How To Make a Daily To-Do List That Actually Works

Our to-do lists don’t always account for the regular day-to-day tasks, though, even though they’re just as important. We rely on habit (or our faulty memory) for some of the things that are most important to our wellbeing, such as exercising, eating well, or keeping up with our side hustle.

Other things like planning a special event might have a spot on our calendar, but the prep leading up to that event sneaks up on us and sends us scrambling at the last minute. Creating a daily to-do list that truly reflects all of your activities and interests—including the daily ones—is a smart way to get it all done.

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One way to keep life running smoothly is to use a to-do list app that integrates with your email and calendar and lets you attach any documents, notes, or photos you’ll need when it’s time to tackle each item on your list.

You can create a to-do list for each day in the upcoming month and then populate your daily lists with your content plans, goals, or preparation for upcoming events.

Here are a few real-life examples of how you can use them:

Create social media posts. Whether it’s for family updates, volunteer events, or a side hustle, create a social media content plan by writing your posts and finding the right images in advance. Assign a day to everything in your content plan so all you have to do each day is copy, paste, and post.

Communicate about special events. Whether you’re working on a neighborhood fundraiser or a family reunion, plan what you’ll say and when you’ll send each piece—save-the-date emails, group chats, event pages, announcements, invitations, reminders and thank you notes. Plan the content in advance and then attach it to your to-do list for the day you’d like each communication to go out. That way you’ll have what you need (along with a reminder) at just the right time.

Simplify meals. Plan your meals for the week and add each night’s dinner plan into your daily to-do lists. Keep a recipe library in an online folder and add links to recipes as you go. Include a grocery checklist, too, and you’ll have everything on hand when it’s time to start cooking.

Stick to your fitness routine. Take last-minute decisions (or excuses) out of your daily workouts and plan them in advance instead. Add links to any online workout videos or fitness trackers you’ll use that day, along with gym hours, class signup links, and notes about your intended workout.

Create more “me time”. If you’re hoping to create a healthy new habit, but you’re finding it difficult to stick to a routine, try adding it to your daily to-do list! Things like meditation, time outdoors, drinking more water, or reaching out to friends can easily slip through the cracks on busy days. When they’re an official item on your daily to-do list, you’re much more likely to make sure they’re a priority. Checking a daily action off your list gives you an extra boost of motivation and a sense of accomplishment, too.

Creating daily to-do lists helps you remember to do everything that’s important to you, including the daily activities that mean the most. And having everything in one place increases your chances of completing what’s important to you, every single day.