Can a tickler file be replaced by a calendar?
- Thread starter yonyz
- Start date
Can you put that 4-page form that must be completed and sent on September 15 into your calendar?
The answer is, of course, no. You can, however, put that form into the September tickler folder; then when September rolls around, you put that form into the "15" folder. On September 15, you look in that folder and take out the form to complete it, and send it off to wherever it needs to be sent to.
The answer is, of course, no. You can, however, put that form into the September tickler folder; then when September rolls around, you put that form into the "15" folder. On September 15, you look in that folder and take out the form to complete it, and send it off to wherever it needs to be sent to.
lolajl;69693 said:
You can also just put that 4 page form in your normal file system and put a reminder on your calendar to get it out and send it. I prefer to use my Outlook calendar as a place to store my tickler "triggers" and then have a wide array of storage options for the actual physical stuff.
Tickler and calendar
I love my tickler, what a great way to happily FORGET about documents I can´t do anything about until that given date anyway.
One way to use the calendar instead of the tickler would be to make a note in your calendar including information on where you have filed the documents that need action. But you need to put the documents somewhere anyway, so why not use the tickler?
I don´t have room for 43 folders, just an "accordeon file" (don´t know the word in English) that has 20 spaces, 1-2, 3-4, 5-6 and so on, ending at 31 and a few extra ones without a number to keep things for other months. Works just fine because I don´t have lots of bulky documents to keep there.
I love my tickler, what a great way to happily FORGET about documents I can´t do anything about until that given date anyway.
One way to use the calendar instead of the tickler would be to make a note in your calendar including information on where you have filed the documents that need action. But you need to put the documents somewhere anyway, so why not use the tickler?
I don´t have room for 43 folders, just an "accordeon file" (don´t know the word in English) that has 20 spaces, 1-2, 3-4, 5-6 and so on, ending at 31 and a few extra ones without a number to keep things for other months. Works just fine because I don´t have lots of bulky documents to keep there.
I find that I primarily use a calendar and electronic files for my tickler. I do have a small hanging file holder (like this) on my desktop that I keep forms that I use regularly in, and I have a single file folder for tickler items in it.
With this method, tickler items go on the calendar and the support documents are either in the tickler folder (physical copies) or in my electronic files. This works for me because I don't have many tickler items and I don't have a huge number of calendar items.
With this method, tickler items go on the calendar and the support documents are either in the tickler folder (physical copies) or in my electronic files. This works for me because I don't have many tickler items and I don't have a huge number of calendar items.
Eureka!;69696 said:
I also adopted this approach because I personally keep so few items in my Tickler system that the daily folder shuffling didn't seem worthwhile. My variant is to have a "Tickler" next action list with dated entries (I use a category in Outlook/smartphone for this; it is my only NA list with dates). I adopted a list instead of the calendar in an effort to keep hard edges, but I think that this is mostly a question of taste.
Serge
I've used both.
One advantage I find to using a calendar-as-a-tickler with papers in a storage system is when you need to pull out those documents you wanted to "forget" about.
As an example, I recently signed up for an EMT recertification course. It starts on August 26. I put my check and registration form in my tickler file under "26".
Then I got an email from a colleague letting me know about another certification course. This one meshed better with my schedule, so I wanted to cancel the first one and sign up for the second.
Now if I filed that form away in my "EMT" folder, and just referenced it in my calendar, I could have pulled it up immediately. Instead, I ended up paging through my tickler until I found it.
You may want to consider calendar-as-a-tickler if your tickler documents constantly change or need to be referred to often.
After much switching back and forth, I ultimately use the tickler, AND jot down only the super-important or potentially disruptive tickler items in the calendar. Whatever works best for you.
One advantage I find to using a calendar-as-a-tickler with papers in a storage system is when you need to pull out those documents you wanted to "forget" about.
As an example, I recently signed up for an EMT recertification course. It starts on August 26. I put my check and registration form in my tickler file under "26".
Then I got an email from a colleague letting me know about another certification course. This one meshed better with my schedule, so I wanted to cancel the first one and sign up for the second.
Now if I filed that form away in my "EMT" folder, and just referenced it in my calendar, I could have pulled it up immediately. Instead, I ended up paging through my tickler until I found it.
You may want to consider calendar-as-a-tickler if your tickler documents constantly change or need to be referred to often.
After much switching back and forth, I ultimately use the tickler, AND jot down only the super-important or potentially disruptive tickler items in the calendar. Whatever works best for you.
Oogiem
Registered
cojo;69705 said:
Thanks for the idea. I have a few things that go into my tickler that I do need to find again and have done the search all 43 folders till I found it task. There aren't many of those so I may just try to file them in the main system and put a note in my calendar to look at them.
MarinaMartin
Registered
Absolutely
I also use a calendar as my tickler (a separate Google Calendar called "Tickler" that sends email alerts the night before each event).
I have very few physical ticklers (i.e. forms), and I keep one single "Tickler" folder that I put these items in. Then I put a reminder on the calendar to get out the necessary papers. (Tip: if the paper corresponds to something I need when traveling, i.e. a wedding invite, I put it directly into my suitcase.)
I travel too much to want to carry a full set of Tickler files around with me, and I found that my ratio of computer files
hysical files is 95%:5%. If your ratio is the opposite, and you don't travel, then a paper system might work best for you. I definitely would not use a physical calendar in lieu of a folder system.
I also use a calendar as my tickler (a separate Google Calendar called "Tickler" that sends email alerts the night before each event).
I have very few physical ticklers (i.e. forms), and I keep one single "Tickler" folder that I put these items in. Then I put a reminder on the calendar to get out the necessary papers. (Tip: if the paper corresponds to something I need when traveling, i.e. a wedding invite, I put it directly into my suitcase.)
I travel too much to want to carry a full set of Tickler files around with me, and I found that my ratio of computer files
hysical files is 95%:5%. If your ratio is the opposite, and you don't travel, then a paper system might work best for you. I definitely would not use a physical calendar in lieu of a folder system.Eureka!;69696 said:
I do the same. If it has to be send on that date I put it on my agenda for that date. I don't think there are good reasons to not use the agenda as a tickler and throw the tickler thing away.
There's a good reason to merge them, and that is there's a place less to look at when deciding what needs to be done.
yonyz;69742 said:
(blinkblinkblink)
I'm not sure why you wouldn't need a tickler file as a high school student? If anything, when I was a student, I had a TREMENDOUS amount of time-sensitive paperwork. Handing in homework on time (or permission forms, or whatever) alone would warrant a tickler file. Just grab today's folder and throw it in your backpack. Lots of teachers/professors give out a syllabus with important dates of the semester or year, and that's a great use of the tickler file as well.
Don't short yourself by thinking you're "just" a student so you don't need this-or-that organizational tool. Being a student means you have multiple demands from multiple people, many different priorities, tons of decisions to make, and on top of it all, you need as much noggin power as you can get for storing the stuff you're supposed to be learning. Keep it as easy as you can, and don't toss away an organizational tool until you try it! Believe me, learning organizational skills in school (both for the Now and for the Later) is one of the best things you can do.
Good luck, I wish I knew GTD as a high schooler!
CoffinDodger
Registered
(blinkblinkblink)
Feel like I'm missing something in this thread. I would say that I hardly use a tickler. I use Outlook calendar and have monthly ticklers - one is a recurring task with "every month" items like "bleed the heating system, top up water pressure" and the others are added ad-hock for the month like "Car Service due this month".
But most of the things in my life are either "do as soon as possible" or "do someday / maybe". I've also recently adopted a daily checklist whcih I got the idea from other posts - I guess that is kind of a recurring daily tickler would you say?
What sort of things do you guys actually put in 43 folders that makes it worth having them? I guess folks with a very seasonal lifestyle (thinking of Oogiem!) might need one.
I've been keeping any support paperwork in project support folders, but to be honest most of my life is electronic.
Feel like I'm missing something in this thread. I would say that I hardly use a tickler. I use Outlook calendar and have monthly ticklers - one is a recurring task with "every month" items like "bleed the heating system, top up water pressure" and the others are added ad-hock for the month like "Car Service due this month".
But most of the things in my life are either "do as soon as possible" or "do someday / maybe". I've also recently adopted a daily checklist whcih I got the idea from other posts - I guess that is kind of a recurring daily tickler would you say?
What sort of things do you guys actually put in 43 folders that makes it worth having them? I guess folks with a very seasonal lifestyle (thinking of Oogiem!) might need one.
I've been keeping any support paperwork in project support folders, but to be honest most of my life is electronic.
CoffinDodger;69961 said:
I have 2 ticklers: 1) physical 43 folder one and 2) a electronic calendar-based one. In it I currently have the following:
-various bills due throughout the months
-reminders to print out certain electronic bills
-notes asking myself how a habit building project is going and if I should consider changes
-open a new project (tax projects are an example)
-information about a networking event that I'm not certain I want to go to (I put it in 2 days ahead of event)
-reminder to go through the tickler days that I will be on vacation this month
-renew license
-a nice 2010 calendar I'm considering giving a friend for Christmas (it's in the December folder)
-quotes and such I want to read weekly (I have them interspersed)
These are just things I came across in the last few days.
Oogiem
Registered
CoffinDodger;69961 said:
I have a paper based tickler that is the full 43 folders as well as some notes in my electronic calendar. Here's what's in my paper one right now:
For today, the paper form from the doctor I need to take to the hospital for some testing.
brochure for farm insurance in a day I know I'll have time to read it
my tickets to the movie premier for the movie I am in
newspaper schedule for the free concerts in the park in a day where there is a group I want to see.
Fair entry book in next year when I will have to start looking for the new one
hunting license for deer season and this years hunting regulations
recipe for an appetizer I want to serve at our open house on Garvin Mesa day for that day
essays I re-read every year on my birthday
sample bag and forms to send in hay and pasture samples in the month when we get hay in
My electronic calendar has the movie time blocked out, the hospital apt. time blocked out and the concert time blocked out.
I put paper items that are day or month specific into my tickler system
Oogiem
Registered
lolajl;70013 said:
The locavore movie, I even made it into the official trailer
http://www.locavoremovie.com/
About the importance of eating locally, sustainable ag and that sort of stuff. I haven't seen it yet, I was taped for about 3 hours of interviews.