5 Steps to Stress-Free Christmas Cards

Do the holidays overwhelm you? These tips for creating stress-free meaningful Christmas cards for your friends and family will help you stay calm!

One of my most dreaded holiday tasks is coming up with my Christmas card list.

Don’t get me wrong, I absolutely love the opportunity to connect with friends and family (especially since we’ve moved across the country a few times). But I’ll admit, I tend to put off drafting my Christmas cards for as LONG as possible.

Between finding the time to write them out, gathering addresses, and even figuring out what exactly I’m going to send or say (and who I’m sending them to!)—I’m not going to lie: it gets overwhelming!

Well, this year we’re going to eliminate the holiday overwhelm!

Holiday cards are inexpensive, meaningful and a great opportunity to spread Christmas cheer. In other words, they should be stress-free and joyful! By taking steps to organize and simplify the process, we can get back to enjoying Christmas (instead of standing in last-minute lines at the post office or paying crazy prices for next-day shipping)!

5 Steps to Stress-Free Christmas Cards

Use these steps to get your Christmas cards finished early, so you’ll have plenty of time to relax and enjoy the holiday season!

1. Create Your List

The first step is deciding how many cards you need and getting a handle on the scope and size of your mailing list. Write a list of the people you’ve interacted with professionally and personally over the last year. Are there people who have made an impact in your life, who you’d like to thank, or who you’d simply like to stay in contact with?

When it comes to Christmas cards, the rule of thumb is to send to the people you won’t see in person over the holiday season. Some of us also have family members (parents and siblings) who might expect and appreciate a holiday card, especially if it features a family photo. (Don’t worry, here’s how to take the perfect one.)

If your list is larger, you may want to divide it into segments. A few questions to help craft your list:

• Which recipients are professional contacts, where a simple card is appropriate?
• Which recipients should receive a longer heartfelt message?
• Are there people who you’d like to send a small gift or gift card?
• Do you plan on writing a family newsletter or update to share with your recipients?

Generally speaking, while giving a gift card or present to everyone is lovely, most people would truly appreciate a heartfelt message even more than a gift. If your holiday budget is tight or if you’re moving away from the more commercialized aspects of the holiday, a letter or personalized message is simple, meaningful and more impactful. Say no to gifts and opt for meaningful messages from the heart.

While most cards are pre-printed with a holiday sentiment, taking time to write a few words is always the way to go. If you’re planning on sending a card, it’s worth the extra effort and will definitely brighten your recipient’s day and warm their heart.

2. Avoid Post Office Stress by Creating Cards Early

The post office is notoriously the worst place during the last two weeks of December. Save yourself the headache and hassle by aiming to get your holiday cards and items to mail ready early.

Planning to create a photo card? Order them in November for the best results. Take family photos in the fall, so you’ll find plenty of time to adjust and change the card if something goes awry during the process. Photo companies like Snapfish and Shutterfly offer great deals on cards at this time of year in anticipation of the holiday rush.

Similarly, handmade holiday cards are beautiful and so meaningful, but DIY takes time! Build plenty of room into your schedule so you aren’t stressing out, creating cards at the last minute (or throwing in the craft towel after spending money on supplies). Give yourself plenty of time to work on your creations and the process will become much more rewarding.

Cards should generally go in the mail by the first week of December. Similarly, retail ground shipping should get mailed at least 10 days before Christmas. First class mail should get sent five days to a week ahead. Priority mail needs a 3-4-day window (1-2 days is the regular timeframe, but with holiday mailing the turnaround is typically adjusted). For last-ditch mailing, send Priority Mail Express by the 22^nd (particularly if Christmas or Christmas Eve fall on a weekend). International times vary by location, but mail early for the best results.

Save yourself time and stress by buying stamps ahead. Costco, Sam’s Club and many grocery stores offer stamps. You can purchase them through ATMs or online. If you purchase from the USPS website, plan on giving yourself a week lead time, as stamps often take a while to ship. Bottom line: if you need stamps quickly, using the kiosk at the post office or picking up stamps from a store you frequent are the fastest options.

3. Track Down Addresses

Whether you keep an electronic or a paper address book, it’s time to drag it out and start to pinpoint addresses for everyone on your list. Make it a point to write and record addresses each time you receive a letter in the mail, so you have a robust list to refer to.

These days with everyone on email, Facebook and cell phones, our street addresses aren’t often tied to our contact information as they once were. Still, with a little tracking, you can usually find addresses for everyone on your list. Remember to check email signatures if you’re working to pinpoint an elusive address.

Tracking down addresses becomes a bit challenging and sometimes we simply can’t find them online or in our records. The easiest way to find an address? Simply send an email, Facebook message or put out a quick phone call and ask! Search on whitepages.com among the free results to see if the recipient has a listed number as well. There are paid searches available also but in most cases, it’s easier to send a quick message and request the information you need.

4. Explore Card Options

When it comes to deciding on holiday cards, the sky’s the limit! There are so many beautiful seasonal designs out there. Create your own cards with stamps, stickers and printed paper. Help your kids design a card and then print copies or order online.

Photo cards are always popular and fun. They’re easy to design online and online sources like Snapfish and Shutterfly ship right to your door. Walgreens, Costco and Walmart also offer photo printing with many product options to pick up or ship to your home.

If you want to include a family newsletter, the best guidelines suggest keeping it short, humble and positive (while being authentic, of course). Offering a candid look at your family’s activities for the last year is often appreciated most by close family and friends. Use humor and keep it light, succinct and anecdotal. Including a few pictures is always a fun addition as well.

Digital cards and e-cards are less personal, but are appropriate for people with whom you only have a digital or online relationship. Paperless Post, Blue Mountain and others offer beautiful cards with digital animation, customizable designs and more. Online cards are also an easy way to send greetings to family and friends overseas or in the military (although there are programs to get mail to soldiers through the Department of State).

If you would like to include a gift card, look for cute options and specially made cards that are flat and easily sent in an envelope at the regular card rate. You can also send gift certificates online, but including or following up with a handwritten note or card is always an appreciated gesture.

If your holiday list includes people of other faiths and denominations, there are many general “holiday” cards that still capture the sentiments of this time of year. Also consider sending New Year’s cards, which you can send a little later. Any genuinely penned, kind wish is appreciated, though, so don’t worry too much about the card. It’s the message inside that counts!

5. And if you forget someone…

We’ve all had a moment where we receive a card or even a gift from someone we inadvertently left off our list. It’s a little embarrassing and we may feel guilty. Ugh! The best way to handle the situation is to send a follow up note or response, or even make a phone call.

If you receive a Christmas card from someone, mention the card the next time you see them and let them know how much it meant to you. There’s no need to wax on about how sorry you are you didn’t reciprocate (or invent a story about how you didn’t send out cards). Instead, offer genuine thanks and appreciation for their gesture. Send a New Year greeting as a follow up and wish them all the best in the upcoming year ahead.

Cards are especially appreciated by older neighbors and family members who might not be on social media (and may not receive as many gifts). Remember any senior friends especially as the cards mean so much to them.

If someone gives you a gift, write them a letter of appreciation and let them know how much you’d love to enjoy time with them. Giving experiences over gifts is often more meaningful and creates lasting memories. Sentiment captures the spirit of the holidays much more strongly than another gift or more “stuff.” Make your holiday count this year by really putting meaning behind your greetings and focusing on the message over the medium.

Christmas cards truly capture what the season is all about—telling loved ones how much they mean to you and why you appreciate them, and letting them know they’re on your mind. As long as you focus on those messages in your holiday greetings, you’re guaranteed to spread joy and cheer!

Start planning your holiday greetings now to enjoy your best, most meaningful and stress-free holiday ever!

To recap, here are 5 Steps to Stress-Free Christmas Cards

1. Create Your List
2. Avoid Post Office Stress by Creating Cards Early
3. Track Down Addresses
4. Explore Card Options
5. And if you forget someone…

OTHER HOLIDAY TIPS YOU MUST KNOW:

• 50 Perfect Gifts Under $50: Your Ultimate Online Holiday Shopping Guide
• Simple, Chic, & Cheap: 9 Holiday Decorating Ideas That Only LOOK Expensive
• Your Holiday Stop-Doing List: 10 Traditions It’s Okay to Skip This Year (Plus 5 Worth Keeping)

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