If you are the kind of person who dreads and twists yourself up in knots about sending Christmas cards, stop sending them. 

It’s that easy. Imagine the time, money, and stress you’ll save! 

If You Love Sending Christmas Cards, by All Means, Go All Out! Do It Right!  

Order ahead. Pick your photo(s). Pick your image. Write your newsletter. Buy the commemorative stamps. Sign “with love” away. 

I used to make all my own cards. It was the special gift that I sent from the city I lived in far away. The cards themselves were the gifts. I didn’t have to spend any extra money on shipping. 

Now I live in the same town as most of my family, and so it seems a little excessive. I stopped about 25 years ago. 

What about the List? 

As for the pile of addresses, hopefully, by now you have your address list in a database so you can just update it with ease. Give yourself ample time each year to update the moves, births, and deaths of your friends and family.  

I like to be methodical with my list. When I get a card, I double-check the address right away and throw away the envelope. I make any notes about things I would like to follow up with that person about in a notebook. 

I follow up during my regular correspondence time. Oh, do schedule regular time for keeping up with your loved ones. 

One of my friends and her husband go for a day of addressing the cards. They put everything together in a little basket and head to a coffee shop or cozy restaurant. They order a meal and some drinks and start writing together. They split the list. It’s a fun way to spend an afternoon together, reminiscing about old holidays and planning for the new one. 

What Gets to Happen? 

Here’s a little insight as to what happens when you stop sending Christmas cards. 

Nothing happens. You still get cards from your friends who enjoy sending them, and you still don’t get cards from your friends who don’t. 

A lack of cards does not translate to not thinking well of the person or loving them with all your heart.  

However, most cards are sent out of obligation. Once that obligation interferes with your enjoyment of the activity, don’t participate anymore! It’s just an expectation that you’ve put on yourself. 

Freeing yourself of the pressure to send Christmas cards and update acquaintances on your life and the life of your family will free up time to make a few phone calls, make a few connections, and meet up with your favorite friends and family. 

Have You Thought about an Electronic Card? 

Many companies will allow you to pick a card and send to your email list. You can customize font, colors, and personalize your message. This method lacks the fun of opening a card and putting it on your mantle, taping it on that card tree, or sticking it on the fridge. But it has its upsides for you as the sender. 

Think about It. 

At a minimum, you need to have a hierarchy of who are the most important people that get cards. Who are merely acquaintances that you would say “Happy Holidays” as you pass them on the street, but don’t need a card? 

The key to streamlining your holidays is not to listen to anyone else’s opinions but to begin thinking for yourself about how you would like to experience your holiday. You get to create that experience. If it involves Christmas, Hanukkah, or other seasonal cards (whether electronic, handwritten, or not at all), you get to decide. 

Happy Holidays! I really hope they are delightful, and don’t feel obliged to send me a card. 

Let me know in the comments what this thought experiment has you thinking. 

One of the most frequently asked questions about pieces of paper I ask my clients is “is it important?” it works like a charm if they know the answer. It either is or it isn’t. Or is it?

Without a hierarchy in place it can be really difficult to know if something is important. Not taking the time to establish your own criteria, based on your own desires will keep you guessing as to whether or not some information is important.

Which one is more important?

The real problem is that there is very little discussion out there about how to establish that hierarchy. So, one mistake leads people to think they should just keep everything, just in case that one scenario happens again. You know, the one where you recycle the article about how to save money on your car insurance the day before your insurance agent calls.

All levels of importance are relative. That means that I don’t know how important something is to you until you tell me. I want you to be able to tell me why the folder in the file cabinet labeled “KEEP” and covered in cobwebs is just as important as the one on the desk labeled “IMPORTANT” and the one on the credenza labeled “VERY IMPORTANT” are being kept.

When you label everything with the same high level of urgency, they lose their importance. So, evaluate against what is currently relevant to you. This is a live in the moment situation. What was important last week is not necessarily important now. You can keep anything you want, you just have to know why.

Good news, your insurance agent is a professional and will tell you what savings options are available through her if you ask. No article needed.

More good news, I’ve got your how to determine if that piece of paper is important info right here. Just ask each question and answer based on your own desires, goals and values. Only then will you know if it is important enough to keep.

What is it?

1. If it is for use very soon keep it until then.
2. If it is for occasional use is there another way?
3. If you don’t even know what you saved it for, it isn’t important.

What does it prove?

1. If it proves an interaction with the government it’s highly important and should be kept indefinitely.
2. If it proves an interaction with someone else, it is only important until that interaction is resolved.
3. If it only proves something you already know, it’s not important.

What is the worst that can happen?

1. If the world will blow up, keep it
2. If you might have to request a replacement, it’s not that important
3. If you will feel anxious about tossing it, lose it. That feeling is only temporary and the clear space can last a lifetime.

Even more good news, it works for stuff that isn’t paper too. Use it in your closet, kitchen, office and computer.

If you are going to keep just the right stuff, you need evaluation criteria.

I paid good money for that… but is it important?

One of the excuses my clients use when we are going through their clutter is “I can’t get rid of that, I paid good money for it.” Yes I said excuse.

The truth is that the amount of money we spend on something does not equate with its true value in your life.  It just might be costing you more to keep it.

A favorite sweater purchased on sale and worn several times a month is more valuable than a designer sweater that doesn’t fit, and bargain is only a bargain if it is something you would have paid full price for anyway.

If you are going to use money, as criteria, for deciding what to keep and what to let go of, focusing on the value to you is a much better way to go.

• Clearing out the garage creates enough room to park the car in there. Saving you the price of a new paint job.
• Clearing out your storage space will save you enough to go to a movie every month, with popcorn and a date.
• Donating all the clothes that do not fit on you or in the closet creates a tax deduction. Enough for a great new piece to complete an outfit, one you will wear.
• Clearing out the clothes piled on the treadmill will save you the dry cleaning costs. Enough to buy new running shoes so you are comfortable using the treadmill.
• Selling the collection you inherited but are not interested in creates the extra cash to buy a special piece for your own collection.
• Clearing the junk you bought off the dining room table creates the space for healthy family dinners and save you the cost of drive thru meals.
• Donating the toys the kids leave on the stairs creates a safer home    environment and can save the cost of a trip to the emergency room

Now that you have an idea of why getting rid of some things is valuable, let’s pick your favorites instead.

There is a good chance your favorite stuff is getting buried by all the other stuff you have.

Do you even know what and where your favorite stuff is? Taking some time to define your favorites – for every category of stuff you own, helps keep clutter in check.

It doesn’t matter if it is a favorite t-shirt hidden between the 2 swag (s*** we all get) shirts from that event at work, or the updated version of a contact list eclipsed by the last version with a hand written note on it, the less favorite options are in your way.

Take a look around. Where does your clutter pile up? Is it paper in the office? Is it too much stuff in the kitchen drawer? How about under the bathroom sink? The closet is another likely place you have some excess stuff.

All of these locations can be cleared of redundancy by using my Favorite or Less Favorite method of elimination. Just work around your space methodically and focusing on one small area at a time.

Here is how it works for any pile of already grouped together, similar and like-minded items:

1. Pick your 3 favorites to keep. Put them away.
2. Pick your 3 least favorites. Get rid of them (trash, recycle, donate).
3. Repeat steps 1 and 2 until the pile is completely sorted.
4. If the keep pile is still too big to fit in the allotted space, repeat this process, do not go get a bigger space.
5. Congratulations! You have now eliminated 50% of your clutter.

When working on paper the version will be of the information on the paper. Which format do you prefer to get the information in?

In the closet keep in mind how wonderful it will be to not wear your “make do” outfit and turn out as your best self.

No more accidentally using the weird smelling lotion in the bathroom.

Hardly anymore burned pancakes when the best turner is the only one in the drawer.

Remember when you were a kid and only your favorite toy would do? That “just right” feeling is what we are looking for here. Life is too short to use things you don’t love. Keep only the best solution for you.

When new versions creep in, the piles start. So, whenever something new comes in, take a moment to evaluate it against the option you already have.

Know what you value and treat your toys well. Then it won’t really matter how much you paid for it.

Now I want to hear what you think. Let me know if you decided that keeping the article on growing hydrangeas is important if you live in the desert and would rather be hiking than gardening. Just put your comment in the comment box below.

Most challenges are designed to create a buzz and get you excited about the process, but not lasting results. Tips and challenges most often fail to tie the reason for them to your big picture wants, core desired feelings or deeper values. 

In other words, they are someone else’s should and how tos based on arbitrary numbers and end points. 

The media is always full of tips tricks and secrets for getting organized.  

A few years ago someone realized that humans love a challenge, and that overcoming a challenge can help you create change.  

So, a lot of online advice revolves around 30-day challenge games. Lose weight, get fit, get beautiful, transform your relationship and of course get organized. 

There are 3 reasons the challenges won’t work: 

1. The problem with gamifying a life skill is that it doesn’t solidify the habit. The game itself has set up a time line that has an end point. In reality, being organized is a constant and ongoing process of editing the things you own and what you say yes to. 

2. In 30 days it is possible to change some habits, but more likely it will take longer. What happens on day 31 when the online celebrity is no longer available for motivation? Who do you have in place for accountability? 

3. Research shows that the average American home has over 400,000 items. No wonder it doesn’t feel like you are making progress when you are only getting rid of one item a day. Without visual progress, it’s easy to get discouraged. Are there any whole categories of things you can eliminate for a quick visual difference? 

And one reason that get organized tips won’t work either: 

1. A quick tip doesn’t take into consideration your desires. They often only work if 12 (that is an arbitrary number I just made up) other things are already in place. Organized people often assume that what works for them will work the same for others. The fact that you might not already have a trash can under your desk to catch the pieces of paper you no longer want can hinder the effort to clear your desk before you even get started. 

Would you rather feel great for about 2 weeks by putting everything away until this becomes jumbled by everyday life so that you have to reorganize everything every couple of months, or spend a little more time up front so that you never have to reorganize again – ever. 

I thought not. 

For long lasting and easy to use results you will need to do a bit of work. 

The first thing you want to do is to think about WHY you want to get organized. Then write it down. When you want to change your behavior it really helps to know why you are doing it. Tie your actions to a desired result and you make real progress. 

The best reason for getting rid of clutter and simplifying your work or life is to make your dreams accessible. To create the foundation of nurturing support to do the things you would rather be doing. 

Next, use your why to keep you motivated and your projects moving forward. Clear the study of all your old work materials to make room for the painting supplies and spend your retirement slapping some color onto canvas. See, you want to clear so you can do. 

Then, leverage your time by creating systems and routines that will keep your day-to-day maintenance efforts to a minimum so you can enjoy the thing you do. You can also tie the reason you are doing the maintenance to your why. Do the laundry so you have your favorite shirt available to wear on the day of your big presentation. 

The problem is that it is arbitrary. Working really hard for a short amount of time to get your clutter down to a certain number, stored in a certain container, in a certain room, might work for you. It might not. 

The real trick of it is to know exactly what items you need to arrive at the life you want to be living. Keep those things, and let the rest go.