coachkarenlynch.com/