This article is an excerpt from the Shortform summary of "Getting Things Done" by David Allen. Shortform has the world's best summaries of books you should be reading.
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What is a Tickler system? How can a Tickler system help you master the Getting Things Done system?
A Tickler system is a method of organization that’s based on time management. With a Tickler system, you’ll be able to stay organized and complete tasks in the most logical way.
What Is a Tickler System and Why Do You Need One?
A Tickler file is a way to manage your work with a time-management based organizational system. The Tickler file is meant to help you prioritize tasks to maximize your time. A GTD tickler file is meant to work in conjunction with other GTD methods (think about the two minute rule) in order to allow you to optimize and declutter your organizational system. Keep reading to see how to Getting Things Done Tickler file works.
Organizing
The GTD Tickler File needs to be physically sorted. Once you’ve clarified what you need to do with each item, it’s time to physically sort them in your organizing system. You should now have an empty in-tray and two piles: a pile of reference items and a Pending pile.
You’ll organize the Pending pile by placing items in the following places (discussed in more detail below):
- Projects list
- Project support material folder
- Waiting For list
- Someday/Maybe list
- Tickler file
- Calendar actions/information
- Next Actions list
Your lists can be numbered lists (on paper or in digital form) or can be folders of papers labeled with separate items.
As you organize, keep in mind that although you threw away some items during Step 2, you might still come across items that, upon further consideration, you decide you don’t need. Trash them.
You won’t—and probably shouldn’t—crystallize your organization system when you first get the Getting Things Done Ticker File up and running. Your organization system needs to reflect what works best for you, and that will take time and some trial and error to figure out.
Now let’s take a closer look at each category, including the GTD Tickler File.
Tickler System
The second destination for “incubation” items is the Tickler system. If you want a reminder to revisit an item later, put it here. For example, if you have a flyer for a concert you want to attend, put the flyer in your Tickler file for the date the tickets go on sale.
A Getting Things Done Tickler file consists of 43 file folders: Twelve labeled with the months of the year and the rest labeled “1” through “31” for each day of the month. File agendas, flyers, and other documents into the file for the day you want to be reminded.
On the first day of each month, open that month’s file and put all the contents into your in-tray, then move that file to the back. Each day, do the same with that day’s folder contents and move the empty file behind the folder for the upcoming month so that tomorrow’s folder is always in front.
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Like what you just read? Read the rest of the world's best summary of David Allen's "Getting Things Done" at Shortform .
Here's what you'll find in our full Getting Things Done summary :
- Why you're disorganized and your to-do list is a mess
- The simple workflow you can do everyday to be more productive than ever
- How to take complicated projects and simplify them
