76 Creative Open When letter Ideas + Beginner Guide

Open when letters might be my new favorite gift! I would consider myself a pretty sentimental person and I absolutely love giving and getting these letters. It is so much fun to read the letters days, weeks, months, or even years after they’ve been written!

Wondering what an open when letter is?! Don’t worry, I am covering it all in this article. From who to write them for to everything you should include in them, I am giving you my best open when letter ideas.

And trust me, you are going to have the cutest open when letters out there!

what is an open when letter?

First things first: what actually is an open when letter?

Basically, these are letters that you write a bunch at a time and then give to someone to open at a specific time or point in their life. For example, you can write someone a letter to OPEN WHEN they are in a good mood (I’ve got 76 more examples for ya below!)

What do you write in open when letters?

Every open when letter is going to be different depending on the topic of the letter and the person writing and receiving it. Try to keep every letter unique and center it around the theme of the letter.

For example, if you are writing a letter for someone in a bad mood, keep the message light and fun to get them to smile. However, if you are writing for someone who is sick, give them a message to cheer them up when they are under the weather.

Basically, write whatever you would want to hear in that situation!

What else can you include in open when letters?

Thought open when letters were just writing?!

They totally can be if that’s all you’re interested in including. However, if you wanna spice up your letters, here’s some fun ideas to add to them!

1. giftcards
2. scratch offs
3. recipes
4. photos
5. cash
6. drawings/art
7. small candy
8. jewelry

Depending on the letter, you can add certain items. For example, add a starbucks giftcard for an Open When You Need A Study Break letter or a soup recipe for an Open When You’re Sick letter.

How many open when letters should you make?

This is completely up to you! If it’s for a gift, I would recommend writing 8-10 letters so they have a bunch to open over a period of time.

Write as many or as little as you have time for and want!

Who should you write open when letters for?

You can write these letters for literally anyone.

• long distance relationships
• friends/children at college
• sponses
• study abroad students
• friends or siblings
• parents

You can also write open when letters for yourself! I’ve got some examples for you below.

Rules/instructions to include in the first letter

One letter you have to include is an Open When You Receive These Letters letter, or an Open Now letter (these are the same thing). In this letter, you want to explain how the future letters are going to work. Here’s some general rules you want to include in this letter.

• don’t peek at any of the other letters
• don’t open them all at once (if you want, you can specify how many to open each week)
• instructions on what to do when they are opened (when I gave these letters to my sister, I told her to text me every time she opened her letters with the emoji she was feeling!)
• whether they should keep or throw them away

With all that information, let’s get onto the 76 open when letter ideas!

Open when letter ideas for encouragement

Open when…

1. you have a bad day
2. you are nervous for a big event/speech
3. you’re angry at the world
4. you need a laugh
5. you are absolutely exhausted
6. you get sick
7. you need to hear a compliment
8. you’re worn out
9. you need to make a big decision
10. you need a pep talk
11. you lose your job
12. you get a promotion
13. you get bad news
14. you need to smile
15. you get a bad grade
16. you get a good grade
17. you’re overwhelmed
18. you feel like the world is against you
19. you’re crying
20. you’re stressed

Open when letter ideas for holidays/events

Open when…

1. it’s your birthday
2. it’s a certain holiday
3. it’s mother’s day
4. it’s father’s day
5. it’s valentine’s day
6. it’s the first day of a season
7. it’s the first time it snows (include a packet of hot chocolate)
8. it’s any other holiday you celebrate!
9. on ____ (specific day)
10. you turn ____ (specific age)

Open when letter ideas for friends or siblings

Open when…

1. you’re mad at me
2. we haven’t talked in a long time
3. you remember a fun memory from our childhood
4. we make plans to see each other
5. you need something comforting
6. you want to come home
7. you need something to remind you of home
8. it’s just a random Tuesday
9. you just want to scream

Open when letter ideas for long distance relationships

Open when…

1. you unpack
2. you miss me
3. you need a hug and kiss
4. you are on your way to visit me
5. I am on my way to visit you
6. you need help falling asleep
7. you want to see a picture of us
8. you need to tell me something
9. it’s our anniversary
10. it’s a month since I’ve seen you
11. it’s a week until we see each other
12. you’re worried we won’t make it
13. you want to know my favorite memory of us
14. you visit our favorite place

Open when letter ideas for fun

Open when…

1. you need something to read in the bathroom
2. you want to laugh
3. you want to go on an adventure
4. you are super hungry
5. you need a study break
6. you need to do your laundry
7. you need a vacation
8. you want attention
9. you can’t fall asleep
10. you need to rant
11. you need some cash
12. you want to get up and sing and dance
13. you need a book/movie/tv show recommendation
14. you can’t stop procrastinating
15. you are bored
16. you can’t figure out what to make for dinner
17. you watched a terrible movie

Open when letter ideas for yourself

You can 100% write yourself some open when letters! I love writing these letters for important milestones in my life!

Open when…

1. it’s the last day of ____ (freshman/sophomore/junior/senior year)
2. you graduate high school
3. you graduate college
4. you get married
5. you have your first kid
6. you are living your dream life {my favorite open when letter idea!}

I love this last one so much I decided to give it it’s own paragraph. If you are writing open when letters for yourself, this is one you should definitely try!

Open when you are living you dream life.

The amazing thing about this letter is that it can be opened in a month from when you wrote it or ten years from then. You’ll never know!

I hope this was the perfect inspiration for you to go make the cutest gift for someone special or for yourself!

Wondering when you should make all these letters? Try starting a self care sunday routine and adding it to that!