How to Actually Organize Your Media Collection (Without Going Insane)

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by Fanakin Team

How to Actually Organize Your Media Collection (Without Going Insane)

Let’s be real: most organization advice is written by people who have way too much time on their hands.

“Create a color-coded spreadsheet with 47 columns!”

“Tag everything with a comprehensive taxonomy!”

“Build a custom database with SQL queries!”

Cool. But most of us just want to remember what we’ve seen and find something good for next time.

Here’s how to organize your media collection without turning it into a part-time job.

The Golden Rule: Simple Beats Perfect

The best organization system is the one you’ll actually use.

A simple system you maintain beats a perfect system you abandon after two weeks.

So let’s start with the basics and build from there.

Step 1: Pick Your Tool (Any Tool)

Seriously, just pick something:

  • Fanakin (obviously we’re biased)
  • A spreadsheet
  • A notebook
  • Notion
  • Literally anything

The tool matters less than the habit. Start somewhere.

Step 2: The Basic Categories

At minimum, you need three lists:

1. Completed

Stuff you’ve finished. Movies you’ve seen, books you’ve read, games you’ve beaten.

Why it matters: So you don’t accidentally revisit something (unless you want to).

2. In Progress

Currently experiencing.

Why it matters: So you remember where you left off.

3. Want to Check Out

Your “someday” list.

Why it matters: So recommendations don’t disappear into the void.

That’s it. Three lists. You’re already more organized than 80% of people.

Step 3: Add Context (The Secret Sauce)

Here’s what separates a useful list from a useless one: context.

Don’t just write “Dune.” Write:

  • “Dune (book) - Sarah recommended, says it’s dense but worth it”
  • “Dune (2021 movie) - Loved the visuals, 4/5”
  • “Dune (1984 movie) - Want to check out for comparison”

Future you needs to know:

  • Who recommended it
  • Why you added it
  • What you thought (if you’ve experienced it)
  • Any relevant notes

Step 4: Create Useful Lists

Generic lists are boring. Specific lists are useful.

Instead of: “Movies”

Try:

  • “Friday Night Movies” (fun, not too heavy)
  • “Date Night Options” (crowd-pleasers)
  • “Solo Deep Dives” (weird/artsy stuff)
  • “Background Comfort” (rewatchable favorites)

Instead of: “Books”

Try:

  • “Beach Reads” (light, fun)
  • “Winter Cozies” (atmospheric)
  • “Commute Books” (audiobook-friendly)
  • “Book Club Candidates” (discussion-worthy)

Instead of: “Games”

Try:

  • “Quick Sessions” (30 min or less)
  • “Weekend Projects” (long, immersive)
  • “Couch Co-op” (with friends)
  • “Podcast Games” (can play while listening)

See the difference? Context makes lists actually useful.

Step 5: The Weekly Review (5 Minutes)

Every Sunday (or whatever day works), spend 5 minutes:

  1. Add anything new you heard about this week
  2. Remove stuff you’re no longer interested in
  3. Move things around if priorities changed
  4. Pick something for the coming week

That’s it. Five minutes. Not an hour. Not a deep organizational overhaul. Just a quick check-in.

Common Mistakes (And How to Avoid Them)

Mistake #1: Over-Categorizing

You don’t need 47 tags and 12 subcategories. Start simple. Add complexity only if you need it.

Mistake #2: Never Deleting Anything

Your list isn’t a museum. If you added something 2 years ago and still haven’t checked it out, you’re probably not going to. Delete it.

Mistake #3: Treating It Like Homework

This should be fun. If your organization system feels like a chore, simplify it.

Mistake #4: Perfectionism

You don’t need to backfill everything you’ve ever experienced. Start from today and move forward.

Mistake #5: Too Many Tools

Pick one place. Stick with it. Don’t spread your lists across 5 different apps.

Advanced Tips (For When You’re Ready)

Once you’ve got the basics down, you can level up:

Mood-Based Organization

Tag items by mood: “Cozy,” “Intense,” “Funny,” “Thought-provoking”

When you’re in a specific mood, you know exactly what to pick.

Source Tracking

Note where recommendations came from: “Reddit,” “Sarah,” “Book club,” “YouTube”

Helps you identify your best sources of recommendations.

Priority Levels

Mark things as “Check Out ASAP,” “Someday,” or “Maybe”

Keeps your list from becoming overwhelming.

Rewatch/Reread Lists

Keep a list of comfort favorites for when you need something familiar.

Themed Collections

Create lists around themes: “Space Opera,” “Cozy Mystery,” “Indie Darlings”

Great for when you’re in a specific vibe.

Real Examples

Here’s how some people actually organize:

Alex (Minimalist):

  • Three lists: “Done,” “Doing,” “Want to Do”
  • That’s it. Works perfectly for him.

Jordan (Curator):

  • 15 themed lists: “Cyberpunk Everything,” “Cozy Fall Vibes,” ”90s Nostalgia”
  • Loves the curation process

Sam (Practical):

  • Lists by time commitment: “Quick (less than 2 hours),” “Medium (2-10 hours),” “Long (10+ hours)”
  • Picks based on available time

All three systems work. Because they match how each person thinks.

Fanakin’s Approach

This is exactly why we built Fanakin with three core features:

Lists: Create focused, context-based lists for any type of media. Mix movies, books, games, and shows in one list, or keep them separate.

Profiles: Build your media profile to showcase your taste and favorite lists. Share what you love without the pressure.

Polls: Can’t decide what to experience next? Create a poll and let friends vote. Perfect for movie nights, book clubs, or settling debates.

Your System Should Match Your Brain

Some people love detailed organization. Others want dead simple.

Some people love tags and categories. Others just want a list.

Some people track everything. Others only track what they haven’t seen yet.

There’s no wrong answer. The right system is the one that works for you.

Start Today

Here’s your homework (it’ll take 10 minutes):

  1. Pick a tool (any tool—Fanakin makes this easy)
  2. Create three lists: “Completed,” “In Progress,” “Want to Check Out”
  3. Add the last 5 things you’ve experienced to “Completed”
  4. Add 3 things you want to check out to “Want to Check Out”
  5. Add whatever you’re currently experiencing to “In Progress”

Done. You’re organized.

Everything else is optional.

The Real Secret

Here’s what nobody tells you: The organization isn’t the point.

The point is:

  • Not losing recommendations
  • Making decisions faster
  • Actually enjoying your media instead of stressing about it

If your system does that, it’s perfect.

Even if it’s just a note on your phone.

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