Twice a year when the time changes and everybody sets their clocks forward or backward, millions of Americans also take it upon themselves to change the batteries in their smoke alarms. It’s a task that over years has become associated with the changing of clocks. It’s simply what you do at that time of the year.

I decided last year that I had gotten tired of forgetting to pick up greeting cards for special occasions throughout the year. Whether it be Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, Grandparent’s Day, an anniversary, a birthday, or a graduation, I always found myself in the same dilemma. I wouldn’t have a greeting card for whatever occasion I was getting ready to celebrate. Repeatedly I would find myself in the same scenario—hastily stopping by a drug store or a grocery, nabbing up a meaningless card, and signing it in the car as I zipped to a family gathering.

In my forever quest to simply things in my life, I decided that when the year flipped over, I would purchase all of my greeting cards for the upcoming 365 days. Like the changing of batteries in the smoke alarms when the time changes, purchasing my greeting cards during the first part of January would simply be what I would do at that time of the year.

Naturally, I couldn’t accomplish this in my local greeting card stores. Most of the local stores only stocked seasonal cards, and my intention was to select cards way out in advance. Besides, I didn’t want to drive around to the local card shops; I wanted to visit several of the online greeting card companies, make my selections and have them shipped to me.

My experience browsing the online greeting card shops was a pleasant one. Not only did I have easy access to a multitude of seasonal cards, but I was able to shop from the comfort of my home. What’s more, it gave me an enjoyable activity to conduct during a time when the weather is cold outside.

As this year gets ready to come to an end, I look down at the box where I hoard my supply of greeting cards and smile. It’s almost time to go shopping again.