Don’t let another year go by with the intention to send holiday cards but no follow-through. As soon as back-to-school hits, many people get so busy they totally forget to get ready for the winter holidays. If you’ve been meaning to create a greeting card to send to loved ones near and far, consider these tips to plan for your winter holiday cards:

Start now
Seriously, now. Get out a notepad and write a list of people you want to send cards to. Consider friends, family members, coworkers, colleagues, and anyone you really appreciate. Making this list is important because it will help you figure out how many cards to buy. Then, figure out your address scenario. Do you have the addresses for all these people? Can you text them and ask? Note if they will be moving between now and December so you make sure you have the correct address. Do you plan to hand-write your return address? If not, order personalized address stickers.

Buy in bulk
Most people don’t pick out a personal card for each individual recipient. Although this is an important process for special cards like congratulations or birthdays, Christmas, Hanukkah and New Years involve sending a ton of cards so there’s no time or need to go individualized. Instead of choosing cards that represent the recipient, look for designs that resonate with you and your family. Perhaps you love dogs and want to feature a canine on the front and center of your holiday greetings. Or maybe you’d prefer a snowy woods scene. You can find a style that fits your personality and will stick in the minds of the recipients. Once you’ve decided on a design, buy the card in bulk. Get 20 or so more than you originally intended to based off your list as chances are you’ll remember a few more people to include.

Start writing
Now that you’ve done some important prep work, don’t stop. You can have your cards completely ready to send before the holiday season even begins. Tackle this task in batches, doing a couple cards every day or complete the whole lot in a weekend. Write similar well wishes for a good New Year and happy holidays on every card. Or, personalize each with notes to individuals and comments like inside jokes.

Ready the envelopes
Now that the hard part is done, work on the envelopes. Use your personalized address stickers to reduce the time this task takes. Slip each card into its corresponding envelope and add a stamp. If you want, leave the envelope open so you can switch it with a new one if the recipients address changes, or if you want to add on to what you’ve written as the time gets closer to the holidays. If you choose to seal the envelopes, peel off the self-sealing closure or use a tiny droplet of water on your finger in lieu of your tongue. It’s easy to avoid unfortunate paper cuts with this technique! Now, sit back and relax knowing you’re ready for the holidays.