Comments on: Tickler Lite?

By: Christoph Dollis

Christoph Dollis — Sat, 05 Jun 2010 20:47:58 +0000

I did this exact same thing, but found Raymond Li's idea to get rid of it entirely and replace it with this alternative worked even better for me.

By: Leonardo Leiva

Leonardo Leiva — Wed, 26 May 2010 16:03:38 +0000

This lite version is perfect for me!

By: Fat Daddy, Esq

Fat Daddy, Esq — Wed, 19 May 2010 16:30:07 +0000

I am trying to take a paperless approach to my law practice and scan documents into pdf when received. I have set up a nested file folder structure in the same way that the paper file would be set up and put the digital files in the appropriate tickler folder. The process does not take much time and then I have my tickler files with me with my laptop or wherever I have an internet connection where I can log in to my office computer if I have not taken it with me. This makes having a tickler file much more convenient and fits in better with my work flow.

By: Noemi PJ

Noemi PJ — Tue, 18 May 2010 13:56:17 +0000

David, what I really find challenging is your tip to empty the GTD folder regularly especially when incoming tasks pile up faster than you can do the tasks. I guess when you do things fast enough yet your GTD list/folder keeps growing, it’s a sign that you have to get an assistant. What do you think? :)

By: Franco Pirrone

Franco Pirrone — Tue, 11 May 2010 19:32:24 +0000

Like Raymond Li wrote, I also think that the tickler is not essential if you are confident to a reminder system, like a simple calendar, that will remember you when to look to a document in a particular day in the future. You file the document and done. I personally use an iPod touch with an agenda software synchronized with Google calendar, so I can get friendly pop-ups when I need to do something important like to look at an important document. To do a practical example, I set up a ‘bill to pay’ folder where I put bills I still have to pay and a reminder in my agenda software. Once paid I move it to a ‘bill paid’ folder.

By: Mark Jantzen

Mark Jantzen — Tue, 11 May 2010 16:17:53 +0000

I’ve never had a volume of physical things to warrant a tickler file but I like the weekly file idea.

I might go one step further during the weekly review and take the items for that week and write a reminder on my calendar of that item on the day I want it pushed in my face. Then the items could go physically from the tickler folder to Action Support.

Another idea for Someday/Maybe … thanks DA!

By: Lola LB

Lola LB — Tue, 11 May 2010 14:00:57 +0000

Never mind . . . saw that tiny link on the bottom.

By: Lola LB

Lola LB — Tue, 11 May 2010 14:00:35 +0000

I don’t see the animation on that second store link.

By: Raymond Li

Raymond Li — Tue, 11 May 2010 13:13:27 +0000

Like you, I’ve found that I don’t make heavy use of the tickler file. One alternative I found useful is it to leverage other parts of GTD to serve a similar function.

The tickler file is basically a date-based reminder that allows you to store a physical item. Instead of a tickler file, you could record a reminder in your calendar and then file away the item in your reference folders. The reminder could even tell you what folder to look in.

In this way, you could leverage your existing calendar and filing system and not have to maintain a tickler system that you rarely use.

By: Scott

Scott — Tue, 11 May 2010 12:06:05 +0000

I struggle in that I run a small mortgage company, have lots of managerial, bookkeeping and compliance things to do, yet also have to work on and originate files to earn revenue. Additionally, I need to create systems for my team, which feel like the only “projects” when in fact there are so many of these projects. How does one integrate the “ongoing” and “pop up” projects with the long term “real” projects like systems, creating new marketing plans, etc.?