How to Make a Tickler File

A tickler file sets up reminders that you receive at a specified time in the future, sort of like sending a letter to your future self. The tickler itself is a set of manila file folders that are labeled for the days and months, like a perpetual calendar. The folders hold reminders of future events or ideas, like a show six months in advance or notes to review right before a meeting in two weeks.


Instructions

1 Label 12 of the folders with the names of the months. Label 31 of the folders with the numbers from 1 to 31.

2 Arrange the monthly folders in order, then rotate by moving the front folder to the back until the month on the front folder matches next month. Arrange the numbered folders in order, then rotate them by moving the front folder behind next month's folder until the number on the front folder matches today's date. For example, if today is March 13, the order of folders should be 13 to 31 in order, April, 1 to 12 in order, May to December, January to March.

3 Place the folders in a banker's box or in a dedicated drawer in a filing cabinet. Place notes, brochures or other reminders for later this month into the folders corresponding to the days you want to see them.

4 Put reminders for future months into the folders corresponding to those months, adding a number in the upper right hand corner for what day of that month you'll want to see the item.

5 Check your tickler each day, then rotate today's folder to the back of the numbers. When you reach a new month, sort the contents of that month's folder into the appropriate days and rotate the month's folder to the back of the months.