How do I remind myself to follow up with a Potential/Case/Acitivity if there hasn't been activity after certain amount of time? 

For instance, let's say I have create an important Potential with one of my contacts. I have it automatically create a Task and have to remind me. I get the reminder, start working on the task, but we have a power outage and I have to go home for the day. A week goes by, and the customer hasn't been taken care of. I need a way to get a reminder that says, "Hey, you haven't done anything with this Potential in a week." I can set a reccouring reminder, but then that just fills up my inbox/reminder systems with unnecesary reminders (if I'm working actively working with the Potential, I don't need the reminders anymore).

Is there a way to remind ourselves to take care of a customer if there hasn't been any activity (emails, tasks, updates etc) after a certain amount of time?