Business Card Brainstorm

One of my goals here on the blog is to simplify this very chaotic and fast-paced world that we live in.  I would be the first to admit that most days I can’t remember what was on my “to-do” list. I tend to unintentionally make a mental to-do list each night while lying in bed trying to go to sleep.  Every night I seem to have it clearly laid out and I am completely sure those things will be top-of-mind the next morning.  Again and again, I am beside myself by how I cannot recall more than, one or two of those oh so important tasks.  Enter my newest sanity-saving tactic, what I’ve dubbed the “business card brainstorm”.  This system follows the concept of a brain dump but allows you to get the thought down on paper even when you are on the go.

With a self-employed husband, I cringe at the number of times we have ordered new business cards as the business grows and expands.  While organizing his office one day, I came upon a large collection of business cards, all useless with outdated information.  My first thought of course was, this is trash, as a recovering “holder-on-to-er”.  But I hated to see all these convenient little cards just trashed, surely they could be put to good use.

These cards are the perfect spot to jot down thoughts right when they come to you.  You can collect them and incorporate them into any organizational process you have. You could even work directly off the cards and discard them as a task or thought has been fulfilled.  I personally use this system for blog post ideas and to-do tasks.  Often, I will hole punch them and use a single binder ring to keep similar things together.

Here is a list of some of the fantastic things you could use old business cards for:

• Blog post ideas (hole punched and in a binder ring)
• To-do tasks (write a list on one card or use a card for each task alone)
• Quick Reference Guide (the card is small and perfect for keeping in your wallet or somewhere else with limited space, you can laminate for durability)
• Household procedures (Things that you and/or your family could reference periodically, this is a great one to laminate)
• Flash Cards (math problems and sight words are an awesome use of the cards)
• Compliment cards (write notes to your family members sharing accolades, inspirations, and encouragement)
• Chore list tasks (write chores that your kids can do, laminate and put Velcro or a magnet on the back to attach to a decorative board or fridge)

This system has worked so well for me! I think it is a great tool to implement even if you do not have old business cards to re-purpose.  There are stores that carry premade versions like this already hole punched and on a single binder ring.  The store-bought version seems to be far more economical than buying blank business cards to make your own. You can’t beat free if you have spare cards lying around the house!

This simple process has allowed me to stay far more intentional about the things I need to focus on. When I have a thought of something else I need to do or get, instead of getting caught up in that thought extensively or it quickly leaving my mind, I jot it down on a card.  When I have time, I can give the thought or task the attention it needs, but I get to decide when that happens.

I hope that this system has sparked some ideas of your own to re-purposes those old business cards. It is such a simple approach to tame the chaos and simplify the daily demand!