The how, when, and who of letter-writing

Figuring out how to include letter-writing time into your normal routine and determining who to write can be a challenge, especially for people with "lives."  And by that I mean jobs, kids, school, and other daily commitments. (Most of the population.) There are so many things in life that keep us constantly busy and endlessly going, but there are also so many ways we don't realize how we could use our small doses of time more effectively.
When I was just beginning my letter-writing mania as a young whippersnapper, I was willing to put anything off to write anybody--even if it was a complete stranger.  My school seriously suffered during this point of my life as my obsession dominated. (Sorry, Mom!!  I failed you more than once!)  I am not suggesting tips that would cause you to neglect another important area of your life, though.  I have since learned to prioritize much better so that letters are just a side dish to everything else, while still remaining a regular part of my week.   (Ironically I am writing this blog in an act of procrastination against school right now; but I promise I've really mostly overcome this problem!)
Here are some ideas to help you get started in becoming more consistent.

1. Set specific monthly goals
This is actually the first year that I've set specific goals for writing letters, and it's really motivated me to fit writing into the cracks of each month.  When I have a goal to meet (20 letters per month), I push myself so much harder and find that I can still get everything else done, too.  I start noticing the little moments I have when I'm not being otherwise productive.  As I become more aware of that, I can start anticipating when I'll have a little extra time so that I can even plan ahead to use it wisely instead of getting carried away with something I don't need to be doing.
When considering goal-setting, start small. Just like any goal in life, don't make it overwhelming or too difficult to reach.  Be reasonable and then stick with it.

2. Make a written record
I really wish I'd started a written record of my letters when I first made it a regular part of my life.  In 2013 I started recording the date I received a letter and the date I responded.  Having this information all in one place helps me keep track of where I am at so that I don't forget to reply to anybody.   Besides a memory help, a notebook of records keeps me motivated to reach my goals and watch my progress.

3. Decrease use of social media
I have Pinterest, Facebook, and Instagram.  Just like everyone else, I am extremely prone to letting myself get distracted with social media.  There's always YouTube, too.  These are easy places to go when I just want a mental break or when I "have just a couple minutes."  It's really easy to make the excuse that I don't have enough time to actually write a letter, but then I end up spending a lot of time on useless internet surfing and letting more time pass than I realize.
What I try to do (it doesn't always work) is to not get on certain sites until I've written a certain number of letters or a certain person that I really need to write soon.  This keeps me thinking about fitting that in instead of uselessly checking something for the 10th time.  My time gets spent so much more profitably when I limit myself and set goals on top of my goals.

4. Write people you "owe"
Someone you "owe" refers to somebody who has written you first OR someone who deserves a thank you note.  Write their name in your record book and get ready to return the letter soon.  Writing these people should be priority on your letter list.

5. Write people who have been on your mind/someone who is especially important to you
The written record is also a great place to write names of people I want to write when I don't "owe" someone a letter, which reminds me to whip out a note saying "I'm thinking about you."  Not only does this help my monthly count go up, but it also keeps me in contact with people I care about.  My mind usually keeps focusing on someone until I've taken action by calling or writing them, so I always go ahead and put their name in my record book to write after I've returned the letters I owe.

6. Don't feel obligated to write a whole letter in one sitting
People often tell me that they started a letter to somebody and then didn't get back to it until much later, when they decided it wasn't worth finishing.  Contrary to popular opinion, it's always worth finishing!!  Even if it's a month later, throw another date on that and keep writing!  Letters are just as fun if they are multi-dated and there's no reason to feel guilty.  The time to feel guilty is when you start a letter and scrap it when you think it's been too long.  Keep coming back to the letter until it's signed off, put in an envelope, and sent out into the world.

Comment below with more ideas and helps that I haven't thought of!