Being on the go and juggling various tasks all the month, it can be easy to forget the important things.
Our lives are complicated and being able to write everything down in monthly checklist is extremely helpful. It gives you peace of mind that everything has been thought of.
I use a monthly checklist for my work, blogging, and household tasks. It is a great way to organise everything I need to do in the month ahead of me.
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It’s easy to forget things when you’re busy with life. A monthly checklist ensures that I never forget important deadlines or events coming up each month.
Before we go any further, don’t miss out on snagging your own free printable monthly checklist (two checklist templates!).
Importance of using a monthly checklist
I have always been a list maker. i am a planner so I just love them!
Whether it’s writing to-do lists using a notebook, on my phone or on my computer, I always have a list on the go.
The best part about using this list is that it helps me stay on top of all the different aspects of my life so I don’t feel overwhelmed by them.
Whether it’s a checklist for work, home or personal tasks, my life is a lot more organised and less stressful by using a monthly checklist.
Here are some reasons why I keep a monthly checklist
- It allows me to plan ahead and pre-book events for the coming month
- It helps me keep track of deadlines
- I find it a little bit easier to stick to my goals when I use a monthly checklist to stay on top of things
- It helps to evaluate my monthly priorities
- I can go back and look at previous months to see what worked, what didn’t work and use this information as a guide for future plans
- It keeps me organised so I don’t feel overwhelmed by all the different tasks coming up
Read also: 21 Simple Living Tips To Reduce Every Day Stress
Steps to creating a monthly checklist
- Print out your monthly calendar on the last day of each month in preparation for the month ahead.
- Start by writing down absolutely everything that comes to mind – this is known as a brain dump. By doing this, you are less likely to forget things, such as appointments, birthdays, specific bills to be paid.
- Split your to-do list into things you HAVE to do and things you’d LIKE to do
- Find the perfect place to keep your monthly checklist. This should be a place you can easily see the list, but also one that is not in your face all day every day. For example, keeping it on your desk or posting it on the fridge would be effective.
How to track your monthly checklist
There are many things you can use on which to track your monthly checklist, depending on how you like to work.
You don’t have to stick with the same method throughout the year because it’s easier for you; feel free to switch from one method to another every month!
Sticky notes – you may be one of those who like to write things down as they come to you on stick notes and place on a board on the wall. Each time a task is done, you dispose of that particular sticky note.
Excel spreadsheet – I love an excel spreadsheet as well as the next person! You can colour code your monthly tasks and split them out into daily, weekly and monthly things that need to be done or remembered.
Notebook / journal – some people prefer to stick to this classic method of writing monthly checklists. Sometimes writing things down by hand helps you remember them better
App – there are a number of different apps out there that can help you keep track and monitor your monthly checklist. It’s still list-making, just in the digital age! Here are some monthly checklist apps to check out.
Printable monthly checklist templates – my preferred method for monthly planning is by filling out the printable monthly checklists I created. Each month I print it, fill it out and put it on my fridge. It’s easily accessible to check tasks off when done and I made two designs so I can switch it up when I choose!
Sign up below for your free printable monthly checklist templates.
Tips on how to use a monthly checklist
Regardless of how you like to write your monthly checklists, here are some tips for making sure they’re as effective as possible.
Keep things simple – create tasks which are not too complicated or overwhelming. You should still be able to remember what needs doing and when it should be done by.
Be specific – choose a timeframe for each task. If you want to complete a task but you don’t know when, simply make it an ongoing task which needs completing. Include everything that may need doing or remembering in your list. If there’s anything you can think of that should be done each month (or each week), add it on.
Celebrate the milestones – mark certain days and weeks with special symbols, such as stars or checkmarks. This way you can easily keep track of how much has been completed and will help boost your motivation to finish things off.
Limit your number of tasks – I know we all have a lot going on in our lives but if you have too many monthly list items, it can be overwhelming and difficult to stay motivated and focused on completing everything within such a short time frame (the month).
Plan ahead – keep the previous month’s list on hand so you’re aware of what needs doing. This can be particularly helpful for tasks that reoccur each month (for example a monthly appointment, deep cleaning day, big monthly grocery shop).
Keep track of all relevant deadlines and events – some things may have a deadline date which you’ll need to remember while others will have a specific date or time. In any case, you’ll need to know all this information so make sure your list is as accurate as possible.
Finally, if you’re using a paper form, don’t forget to print out your monthly checklists and stick them somewhere where you will see it. It needs to be easily accessible so that you can avoid forgetting things and getting stressed out!
Read also: An Effective Guide To Setting Intentions
What’s on my monthly checklist
Home maintenance
Tasks such as cleaning out air filters, water filters, vacuum bags and cleaning the gutters are the types of monthly tasks I fill out my monthly checklists.
Other things that need doing that aren’t as often might be things such as changing the lightbulbs or oil for your car, checking your smoke alarm batteries and general servicing of your household appliances.
By taking care of home maintenance, you are less likely to have to spend a lot of money on costly repairs down the line.
Read also: Is there a difference between decluttering and organising?
Special dates
It’s impossible to remember every single date and while I usually have certain dates filled out in my online calendar, I find it easier to remember if they’re written down on my monthly calendar where I can see them all the time.
Each month, I write reminders for upcoming events, such as:
- birthdays
- appointments
- anniversaries
- personal events
- work events
The trick to getting things done is to list things to do in doable order
robert breault
Monthly declutter
By doing a monthly declutter, you are able to stay on top of any clutter that may have built up.
We know that things can accumulate and we tend to put a good decluttering session on the backburner to do once a year or every season.
But, even if you chose one specific room / area each month to declutter, you’ll find it much easier to keep on track and less overwhelming.
Read also: How To Get Motivated To Clean When Overwhelmed By Mess
Monthly cleaning
The same is said for a monthly deep clean. Most of us don’t like to spend days upon days scrubbing away for a clean house.
Try to do one room at a time rather than multiple rooms in one session. This will help you remain focused and less likely to give up on your plan to keep your house tidy.
One month, do a deep clean of the bathroom and the following month a deep clean of the entrance hall.
I have created a separate 22 page decluttering and cleaning checklist to help you stay even more organised!
Date nights
Whether it’s with your significant other or your BFF, scheduling time for date night is important for your relationships.
When you have nothing planned, it can be easy to get home from work and flop on the sofa with a takeaway rather than making the effort to go out.
Make sure you know what’s happening each month so you don’t forget about this important part of being in a healthy, balanced relationship.
Pay bills
Write down the dates your monthly bills are due and any sporadic bills that might be upcoming this particular month (i.e. insurance, medical).
By doing this, you avoid forgetting to pay a bill and possibly incurring late fees or penalties. It’s also much easier to budget when you know exactly what bills you’ll be paying this month.
Not only should you have a to-do list, but it must become your best friend
jim kwik
Social media cull
Be honest – do you use social media too much? I know I do!
It’s easy to get caught up with social media, following people who don’t necessarily make us feel good or have any positive input to our lives.
Read also: Disconnect to Reconnect: The Significance of a Digital Detox
Each month, put it on your to-do list to cull down who you follow on Facebook and Instagram. Only keep those who add value to your life and make you feel good.
Social media can be detrimental to our mental health so it’s important to make this monthly task a priority.
Email clearout
I get so many emails every day. From work, my two blogs, junk mail from subscriptions I’ve signed up to. Some emails I delete immediately because it’s an ad that I never intended to sign up for or just something I no longer care about.
Make a point of going through all your past emails this month and getting rid of all the junk you no longer need or want.
Unsubscribe to mailing lists you never read or forgot you’ve signed up to.
Anything that’s important and has been dealt with, file to a folder that you can go back to if necessary. But keep your inbox clear of emails.
Photo clearout
If you’re anything like me, you probably have folders of photos on your phone. But do you go back and look at them all?
There’s nothing wrong with taking photos but it’s important to be intentional about what we keep when it comes to photos.
Each month, delete any photo that doesn’t bring you joy or that has no purpose.
This is also a great activity if you want to declutter your phone of apps so it only has the essentials you actually use on a regular basis.
Organise paperwork
If you don’t clear your paperwork as you go, it can really pile up. From monthly bills to flyers coming through the letterbox, magazine subscriptions and just random notes you write.
Read also: The Best Ways Of Storing And Organising Paperwork At Home
Each month, go through any paperwork lying around. File what’s important, or scan a copy to your computer, and get rid of the rest. This will avoid more paperwork accumulating and will also avoid missing important information, such as appointments that come in the mail or bill deadlines.
Schedule appointments
Looking at the calendar and seeing all your appointments is a great way to make sure you don’t double book yourself and avoid missing important meetings and opportunities.
This month, make it a point to schedule the important appointments, such as dental, medical, school appointments.
The only thing more important than your to-do list is your to-be list. The only thing more important than your to-be list is to be.
ALan cohen
Monthly budget
One thing on my checklist each month is to review my monthly budget. I check to see how many days until payday and what my income is.
I can then plan for any upcoming bills or payments that might be due soon. And I check if any unexpected payments will need to be paid this month.
I also check to see if there’s anything left over in the budget that I can put into savings or spend on myself as a treat!
Read also: 10 Ways to Achieve Financial Minimalism
Fridge/freezer clearout
This is something that often gets forgotten about. But it’s important to go through your fridge and freezer every month.
Look at what you’ve got; check expiry dates, throw away anything that has been in there too long and re-organise the rest of the contents
You can also plan your meals based on what’s left in your fridge/freezer to avoid having to get rid of unused food.
Empty handbags and purses
The final thing that goes on my monthly checklist is to empty out handbags and purses. This is an easy task that can be done in just a few minutes.
Go through your handbags and purse, dispose of any receipts you don’t need or cards you no longer use. And gather the spare change at the bottom of your purse that you’ve forgotten about!
Read also: The Perfect System: Never Have To Declutter Your Purse Again
It can be incredibly helpful to look at your monthly checklist and plan ahead. Some chores might seem daunting, while others are just small tasks for which we still require reminders.
The most important thing is that you know what’s coming up so it doesn’t leave you feeling stressed or overwhelmed.
I hope this article has helped you to get a better understanding of how to organise your life by using a monthly checklist.
Do you use a monthly checklist? Have you found any other tips on how you use a monthly checklist? Leave a comment below!
