Episode 122 - A Tickler File is a Smart Solution
Put papers in their place fast with a tickler file system. It’s an old idea with a young heart. Here’s how you can set up one:
Take 31 file folders and number them from one to 31 for the days of a month. Then take 12 more file folders and label each with the name of a month. Pick up each piece of paper on your desk that is deserving of staying in your life and on the top right corner pencil the date you think you will need it. If it happens to be within the next 31 days, drop it in that number file, otherwise store it in the appropriate month file. At the end of every day, as your last official duty on company time, make tomorrow’s to do list from tomorrow’s file folder. For example, if today was the 10th, then make tomorrow’s to do list from your file for the 11th. Near the end of each month also dump the contents of next month’s file an choose what days of the coming month you wish to deal with each piece. The beauty of this is, you will have what you need, where you need it and when you need it. No fuss, no muss, no errors.
This is the information age and you are wired, but the reality is you have more paper coming into your life than ever before. Your tickler file system will simplify and melt away the glacier of paper that could be putting the freeze on your productivity!
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