For 2018, I've decided to offer a task each month that will help you keep your life moving along in an orderly fashion. (Usually, I'll post the first week of the month to maximize the time you have to complete it, but last week we had a special series.)

For January, your task is to go through your Christmas decorations and organize them properly. (Now is a good time since organizing bins and the like are on sale.)

This doesn't need to be a long, drawn-out process. You can do part of it as you take down your decorations and before you store them for next year. Here are your steps:

• Discard anything that is irreparably broken or in very bad shape.
• If something can be repaired, put it in an accessible place. You have until February 28th to repair it. If it's not fixed by then, it goes bye-bye. If you can't fix it in 7 weeks of winter, what are the chances that you will take the time in the midst of a hectic December?
• If decorations are still good, but you just don't use them, set them aside in a box with a note to donate them in late September/early October.
• Organize what remains in a way that makes sense to you. Perhaps you'll want to put all the lights together, and all the ornaments, and all the garland, etc. Alternatively, it might make more sense to group things by where they are placed: living room, family room, dining room, doors, outside, etc.
• Once things are in the proper boxes, label them in a place that you can see easily. That way, if you decide you want to use the lights for a summer party, you know where to look and you don't have to dig through 10 boxes.
• Store the labeled boxes in the usual place, ready for next year!