Everyone seems to have the best of intentions come holiday time that they’ll organize their bits & bobs when they pull the stuff out for the season, but then they get rushed and it never comes to fruition. What you’re left with is another messy holiday bin and year-long guilt.

Prevent it all by taking an extra 15 minutes (yes, that’s really all you need!) on every bin you pull out. Get a trash bag and a donation box ready before you open the bin, and as you dig through to find the decorations you like, also pull out any that you don’t like, haven’t used in years, or that are broken and dispose of them. Do the same thing as you put the decorations away in case you realized that you really didn’t like some you set out this year.

Mke sure that as you put them away you store them properly to prevent damage. Most things can be wrapped in newspaper or stored in clear containers so you can see what’s in them. As you wrap an item, quickly (and cheaply) label it with a sharpie on masking tape, painter’s tape, or duct tape. Don’t feel pressured to go for perfect storage here since things are only used annually. Mark it, and move on, and save the pretty labeling for your everyday areas.

A quick tip on storing string lights — as you put them away this year, keep them from getting tangled by wrapping them around a sturdy piece of cardboard, a gift box, or anything rigid enough to hold their weight. Spool it like thread, and next year it’ll be a breeze to string lights. Also, leave the plug end loose to make it easy to test the lights next year before you spend time putting them up.

Follow this advice and not only will this year’s decorating be stress-free, but you’ll gain some extra space and next year’s decorating will be pleasant as well!