I run my Getting Things Done (GTD) system using PersonalBrain as my primary tool. Using Tags for contexts and a Thought Type for dates I’m easily able to model an online tickler file. Tickler files are used to remind you of things in the future — in the future so that you can forget about them now.
I firstly created an @tickler tag to hold any items I wish to be tickled about in the future.
In the image above you’ll see three items. An eye test, a podcast to listen to and a reminder to take a GTD belt self-assessment. That’s all great but how do I know when I need to be reminded of these during a weekly review? Well, I have each attached to a date and by expanding all on the screen (click the + button in the toolbar) I get both dates and project links.
Each date is typed using a Date thought type that I’ve created. My next eye test is due in May 2011 (2011-05). I plan to listen to the podcast in August 2009 (2009-08).
This simple blending of PersonalBrain and tickler files is working well for it makes the most of PersonalBrain’s linking structures. When I move them to my regular lists, it’s just a click or two away with no need to re-enter information. These items are @tickler because I know I’ll do them in the future. They could be stored as Someday/Maybe items but I personally have a different class of item on that list.
See also
Further information on how I, and others, use PersonalBrain for GTD can be found in this PersonalBrain forum post.
