Tickler File: Work v. Home

[joonsookim]

Hi,

I'm just getting started with GTD. Where do you keep your tickler file? I am imagining that I will have more use of a tickler file at home, but I spend most of my time working at an office. I'm not sure where to keep it, given that I'll need it mostly at work during the work week but at home on weekends.

How do you manage this?

[plambrecht]

I actually use a tickler file in my home office and work office. My home office tickler file contains personal items for follow-up (bills, etc.); the office tickler file contains items I act on at the office (upcoming meeting agendas, etc.). Each are checked daily.

[rangi500]

I seem to remember in the book David Allen suggests choosing one place (home or work) and making it your base, so that would be the place for the tickler file.

But like yourself I prefer not to be tied to one place. I use the calendar on my Palm as a tickler file. So if I have something I want to incubate for a month I create a calendar entry with an alarm for a month's time. I find this works really well.

[TesTeq]

I use the calendar on my Palm as a tickler file. So if I have something I want to incubate for a month I create a calendar entry with an alarm for a month's time.

How do you stuff paper into PDA?

I put paper documents related to deferred actions into common "Deferred Items Folder" and create an entry in my calendar.

[GTDWorks]

If it's a bill, I put it in the bill folder I have created for that particular company.

If it's a project, I put materials in that project's folder until I need it or am reminded to process it by my calendar.

[cornell]

One consideration is where you'll need access to your tickler. If you're comfortable having personal and professional separate, great. But if you like processing the tickler the night before (a good practice if you need to plan/prepare), the you'll need access at home.

If you want to manage one tickler, you could keep it at home, process it the night before, and carry work-related paper to the office for processing the next day...

[quantumgardener]

Hi,

I'm just getting started with GTD. Where do you keep your tickler file? I am imagining that I will have more use of a tickler file at home, but I spend most of my time working at an office. I'm not sure where to keep it, given that I'll need it mostly at work during the work week but at home on weekends.

How do you manage this?

Your answer may be to try it and see. I worked with both but I found the home system never worked. I don't look at GTD info much on the weekends. Something for the weekend would be filed for the Friday before at work and I'd then take it home with me.

David

[joonsookim]

Thanks for all the tips.

I think I'm going to try two files and see how that works for me. Otherwise, I'd have to carry work papers home for tickler filing or home papers to work -- and that seems too cumbersome.

Wish me luck . . . I spent half the weekend doing my initial collection and processing!

[TesTeq]

One consideration is where you'll need access to your tickler. If you're comfortable having personal and professional separate, great. But if you like processing the tickler the night before (a good practice if you need to plan/prepare), the you'll need access at home.

I think that evenings at home are not meant for reviewing work stuff.