50+ Sample To-Do Lists

What Are To-Do Lists?

For sure, you are familiar with a to-do list which is basically a piece of document that contains every single thing that needs to be done. And you can rely on this productivity tool so you won’t miss deadlines and forget tasks. To-do lists are often divided according to time and purpose. In regards to time, you can have a daily to-do list, a weekly to-do list, and so forth. And in terms of purpose, you can make a to-do list for your school activities, job-related tasks, and more.

According to a survey, to-do lists are usually very long. And it should be adjusted so you won’t beat yourself up or feel disappointed for not accomplishing that much.

Meanwhile, I Done This reported that 41% of to-do tasks are usually never finished.

Why Is a To-Do List Needed?

To-do lists exist for a reason—to make it easier in accomplishing your daily, weekly, or monthly tasks. Every day, you can do so much from preparing your meals, taking a bath, traveling to your office, keeping up with your chore list, spending time for leisure, finishing an important project, and more. So to keep all your activities organized and properly planned, a to-do list is the right way to go. This is what every person needs to keep their life on track.

Also, to-do lists are personalized so there is no need to use a single task list for everyone. Instead, list down tasks and activities that meet your goals in life. For sure, you won’t need a school assignment to-do list if you are no longer at school. Align your goals into the to-do list so it remains relevant. And if you notice that your productivity has been low for a while, try stepping up your game with a smart to-do list instead.

What Are the Important Elements of a To-Do List?

While there is no perfect to-do list in the first place, it doesn’t mean you can’t make a great one that really helps you be productive and work things smoothly. Sometimes, what you need to come up with a reliable to-do list is to add the following essential elements to the list:

Subject Title: To kickstart your to-do list, make sure you can identify that such a document is specifically your to-do list. And the key is to put the words ‘to-do list’ right in the title. It should be visible enough so that you won’t err into thinking that the list serves any other purpose besides your to-do list.Clear Purpose: You already know that a to-do list can be categorized according to time and function. So first things first, set if you are planning a daily to-do list, monthly to-do list, or just a basic list where you can do the tasks at any time. Next, insert your statement of purpose if the list contains tasks related to work, school, or just your personal visual schedule.Names of Helpers: Sometimes, tasks get tedious simply because you took all the responsibilities. It would have been easier to assign helpers, like your family members, friends, or partner. And it will help to state their names and contact lists until you can assign specific activities for each of them. Make sure that these people are willing to help you with the list too so that you can be sure that the work will actually be done.Task List: The significant part of your to-do list would be the set of tasks enlisted in the document. Ensure that you got every necessary activity to accomplish on the task list so you will surely be productive in the long run. A tip is to sit down and relax for a while until you can think of all the tasks meant to do for the day from the moment you wake up down to the moment you sleep at night. That way, you will eventually enlist all the tasks to do.Priority Level: While it is easy to set up all tasks in one document, like a master to-do list template, it helps to organize them further. One way to categorize tasks is to arrange them in terms of priority levels. Incorporating a priority list lets you organize tasks according to which is more important than the other. Hence, you would surely work on your priorities first as they hold bigger value compared to other enlisted tasks.Urgency Level: Sometimes, what is important isn’t always urgent. So you have to balance the urgency level and the priority level carefully. When it comes to urgency, it has something to do with time. That means one task could be urgent because its due date or deadline is so close already. Always mark your printable calendar for reference then. So even if it isn’t too important yet urgent, you may have to do it first.Difficulty Level: Another category for tasks is the difficulty level. So besides being urgent and a top priority, is the task difficult to accomplish too? Come up with an evaluation first if a task is considered easy, medium, or hard. Remember that tasks with high difficulty levels may take too long to finish and it could tire you out as well; thus, sacrificing other tasks on the to-do list.Progress Tracker: Also an important part of the to-do list is the progress tracker section. There are many ways to do this from blanks, checkboxes, and other ways. Just like a standard task checklist, you put a checkmark per checkbox to every finished task. And this is how you can see your progress if ever you are nearly done with everything or still far from reality.Notes: Although this part is optional, you can add a notes segment in the list too. Anything can be written here, specifically other data that weren’t mentioned in this article but are still crucial to your to-do list. Examples include your budget calculator, changes of assignments, and the deleted tasks to take note of.

How to Craft a Streamlined To-Do List

Are you ready to make your very own to-do list? Before doing that, always keep in mind that you aren’t just going to make a generic list but something more streamlined for your benefit. This is basically how you boost your success rate in accomplishing all tasks in the first place. So without further ado, here are the steps in creating an efficient and effective to-do list:

Step 1: Perform an Activity or Task Analysis

An activity or task analysis is imperative before even listing all tasks to achieve in a to-do list. In this analysis, you identify all tasks until you can arrange their level of importance, urgency, difficulty, and so forth. You also finalize your list’s function too if it should be a daily, weekly, or monthly list and if it should be a school to-do list, personal to-do list, etc. Rest assured, planning everything will be worth it afterward.

Step 2: Download a Sample To-Do List

Indeed, to-do lists are quite easy to make as you can use a notebook, a smartphone, or even tissue paper to write your to-do list. But, nothing beats professionally made and well-crafted sample to-do lists. As you can see from the sample templates in this post, each to-do list has been curated already and you won’t need to make lists out of scratch. Just download a template until you can start completing the to-do list elements, edit the content, and transfer the ideas you learned from the analysis earlier to the chosen sample.

Step 3: Consider How Doable Your Tasks Are

You already know the elements of a to-do list, as discussed before. But once you have completed them in your chosen sample, its content isn’t finished yet. You still need to assess meticulously if your tasks are doable or not. Maybe your family to-do list actually has a hundred tasks to achieve in one day. Don’t do that as it isn’t realistic. Instead, take this opportunity to break down the tasks into smaller tasks and divide them into the other days of the week instead. That way, tasks need not be hectic.

Step 4: Edit the Design and Format of the List

There is certainly some room to add creativity into your to-do list rather than to print and keep a generic list. For example, you can add organizational charts or extra tables for the list’s layout to be easier to follow. Or perhaps, you use cute and colorful motifs for inspiration. Also, you add inspirational quotes to the list to help you be motivated into finishing all tasks. Be as creative as possible and your list will surely pay off.

Step 5: Update Your List from Time to Time

Don’t think that everything is done just yet. Remember that according to a survey, 41% of to-do tasks are hardly finished. Thus, don’t make a to-do list for naught. Be responsible for sticking to the plan and slowly complete the list from time to time. Updating regularly is needed to make sure there is progress that you did everything and have not forgotten a single task. One day, you can feel satisfied when loads of activities get done and you can reward yourself for being productive.

FAQs

How many tasks can be done on a daily to-do list?

Productive people are said to accomplish at least 6–12 tasks a day. But that wholly depends on the task’s difficulty level, urgency level, importance level, and more. Focus on what is doable for you instead.

What are some tips to work on a to-do list smoothly?

You can definitely ace the process by setting a clean schedule, waking up early, having a rest break, eating enough, and dividing tasks into chunks rather than spreading them out.

Who benefits from to-do lists?

Basically, anyone can benefit from a to-do list. It could be a student who needs a study plan to-do list, an employee who prepares a business conference to-do list, or simply you who wants a memorable vacation using a travel to-do list. It all depends on your purpose or goal.

While a to-do list is a great weapon to help you remember and finish all your tasks, it can also be a burden when the list itself is poorly made and you yourself cannot even commit to the whole project list. Thus, always bear in mind that preparing a to-do list is also a responsibility—a responsibility that you should pursue for your own satisfaction. Thankfully, making it won’t be so difficult with sample to-do lists as your guide. And instead of feeling burdened by having more unfinished tasks after putting a checkmark per item, be optimistic instead and think about how much you achieved. You’ll complete it eventually.