What Are the Rules for Postcards (and How Do You Use One)?
What Are the Rules for Postcards (and How Do You Use One)?
Series: Just Because Postcards
TLDR: What Are the Rules for Postcards (and How Do You Use One?)
Postcards are simple—but powerful. Here's how to make them meaningful:
Address goes on the right – Write clearly, with the recipient’s full name and mailing address.
Stamp in the top right corner – One standard stamp works for most postcards.
Message on the left – Use this space to say hello, share a memory, or send encouragement.
No envelope needed – Just write, stamp, and drop it in the mailbox.
Send without a reason – You don’t need an occasion—just a moment of thoughtfulness.
Create small rituals – Start traditions with friends, partners, or family through monthly or surprise postcards.
Keep it real – Your words don’t have to be perfect. Just honest.
Table of Contents
What Are the Rules for Postcards (and How Do You Use One)?
The Practical Rules of a Postcard
How to Use a Postcard to Create Connection
What Should You Write on a Postcard?
What Are the Rules for Postcards (and How Do You Use One)?
Postcards may be small, but they carry weight. They’re not just paper. They’re presence. They’re a way to say, I thought of you, and I wanted you to know.
If you’re new to sending postcards, you might wonder: How do they work? Are there rules? Is there a right way to send one?
Let’s walk through the simple how-to and then look at what really makes a postcard meaningful.
The Practical Rules of a Postcard
Here’s everything you need to know to send a postcard:
1. Use the right side for the address.
Write the recipient’s name and mailing address on the right half of the back. Be clear and neat.
2. Place your stamp in the top right corner.
Just one standard stamp is usually enough, especially in the US. If your postcard is oversized or international, check the postage rate.
3. Write your message on the left side.
This is your space to connect. You can fill it with a memory, a thank-you, a funny thought, or just a simple "thinking of you."
4. No envelope needed.
Postcards are meant to be sent as they are. Just drop them in the mailbox once you’ve written and placed a stamp on them.
How to Use a Postcard to Create Connection
The truth is, you don’t need a perfect reason to send a postcard. You just need a person. A moment. A thought.
Here are some simple ways people use postcards:
To say hello across distance
To reconnect with someone from your past
To send a smile on a hard day
To turn a quiet moment into a meaningful one
To remind someone they matter
You can even start a new tradition.
Be pen pals with your grandmother.
Send monthly postcards to your best friend.
Leave one for your partner before a trip.
The postcard becomes more than a message. It becomes a ritual. A memory. A connection.
What Should You Write on a Postcard?
Anything that feels real. It doesn’t need to be long. This isn’t a performance… it’s a moment of care.
You can write:
I saw a sunflower today and thought of you
This joke made me laugh so hard I had to share it
I miss you
You crossed my mind, and I wanted you to know
I say something I thought you’d like
There’s no pressure. No expectations. Only the invitation to be present with someone even for 20 words or less.
So, What Are the Rules for Postcards?
Technically, they’re about where the stamp goes and where to write the address.
Emotionally, it’s not about rules. It’s about presence, connection, and a moment made meaningful.
— Making Us
✉ Ready to Write One?
Designed to keep you dreaming, to help you stay intentional, and maybe even send a message to your future self , a loved one, or a friend you meet along the way.
→ Choose a postcard that speaks to your journey.
→ Send it to yourself. Send it to someone who needs a reminder.
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