Task or Tickler?

[Grenouille]

I want to remember to look for a restaurant for Valentine's day a month in advance. I currently create a recurring task due in January each year. I am trying to follow "best practices" and remove unnecessary due dates, would it be better to drop a note in my January tickler folder instead?

Thanks.

[bhaveman]

For something like this I would use my Tickler file.

[Grenouille]

Thanks. I thought so, just wanted some affirmation. I also just read the tickler article from GTD connect and it is pretty clear birthdays, anniversaries, etc... should be tracked in the tickler files.

I am excited to try this because my next action lists are going to be so much more focued without those items to distract me!!

[bishblaize]

Another option would be to put a reminder in your calendar. I tried a tickler file but I just didnt have enough stuff in it to make me work it regularly, so I never built the habit. I now put day specific tasks whenever I need a reminder about something. On the very rare occasion that's tied to a piece of paper, I file it and note the file name on the reminder.

[Grenouille]

Thanks for the alternative suggestion. I too am worried that I don't have enough for the files. That really is the reason for not using it originally. With birthdays, anniversaries, oil changes, and other general maintenance items, I am going to give it a try. Since I just want a reminder and don't need to actually complete the task on a given day I am going to keep these off my calendar for now so that I take my calendar seriously. (I had that problem with false due dates on my task list).

[bishblaize]

Since I just want a reminder and don't need to actually complete the task on a given day I am going to keep these off my calendar for now so that I take my calendar seriously..

On the given day I move the task to my next action or project list, which is what I think you would do with the piece of paper anyway (if it was a task)

[Grenouille]

Yep. Sounds like either method would work similarly.