I'm basically an unorganized person. I sometimes forget things that are important, and miss important events. That's why I keep a personal calendar and to-do list to remind me of upcoming events and things I need to get done. But, even with these organizers I would still forget or miss things once in a while.

In an effort to further improve my personal organization and time management, I implemented an additional system to help me remember important dates and events. It's called a tickler file. In this article I will briefly explain what a tickler file is, how I use it, and how it increases my organizational effectiveness.

"What is a tickler file?" you may ask. As an implied by the name a tickler file "tickles" a person's memory. This filing system is basically a method intended to provide a reminder of things that need to be done at a future date. Time sensitive documents are filed in the folders under the future date on which action needs to be taken on the document.

A tickler file is comprised of a set of file folders labeled by date -often by month or a weekly period. For instance monthly date periods are labeled "Jan, Feb, Mar, etc., while a weekly period would be labeled something like 01/01 - 01/07, 01/08 - 01/14, and so forth. It is also possible to have a folder for each day of the year, but this might prove a bit large and unwieldy for most people as you would need 365 individual folders.

Every day the folder with the current date period is taken from the tickler file so that any document that needs action can be retrieved.

The advantage of using file folders in addition to my regular to do list and calendar is that I can store entire documents into the file, rather than just a note of what needs to be done.

I have created a tickler file for bills I need to pay, subscriptions to renew, claim tickets, maintenance reminders, travel tickets, sporting event and concert tickets, hotel reservations, coupons, meeting information, and all other paperwork that have deadlines or due dates.

Another good use for a tickler file is for greeting cards. There are many events throughout the year that I need to send out greeting cards, such as birthdays, anniversaries, weddings, graduations, etc. What I do is buy greeting cards at the beginning of the year and then file them in the appropriate dated folders. As I check my tickler folder for the particular month, I see the cards, and take note of the date I need to send the card. A few days before the event arrives, I take the cards out of the folder, fill them out and mail them. With a tickler file I never miss sending out greeting cards again.

I also purchase some blank occasion cards for unanticipated or one-time events such as births, weddings, deaths, and so forth and file them in labeled folders, i.e. "Births," "Consolation," "Weddings," etc. Having extra cards on hand saves me having to make a special trip to the store to buy a card at the last minute.

In conclusion, I have found that using a tickler file has saved me a lot of grief. I no longer miss important due dates such as bill payments, subscription renewals, and greeting cards I need to send out. Used in conjunction with my personal calendar, and to do list, my tickler file completes my triune system of organizational effectiveness.