There are many things you can make a checklist for, but there are a few simple thoughts to keep in mind when preparing one. In essence making a checklist is easy – you list things and can be done with it, but a well thought through checklist requires just a tiny bit more.

First things first – it all should be considered and prepared as a flow – a flow of process or activities logically grouped and listed. A good checklist enables you to meet deadlines and plan timely, so for an example, it must have things that require additional information from someone else or any prerequisite documents, information obtained as soon as possible, listed as first things that need to be done. For the checklist to be a tool, it requires for it to be logical and reflect the process’ natural course.

Another tip we want to give you, is to think about activities you usually forget or tend to do in the very last minute. List them up and don’t forget to make them logically fit into the process. Concerning those in the last minute activities – is there something stopping you from doing them earlier? Can it be remedied somehow? Think about this and plan the process and checklist activities accordingly.

I have grown to love all sorts of checklists as they really help me get things planned and done timely. You can make checklists for everything and from experience, getting used to them is strongly recommended.