I use the letter-size file folders that are more like pockets - don’t open to a flat position because their sides are closed, just the top is open, so stuff won’t drop out. Couldn’t quickly find a good URL as example, but I hope you know what I’m trying to describe.

In terms of a tickler system, I don’t have much that I track either. I never let bills accumulate - just like Inbox Zero, I process them as they come in, and almost everything else I have is electronic, not paper.

So, when I do find something that I need to temporarily file, I use my one-folder tickler system. That’s right, just one folder. I wrote the word “Tickler” on the tab. I throw stuff in here that I’ll need to access soon (invitation and map to a social event)/remember where I put it (tickets to concerts)/work on soon (quotes for getting our roof replaced). This might sound disorganized to many here, but again, for those of us with not much stuff to file in this kind of a system, I think a single folder (or binder!) suffices.

For reference material (esp. assembly instructions for furniture I bought at Ikea and might want to disassemble/reassemble someday, software manuals, warranties, instruction manuals, etc.), I keep a banker box with file folders in labeled by topic/room of our house. “Garage”, “Kitchen”, “Electronics”, “Software”, “Nursery”, and so forth. It works great when I need to find something; the only trick to keeping it organized is to go through it every once in a while to make sure you’re not holding onto materials that go with items you’ve gotten rid of.

one-folder tickler. That’ll work for me! If I don’t let things accumulate, there should only ever be a handful of things in there. Its when things -don’t- get done that it becomes a surrogate inbox.

I love the by-room/ category idea for appliances - every time I need a manual or warranty I have to plough through a massive file … and yes, outdated stuff.

I found some of the secure files you mention, on an office supply site. I think files might be a better way to organize my art and craft reference stuff, as otherwise I’m flipping through pages in the ringbinders trying to find things. I considered throwing a lot out and just scanning stuff I wanted, but I do like hardcopy sometimes - I spend enough time staring at a computer screen.

With the fiction writing, it is easy enough to have a folder or section for each WIP and one for the someday/maybe.

thanks for the thoughts

Helen

I like the idea of the one folder “Tickler” for things that need a place but don’t need their own folder.

I have lots little things like that and I usually let them pile up until a weekly review, when I file them in their own separate folders, which is a waste and usually causes me to lose track of them.

If I had one folder, and put a note about each item in the notes field of the relevant Next Action in OmniFocus I could:

• reduce filing time
• reduce the amount of space needed for files
• increase my ability to find those little things

The trick as I see it is the location reference in your trusted system. If you don’t see a reminder of that “Tickler” folder when you need that document, then all you have is one nice place to lose all those little bits at once.