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How Do You Use Your Tickler File?
April 26th, 2007 by StephenPosted in Forum, GTD, System, Weekly Review |
Welcome back! It's good to see you again. Please note that I am now publishing all new material at my hub site: StephenPSmith.com
There is a discussion raging at the DavidCo forums regarding the use of the Tickler File. The gist of the thread is pretty simple:
- Do you use a Tickler?
- No, I use a Mac.
- I love the Tickler.
- I can’t get in the habit.
- Yada, yada…
There were no real explanations of how people were systematically using their Ticker Files, which I admit would have been helpful to me a couple of months ago. Once I got in the habit of using the folders, they became indispensable.
In the interest of saving my readers the time of going through all of those posts, here is my GTD Tickler File methodology:
At home, where I do have things that are date-specific but will not physically fit into my calendar (which I refuse to stuff with notes and errata). this is a full-on 43 folder system (12 months + 31 days).
Now that I work from home, I will schedule a trip to the Post Office to get the mail a few times per week (it’s 7 miles to the PO!). I zip through the mail as so:
- Tickle the bills for the date of the next Weekly Review,
- Leave the mail for my wife on the kitchen table,
- Open and handle any other mail,
- Toss the junk,
- and Defer the rest to an appropriate time (usually WR day again).
Simple.
Then, each morning, while the coffee is brewing, I check the contents of “today’s” folder, sync with my paper calendar, and get on with my routine. Again, simple.
I have found the 43 folders to be invaluable. There is a complete description of my GTD hardware here, and my method for the Weekly Review here (including downloads of Review Checklists).
How do you use your Tickler File, and how did you make it a habit?
If you found this post useful, please share it with your friends on Twitter using the tinylink http://tinyurl.com/6rn5sh. Thanks, I appreciate it! Feel free to comment below, I enjoy discussing these ideas. ~@Stephen
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May 14th, 2007 at 8:11 pm
[…] number one tip is easy: Keep your appointments, especially with yourself! I have found that using my Tickler File and Weekly Review really keep me one track. Since I have started practicing Getting Things Done […]
May 15th, 2007 at 12:45 am
[…] number one tip is easy: Keep your appointments, especially with yourself! I have found that using my Tickler File and Weekly Review really keep me one track. Since I have started practicing Getting Things Done […]
May 25th, 2007 at 7:47 pm
[…] just put it in my Tickler File for next year! Sorry about the lack of activity, I have been busy with a new venture of sorts. More […]
June 27th, 2007 at 10:15 pm
I use the “Calendar + Holding File” method as a tickler alternative. Just write the date you want the item to show up on your calendar in the “day-specific information” section, then put the paper item in your “Action Support” folder. Works great for a small number of items.
January 22nd, 2008 at 12:05 am
[…] just put it in my Tickler File for next year! Sorry about the lack of activity, I have been busy with a new venture of sorts. More […]
September 4th, 2008 at 5:15 pm
I read the forum posts on the David Allen board and came to the conclusion that a tickler file is essential to staying organized and clutter-free. I have to admit that I haven’t been checking mine like I should though. I saw the excellent idea to put my keys and wallet into the file so I will always check the file. The tickler file is perfect for car maintenance reminders, infrequent bills, appointments, directions, and event tickets.
September 5th, 2008 at 7:56 am
Hi Brian, I like that tip too,but my Tickler is upstairs and its a bit inconvenient for that trick now.
December 4th, 2008 at 5:18 am
My mail system has 43 folders in a tickler subfolder. A script moves messages into my inbox: e.g. day 28 through 31 + februari folder on the 28th of februari.
For techies, it’s a Maildir type mail storage that allows for easy moving of entries from one mailbox to another. But mbox would work as well (`cat Tickler.feb >> ~/mbox && rm Tickler.feb’ basically).
A thing I still want to add is a `Random’ tickler file I can move stuff into that should simply show up (e.g. motivational e-mails!), which would move one item out of that folder at a random moment in time.