HowToBeMoreProductive.com – Time Management Tips

Trying to change habits that have been ingrained in your nervous system for many years takes discipline and time, I know. If you try to change too much too soon, you may get discouraged and give up. Patience Grasshopper!

Instead, try incorporating one new habit a week. In one year you will have 52 new productivity habits. Habits shape your destiny.

Moving right along…you may want to incorporate a tickler system into your productivity mix.

What is a tickler file system?

A tickler file is a temporary file system that contains 43 (or more) files — one for each day of the month, one for each month and two (or more) for the next two (or more) years.

Think of it as a Post Office exclusively for you. You get to mail stuff to yourself and it will show up on the exact day that you need it.

It’s a great tool that can be used for many purposes. However, I wouldn’t recommend using one unless you’re willing to be consistent with it. It literally only requires a few seconds to maintain it every day. But if you don’t see yourself being fairly consistent with it, don’t do it.

IMPORTANT: You can note on your to do list / action list or calendar a circled (or in parenthesis) “T” for Tickler or a circled (or in parenthesis) “P” for Pending or waiting for, so you will know where to find the related material.

Example uses for a tickler file system:

• Concert tickets
• Travel tickets (airline tickets, cruises, train passes, etc.)
• Write checks for bills to be sent at the last possible moment to preserve cash flow
• Birthday cards ready for mailing
• Warrantee renewals (and/or put this on your calendar)
• License renewals (and/or put this on your calendar)
• Insurance renewals (and/or put this on your calendar)

Stationary stores sell them in accordion style file gizmos. But you can make one yourself very easily using hanging files. Finally, a good use for those green hanging files!

In the tickler file system pictured above, the current date is July 13, 2007.