Here's a step-by-step checklist to simplify and make it easier to send those holiday cards on time!
1. SIMPLIFY / CUT BACK ON YOUR LIST!
In an effort to simplify, this year we have decided to minimize the number of paper cards we send out. For the first time ever, I'm not going to add anyone to my list that is already at 200! I'm also cut our list to 90! It's not easy, but we did it. Here's my strategy for cutting back.
People we are taking out of our Christmas labels Word File.
1. People I've lost touch with.
2. People who are business / school acquaintances.
3. People who don't send us cards (including family members). Obviously they must not care about getting any if they don't send any, right?
4. People who understand why we are trying to simplify. (Sending over 200 cards is just too much!
5. People we know don't really care whether or not we send a card.
6. People who will be just as happy if we just send them a digital e-card!
People we are keeping in the file.
1. Family Members & friends who send us cards regularly because they love sending & getting cards.
2. People who meant a lot to me during my life when I lived in various places around the country that I really love exchanging updates with every year.
3. Older people we know don't get a lot of cards, don't have computers, and for whom receiving a card means a lot to them.
2. START EARLY & PREPARE THE "INGREDIENTS"
Start a couple weeks before Thanksgiving if you can. Chunk out your tasks into manageable bites as shown below. Every week we get 2 - 3 of these tasks done.
- Update your address book and mailing label lists & print out the labels
(I recommend using a Word Template for address labels from Avery)- Print out or gather your Return Address Labels.
(I make my own in Word, but you can also just buy labels, or even better start gathering the labels you get for free from different charities.)- Buy Holiday Stamps from www.usps.com. They are usually available by Thanksgiving. If you order early you never have to worry about your local office running out.
- Make sure you have the right number of cards.
(I usually buy cards when they are on sale for the next year so I don't have to scramble to get this done. I keep them in a box in my office closet labeled Christmas. I also keep any unused labels & stamps and last year's gift lists in that box. )- If you send out photo cards, choose your photo & get them ordered.
- If you send a holiday newsletter, start outlining the things you want to include. If you send pictures inside a cards, choose one and get it duplicated.
- Write your Newsletter first draft.
2. PUT THE INGREDIENTS TOGETHER & MAIL!
Week 1 after Thanksgiving do the next steps.
TIP: Prepare cards a few at a time while watching TV so it isn't overwhelming.
- Put Return Address Labels on all your envelopes (try doing - 10-50 cards at a time)
- Put Stamps on all your envelopes
Week 2 after Thanksgiving do the next steps.
- Put Recipient Address Labels on the cards
- Do your final edit, then print and fold your holiday Newsletters (if you have one) and put them inside the cards. Also, put each card with it's stamped and addressed envelope.
- Divide cards into sets of 5 - 10 cards each.
- Each day work on a set of cards. Also, get a plastic bag to carry cards with you. Anytime you have to wait somewhere, like at a doctor's office. Write personal notes and sign your cards.
If you really don't want to spend time on personal notes, you can order pre-printed cards. If you do that, you can just skip steps 2-4 and go directly to the next step!
- Mail the set of cards!
Do a set each day and even if you have 100 cards, you'll have them all personalized and sent in 7 -10 days! If you have more cards than 100, go back to Step One and Simplify! : ) Or start a week or 2 earlier.
Wishing you Happy, Healthy & Neat Holidays!
Here's a comment from a Robbi in California. Thanks Robbi!
I keep a Christmas card list in my computer, in the Mail's Address Book, in a special folder called Christmas Card List. (I'm on an Apple Macintosh.)
In November, I go through it to make sure that the people on it are ones I want to send cards to. I remove those who haven't been in touch throughout the year. Then I print the list, which includes names, addresses, and family members' names such as spouse and children.
When I receive cards, I doublecheck the sender's address against my Address Book. Then I shred the envelope. Then I mark on my printed Christmas Card list that I received the card. I write any notes on it for updating the Address Book, such as new spouses' or children or pets' names, dates of birth, new jobs, new email addresses or whatever.
On December 31st (allowing for late arrivals), I go to my computerized Christmas card list and remove those people who have not sent a card, and update the Address Book. Then I throw out the cards and start the New Year clutter-free!
Robbi in California
