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What is a Tickler System
A Tickler system is a system which is used to remind you of important things to accomplish each day. I first heard about this idea from David Allen’s Getting Things Done book. The version of the Tickler file which I am talking about is the 43 Folders system. The idea is to create a set of folders which allow us to track items. This is done by tracking papers by months and days.
Needed Materials
- Box/Filing Cabinet/Filing Box
- Hanging File Folders
- Tabs
- Sharpie Pen
Putting it Together
- Label 12 folders January to December.
- Label 31 Folders 1 to 31.
- Put the Numerical folders in the holder.
- Put the folders labeled for the months in behind the numerical folders with the month after the current month in the front of the group. If the month is January, then order the folders February-January.
- Now put all papers for this month in the numerical folders & put all papers for following months in the month folder.
History of the Tickler System
The tickler system was used extensively through the early 1900s. It became lost to a generation of people who have focused on digital information has enjoyed a comeback starting in, According to the Wikipedia article on the http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tickler_file, 1977 with various self help books describing various methods of creating a system. The system I have described above is often called the http://www.43folders.com/node/56802/335496, system. Tickler files have been created using index cards and dividers. You could add a set of folders for years if you wanted to. This is a very robust tool, and can be easily customized to fit your needs.