Setting up a Tickle Box
Hey, there, and Happy New Year!
I can’t believe it’s already 2020. I'm really excited for what 2020 has in store for us together, and I, like many of you, have set some big goals for myself in the new year. But all of a sudden, it's 2020... which means that we're supposed to have already started our goals. To be honest with you, somehow, I already feel behind. Because the Christmas season really flew by for me this year, and although I spent a lot of time planning out what I want to do and accomplish in 2020, I wasn't prepared for January to begin so soon.
If you're feeling the same way – like you're starting off behind… well, at least you’re in good company, right? Feeling behind is kind of the worst, but I know how to combat that feeling! In my podcast (Sparrow Parents Podcast), we're talking through January about Planning for the New Year. And yes, the New Year has begun, but planning happens throughout the year, and it's never too late to begin.
Yesterday I talked about how to set up a Tickle Box. I wanted to post some ideas about the Tickle Box here, too, because it’s such a visual reminder that it’s hard to entirely describe how it works in a Podcast. So, here is how to set up a Tickle Box (the way I do it)!
I honestly can't remember where I first heard about the idea of a Tickle Box. I'm thinking it may have been on Pinterest. But when I implemented it, I found that even on weeks when I feel disorganized, I can rest assured that in terms of the month, and of the year, I am organized.
A Tickle Box is a box filled with file folders. There is one folder for every month, and some people go the extra mile and even do one folder per week, or per day. I personally think that's overwhelming, so I just do 12 file folders for the months... and I'll share with you today what I actually do in order to organize those months by day and week as well, in what I think is a much less overwhelming way.
Then, once you have your monthly file folders in your Tickle Box, the idea is that when you get a flyer or tickets or even a bill, you can put these kinds of things in your Tickle Box for the corresponding month. That way, you don't have papers all over your kitchen (or, at least, not as many)... and you can relax, knowing that you have set up a reminder for yourself.
I think the name Tickle Box comes from the idea that you're giving your brain a tickle to remind yourself, or something like that. Anyway, it's a cute name for a really good system of organization.
Today I'm going to talk you through three steps to creating and using the Tickle Box system to stay organized this year. It's a system that I personally use, and it really helps my family stay organized.
Step 1 – Create the box
So, obviously the first step is going to be to create your box. This is the part of the process that’s easier to show you than to explain.
To create your Tickle Box, you will need some sort of file holding box, and 12 hanging file folders. I recommend you find a file box that you like, since you’re going to be using it monthly. Mine is a wicker-looking box, which goes well with my décor in my Front Living Room, so I enjoy seeing it and using it.
You will label each of these file folders with a month of they year, January – December.
Now, some people go so far as to create daily folders. I do not do this. Instead, I have strong clip magnets on my fridge. I'll talk about how to use them in a minute, but if you want to follow the system I subscribe to (so to speak), those strong magnets are another thing you will need. So add them to your shopping list and it will
only take a couple minutes to prepare your folders with the months.
For the magnets, I have one for each of my kids, plus a couple extras. They are super strong, and can hold a large packet of paper up on the fridge. Make sure the magnet clips you buy are very strong.
Step 2 – Organize your current papers
Now we get in to the nitty-gritty, because you need to gather all the pieces of paper floating around your house and organize them. This is going to take you a little longer. But the way you're organizing them is pretty simple: you're putting each piece of paper in the file folder according to when you will need to deal with it.
For example, my son has a field trip in January, and I have a flyer about it. I will put that flyer in the January folder, because I'll have to make sure that I pay for it in January as well as make sure he has a packed lunch for the day of his field trip. All of that needs to happen in January, so that's the folder I'm putting it in.
Christmas cards, on the other hand, need to be paid for and ordered before December. So if I have an extra Christmas Card from this year lying around (or if I didn't send them this year, but loved one that my neighbor sent me), I'll put that Christmas card in my Tickle Box for October or November, so I remember what I want to do in time to be able to do it.
You might want to use your Tickle Box for bills, as well. I don't personally do this, because we have our bills come out automatically and we pay our bills online. Plus, there is not much that changes from month-to-month. But maybe this is one kind of paper that clutters your counters, and gets disorganized in the process. The Tickle Box is a great way to make sure that everything stays organized!
In this step, you're going to want to only organize your papers by month – don't worry about day of the month, or getting things in order in your file folders. That's going to happen monthly. And don't worry, either, in this step about getting things organized for this week or next week. We're getting there. When we set up our systems, it's important to stay focused on one step at a time so we don't get overwhelmed.
Step 3 – Go through this month
Finally, it's time to start using your Tickle Box! You have all of your files organized by month. You've committed to making a habit of putting papers in your Tickle Box when you get them. Now, whether it's the first of the month or the 15th or the 28th, we're going to look at this month's folder and pull everything out.
This is where my magnets come in. I will take everything from this month's folder and separate it all by who it is for. For example, my oldest son's field trip flyer will be in his pile. An order form for school pictures would be in mine. If I were putting bills in my Tickle Box, that might be in my husband's pile. Then I take each of those stacks and I pile them up in order by date that it's due, and clip each stack with my magnet clips. Those go up on the fridge next to each of my kids' pictures, and every day I can see the thing that is coming up next for each of them. I might put that field trip flyer in for the first of the month because I need to pay, and then move it to the middle of the stack after it's paid because he needs to pack a lunch the day of. There might be something going on at church for the kids. That would be on their magnet.
The doors in my house are metal, so I'm able to put these magnet clips on the doors as well. At the end of the month I'll be talking about this in detail, but I write all of our Birthday cards for the year at once. Then I put them in my Tickle Box, and each month I clip them to the front door with a post-it note of when it needs to go in the mail.
So, essentially, my Tickle Box is my monthly organization system, and my magnets are my daily organization system. The really nice thing about this is that the magnets can be seen by everyone, and all the stuff we need to deal with next month is put away and organized. So there's no need to stress about it. When flyers or order forms come home that need to be dealt with before the end of the month, I can just put them in
order on the corresponding magnet clip and continue going about my day. When it's time for that to be dealt with, I can deal with it.
And that's it!
If you follow these three steps, you'll have an organized Tickle Box and a great system for keeping much of your paper clutter organized for the year. Remember to keep up with it month-to-month, though. Maybe set a
reminder on your phone to check the Tickle Box monthly. You'll also want to put recurring things in there, like school picture order forms or vet bills. Remind yourself next year by putting those in your Tickle Box now!
When you give your brain that tickle, you will be a calmer parent. You'll feel more in control of what's going on in your kids' lives. And that means you'll be better prepared to minister to your kids at home. It also means that you'll be able to make sure your kids are getting involved in what they want to get involved in at church! You won't miss Bible studies or fellowship time because you'll be on top of those papers coming through your door each week. You've got this!! And until next time, keep ministering to your family in your home. That's the best thing that you will do this year. Talk to you soon!