59+ Sample Daily Checklist Templates

What Is a Daily Checklist?

Checklists, in general, have already been part of the best organizational tools to date. They ensure you get to do your tasks easily, quickly, and efficiently. We often have many things to achieve from yearly, quarterly, monthly, or weekly plans. And there are also things to do every day, which is where a daily checklist plays out. They are basically to-do lists that are done daily, and they often contain small tasks that can be completed within the day only.

According to the South West News Service (SWNS), around 80% of Americans revealed that they are stuck in a routine.

Also, a survey from ICU teams concluded that daily checklists are strategies to improve heart care and reduce complications.

Why Are Daily Checklists Important?

A daily checklist is essential to remind you of the bigger picture about what needs to be done throughout the day. So when you list and organize tasks, you will be productive by checking every item you achieved. There will be elements of what to prioritize first or what time of the day each task shall be done. Hence, you will no longer forget your daily work. Allow these helpful tools to guide you on how to be productive each day, whether such tasks are related to school, work, or personal reasons.

Furthermore, daily checklists are beneficial in terms of positive reinforcement. When you check every blank designated for each task, you will feel accomplished that you would pursue to keep going and finish everything productively. You will even feel better with small tasks completed per day that you won’t have to increase your mental load. And here’s a fun fact: The American Heart Association reported, via a research survey, that daily checklists are strategies for heart care, specifically to improve the heart condition and not risk it in experiencing further complications. Indeed, a daily checklist is both important and beneficial.

The Basic Elements of a Daily Checklist

You are fully aware of a daily checklist’s definition and importance. But how familiar are you with what such checklists contain? Indeed, daily checklists differ from every application or whoever is using it. Yet, there are some common elements expected in each list. And the basic elements of a daily checklist consist of the following:

Title: First things first, never forget the title. Although ‘Daily Checklist’ for a title is acceptable, it is better to be more specific. An example is to tailor it according to your purpose. So if you are planning a daily checklist as an employee, you better consider a job checklist. What matters most is that the title gives away what a document’s purpose serves.Tasks: Like any to-do list, there should be a whole list of tasks in the checklist. Besides itemizing everything in one list, you can also create categories to divide tasks. An example is to divide tasks of what you can do for the morning, the afternoon, and the night. Or perhaps, you divide tasks according to bigger tasks down to smaller tasks. How you set that up depends on you. And for a better list of tasks, try conducting a task analysis.Time and Date: Daily checklists are more effective when schedules are included. The problem with only enlisting tasks is you might have no commitment or guide of when to actually do the tasks during the day. In your daily checklist, be sure to outline the time and date of when to do things. Take a housekeeping checklist, for example. You can set 11:00 AM for cleaning the living room, 1:00 PM for washing the dishes, etc. The point is a proper schedule keeps things more organized.Priority Level: Some tasks are important. And there are also examples that are very important and not important at all. Hence, you should classify tasks according to the priority level. Stating which ones are of top priority down to the lowest priority will keep you responsible by ensuring the most important ones will be achieved first than the least essential ones.Sequence: Speaking of which tasks to achieve first to last, you should incorporate every task sequence. The common approach is to write the first thing to do down to the final one. And the date or time involved should be arranged in order so you will not have a hard time recognizing how the sequence of tasks goes.Comments or Notes: Include extra space for your notes and comments. Sometimes, things do not go according to plan. You have no choice but to adjust your checklist, and you can note them in this extra section. An example is to write that you have not finished your tasks to accomplish at the retail store because you are currently dealing with your mental health. Or perhaps, you just need a break from the daily routine. There is even a study that 80% of Americans were stuck in a routine. Aim to change the plan in your checklist under the notes section instead.

It Takes Two: The Main Types of Checklists

Before you make your own daily checklist, it is crucial that you understand the main categories of a checklist first. That way, you will have an idea of how to get most things done and what suits best to your schedule or routine. Basically, it takes two types of checklists, which are:

Basic Daily Checklist

A basic daily checklist is a detailed list of all necessary tasks to achieve in one day. Do not expect the same routine because it may change day by day, depending on the agenda. But in case you find it hard to complete all tasks in a day, you can just add what you did not finish to the next day’s list of tasks.

Situational Checklist

Another example is the situational checklist. This checklist type highlights tasks specifically to an area or event of your life. They do not have to be done daily. Examples included wedding planning checklists, birthday party checklists, or summer camp checklists. Although they are not in a routine, they are still essential to ensure such events will be completed in an organized manner.

How to Make a Daily Checklist

It is normal to want to move through daily tasks in the quickest way possible. However, checklists are not always created equally. You still have to make some adjustments and keep everything organized to reach promising results. Thus, you cannot just use random checklists; you deserve the correct checklist. And you can create that by following these basic steps in making a daily checklist:

Step 1: Do a Brainstorm of Your Daily Tasks

Before making a daily checklist, you should have full knowledge already of what your daily tasks are. It may be easy to say if you have to take a bath, eat your food, and other basic tasks. But if you are fully busy, you also take homeschool, conduct car maintenance, or buy groceries. You have to identify all tasks. Please take a moment to remember what you must do for a day and list them in a draft.

Step 2: Organize and Prioritize Every Task

As you list each task you can think of in a draft, start organizing and arranging the tasks. That means you should arrange the tasks according to their priority level, urgency level, or difficulty level. If you can recall the daily checklist elements, as discussed before, then such elements are a great guide on how to organize the tasks and your daily checklist. Once you are done arranging everything, you will be ready to make an actual document for your daily checklist.

Step 3: Transfer the Details in a Template

Turn your draft into a reality by transferring all the details to a template. Have you seen those sample daily checklist templates above? If not yet, then check every template until you can decide on the final checklist template of your choice. You never need to make a checklist right from scratch because sample templates are premade. You only fill in the details to create a checklist pronto.

Step 4: Finalize the Format and Design

Did we forget to mention that all our sample templates are editable? Yes, all daily checklist templates are ready to download and customize. And that means you must finalize the template’s design and format. For example, should your checklist be printed or not? And what font style, font size, or any detail do you want to incorporate? Those are just a few examples of how to design your daily checklist. Explore the template’s customizable features until you are happy with the results.

Step 5: Check Every Completed Task

Start using your daily checklist by doing the first task enlisted, and check that item when you are done. The general rule is to check each completed task because that signals you to proceed to the next task. And once all the checkboxes or blanks in the checklist are marked, you are good as done. Update it regularly until you are ready to make your next daily checklist. Just repeat the process and always commit to the work.

FAQs

How many tasks can be done daily?

An average person who is productive can finish around 6–12 tasks a day. On bigger tasks, it would take around three tasks only. However, the tasks to do are not the same for every person, so it really depends.

What are the three kinds of a checklist?

According to Bizfluent, there are three main kinds of a checklist. They are the procedural, communication, and project checklists.

What is a job checklist?

A job checklist guides workers to ensure they are aware of the critical job information, instead of just sticking to lengthy job descriptions, which most of the staff may forget.

Daily checklists are your ultimate assistant to organize tasks, boost productivity, and finish every job to do. Since you already know the entire process of how to create the checklist, your only concern is to make an actual daily checklist and commit to following the tasks responsibly. Because the truth is, even if your whole checklist is well-planned, not having the will to commit to all tasks shall still be a failure. So get out there and work on your tasks now!