A Stress free Christmas

Are you dreading the thought of having to write all those Christmas cards? Each year it seems to be more of a chore unless I take control of it. The trick is not to do it all at once but to schedule 15 minutes at a time. Then it is not overwhelming and you will have a better chance of getting it done
without too much stress.

Here are my 12 steps to Heaven.

1. Buy or make your Christmas cards if you haven't already. The sooner you get them the better choice you will have. And if the weather turns wintry you will be able to do them whilst you are snowed in.

2. Stop by your local Post Office and buy self adhesive stamps. If you know you have to send cards abroad then get some European stamps as well as UK. Pick up the leaflet with the last Posting Dates. If you start early you can use second class stamps and save the difference between second and first

3. Do a list of who you want to send cards to and gather together all the addresses that you need. If you are organised these will already be on your computer

4. Consider using electronic cards – there are many Charity sites which you can use. This saves time and money and helps the environment. You can also do video emails at less cost than printed cards

5. Print out address labels for all the recipients who you wish to mail. If you save this list from year to year you will be amazed at how much easier the job becomes.

6. Draft a Christmas letter if you normally send a newsy note to people. Keep it fun and interesting and include some photos

7. Acquire some small labels with your address on. Either print them yourself or get them done professionally. Guide Dogs for the Blind or RNLI will send you a sheet of small labels when you make a donation to them

8. Get other members of the family involved too. Cards are much nicer to receive when everyone has signed them. Make it fun with some nice refreshments

9. Concentrate on the foreign ones first. If you are posting abroad make sure you have a return address label. Canada will not accept mail which does not have a return address on it so it will go straight in the bin

10. Add your address to the outside of the envelopes – the top left hand corner is favourite, or on the back. You will be amazed how many people get cards and want to return the compliment but don't have the address. Also a good way of finding out if people have moved and not told you

11. Take all the foreign ones to the Post Office well in advance of the final posting dates and the lengthy queues

12. Give yourself a pat on the back for tackling what seemed to be a challenge, but became achievable when done 15 minutes at a time

Professional planner and organiser available to help individuals on an interim basis.

Free consultation.

Contact Shân Hughes

hello@plugthatgap.co.uk

www.plugthatgap.co.uk

01932 350 715 07973 217 785