Peace of Mind Organizing

Letting the holiday cards be easy

4 December 2009

Yesterday I typed one of my favorite phrases, one that I learned from Supercoach Michael Neill. That phrase is “Why is it so hard to let it be easy?” I printed it out in a pretty font and posted it to my bulletin board. I want letting things be easy to be my theme for this month.

I’ve already applied it to my annual task of sending out holiday cards. In the past, I’ve made it quite complicated.

This year I’ve streamlined things by ordering my customized business holiday cards from the fabulous moo.com. I send about 125 of these to clients and colleagues. I have a personalized message on the inside of my card, my logo on the back. On the front are lovely graphics I selected from their designs (I chose three different cards), though I could have uploaded my own image.

For the last three years, I’ve customized my cards with my logo by printing it out on vellum, carefully cutting it and using glue dots to paste it into the cards. Trust me, this year will be much easier!

Last year I entered my card list into my Mac’s Address Book database, so updating is was a snap. I printed out mailing labels for the recipients and return address labels with my logo. I ordered Celebrate stamps from the postal service’s website. All the components are together, with very little effort. All that’s left is to write in each card and affix labels and postage to the envelopes.

For our 80 or so personal holiday cards, my husband and I selected humorous postcards, also from moo.com. They’ll be a snap to write in, no fussing with envelopes, and we’re saving 16 cents per card on postage.

So this year, no vellum, no glue dots, no photos, no newsletters, and, for the personal cards, no envelopes. Streamlined. Simple. Easy.

I’ve not only simplified the system this year, I’ve also developed an attitude of ease. Rather than looking at the sending of holiday cards as a chore or obligation, I’m going to sit down this weekend and just do it. I see tea (or perhaps wine, depending on the time of day) involved. I’m going to let it be easy!

If you send out holiday cards, I encourage you to make it as easy on yourself as possible. If you decide not to send them out at all, then embrace that decision and be liberated by it. Try to let go of any guilt you might have about it. This year you can let the holidays be easy!

Tagged with: cards, ease, holidays, self-care

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