The Tickler File Explained

- Your quick and easy guide to this brilliant system

A tickler file is a filing system that is commonly organized into 43 sections:

• 12 for each month of the year.
• 31 for each day of any given month.

It allows you to organize, access and act on time sensitive documents at the time you decide is most appropriate.

Examples

Use it at home and at work to store and retrieve…

• concert tickets
• hotel reservations
• meeting minutes
• birthday cards
• reminders
• unpaid invoices

How

Each day, check the contents of the folder for that day and act on each one as required.

During the day collect anything that you decide to put your system and either do so then or, if you have several things to add, batch them together in a daily folder (call it ‘Today’s Ticklers’?!) and file them in one go at the end of the day.

Types

Paper based. This can be created to suit however you process your tasks best. Filing cabinets, index cards or ring binder folders can be used.

Computer based. Particularly useful for organizing emails. Create folders for days and month, then put time sensitive information in the appropriate folder.

Variations

Adapt your filing system to suit your circumstances.

For example you could have something simple such as folders for this week and a ‘future’ folder that you check at the end of the week.

Alternatively, create folders for each working day of the month plus the 12 monthly folders.

Tip - The tickler system only works if you use it daily, so make it as easy to get to and to use as possible.

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