Brain dump
To-do list template: free printable and online versions
Updated · Done Enough
In this guide (10 parts)
- Which template fits you?
- Template 1: daily to-do list
- Template 2: weekly to-do list
- Template 3: pick-3 for overloaded days
- Template 4: to-do list by category
- Template 5: spreadsheet to-do list (Excel or Google Sheets)
- What to include in any to-do list template
- Printable or online?
- Common mistakes with to-do list templates
- If you have ADHD
A to-do list template is a blank, reusable layout with a fixed number of task lines and a tick box for each. The simplest useful one has three parts: one main task, a few smaller ones, and a “later” area for everything else. Print it, copy it into a notebook, or recreate it in a spreadsheet.
It is part of our brain dump and to-do list guide. For the method behind the list (what to put on it and in what order), read how to make a to-do list. Below are five layouts you can copy, each with a filled-in example or setup steps.
Which template fits you?
| Template | Best for | Rows | Where to use it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily | Most days, home or work | 1 main + 3 + 5 | Paper, notebook, phone notes |
| Weekly | Planning on Sunday, busy weeks | 7 days x 3 tasks | Fridge, desk, spreadsheet |
| Pick-3 | Days when everything feels urgent | 3 + a “later” box | Paper, sticky note |
| By category | Errands, calls and chores mixed together | 4 short columns | Fridge, notebook |
| Spreadsheet | Shared family lists, repeating tasks | As many as you filter | Excel, Google Sheets |
If you’re not sure, start with the daily one. It works for most people most days, and you can switch later.
Template 1: daily to-do list
Copy this onto paper or into a spreadsheet. The row limits are the point: when the boxes are full, the list is full.
| Section | Task | Done |
|---|---|---|
| Main task | ______________________ | ☐ |
| Next 3 | ______________________ | ☐ |
| ______________________ | ☐ | |
| ______________________ | ☐ | |
| Small stuff (5) | ______________________ | ☐ |
| ______________________ | ☐ | |
| ______________________ | ☐ | |
| ______________________ | ☐ | |
| ______________________ | ☐ | |
| Later | (anything that doesn’t fit) |
This is the 1-3-5 rule turned into a page: 1 big task, 3 medium, 5 small.
Filled-in example
| Section | Task | Done |
|---|---|---|
| Main task | Finish the quarterly report draft | ☑ |
| Next 3 | Book the dentist | ☑ |
| Reply to Sam about Saturday | ☑ | |
| Order the birthday present | ☐ | |
| Small stuff | Pay the water bill | ☑ |
| Return library books | ☐ | |
| Later | Clean out the garage, plan the summer trip |
How to use the daily template
- Fill it the night before. Five minutes in the evening means you don’t start the morning by deciding.
- Choose the main task first. It’s the one that would make the day count if nothing else got done.
- Fill small stuff last. Small tasks are easy to add and easy to overdo. Five is the cap.
- Leave rows empty if you want. A half-empty template is a realistic day, not a failure.
Template 2: weekly to-do list
| Day | Task 1 | Task 2 | Task 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mon | ☐ | ☐ | ☐ |
| Tue | ☐ | ☐ | ☐ |
| Wed | ☐ | ☐ | ☐ |
| Thu | ☐ | ☐ | ☐ |
| Fri | ☐ | ☐ | ☐ |
| Sat | ☐ | ☐ | ☐ |
| Sun | Plan next week | ☐ | ☐ |
Three boxes per day keeps the week realistic. Unfinished tasks move to the next day once; if they move twice, put them in “later” or drop them.
Filled-in weekly example
| Day | Task 1 | Task 2 | Task 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mon | Send the invoice ☑ | Grocery order ☑ | Call the vet ☐ |
| Tue | Call the vet ☑ | Laundry ☑ | ☐ |
| Wed | Draft the newsletter ☑ | Return package ☐ | ☐ |
| Thu | Return package ☑ | Book haircut ☑ | ☐ |
| Fri | Pay credit card ☑ | ☐ | ☐ |
| Sat | Clean out the car ☐ | Soccer snacks ☑ | ☐ |
| Sun | Plan next week ☑ | ☐ | ☐ |
“Call the vet” moved once, from Monday to Tuesday, then got done. “Clean out the car” goes to next week or to “later.”
Template 3: pick-3 for overloaded days
- Write everything on a scrap sheet first (a brain dump).
- Pick 3 tasks for today and copy them onto the template.
- Circle 1 to start with, and write its first physical step.
- Everything else goes in the later box.
| Pick 3 | First move | Done |
|---|---|---|
| ◯ ______________________ | ______________________ | ☐ |
| ______________________ | ______________________ | ☐ |
| ______________________ | ______________________ | ☐ |
| Later: |
The first-move column is what makes this layout different. “Renew passport” becomes “find the old passport.” It’s the template to use when you’ve been staring at your list without starting anything.
Not sure which 3? Sort the scrap list in the Eisenhower matrix template, or let the task wheel pick when they all feel equal.
Template 4: to-do list by category
Some days aren’t about one big task. They’re a pile of calls, errands and chores. Grouping them means you can batch: make all the calls in one sitting, run all the errands in one trip.
| Calls and texts | Errands and buy | Home | Work or school |
|---|---|---|---|
| ☐ | ☐ | ☐ | ☐ |
| ☐ | ☐ | ☐ | ☐ |
| ☐ | ☐ | ☐ | ☐ |
| ☐ | ☐ | ☐ | ☐ |
Keep four boxes per column. If a column fills up, batch it into one block of time (“calls, 4:00 to 4:20”) instead of scattering the items through the day. These categories mirror the bins in our brain dump template, so a brain dump drops straight into this layout.
Template 5: spreadsheet to-do list (Excel or Google Sheets)
A spreadsheet is the best choice for lists you share or reuse: a family chore list, a moving checklist, a project with many small steps.
| Column | What goes in it | Tip |
|---|---|---|
| A: Task | One action, starting with a verb | “Call plumber,” not “plumbing” |
| B: Category | Calls, buy, home, work | Use a drop-down list |
| C: Due | A date | Sort by this column |
| D: Start by | A date a few days before Due | Stops last-minute rushes |
| E: Priority | 1, 2 or 3 | Only a few 1s per day |
| F: Done | Checkbox | Filter it to hide finished rows |
Google Sheets: type the headers in row 1, select column F and choose Insert > Checkbox, select column B and add a drop-down (Data > Data validation) with your categories, then turn on a filter (Data > Create a filter).
Excel: use the same headers, add a Yes/No data-validation list in the Done column, and turn on Data > Filter for row 1.
Each morning, filter Done to unchecked and sort by Start by. The top three rows are your day.
What to include in any to-do list template
Whichever layout you choose, a good template has the same parts:
| Part | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| A fixed number of rows | Stops the list from growing past what a day can hold |
| A tick box | Finishing something should be visible |
| A “later” area | Tasks that don’t fit today still have a home |
| A first-move space (optional) | Turns a vague task into something you can start |
| A date | Lets you see whether tasks keep moving |
What to leave out: long notes, color codes you won’t keep up, and more than one priority system on the same page.
Printable or online?
| Option | Good | Not so good |
|---|---|---|
| Printed template | Always visible, satisfying to tick, no notifications | Easy to lose, no reminders |
| Spreadsheet (Excel, Google Sheets) | Filters, reuse, share with family | Out of sight unless you open it |
| Online tool | Sorts for you, saves in your browser | Needs a screen |
Want it online, free and without an account? The brain dump tool lets you type your list, sorts it into bins, and has you pick 3 and circle 1. It saves in your browser.
Common mistakes with to-do list templates
| Mistake | What happens | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| A template with 30 lines | You fill all 30 and finish 6 | Choose a layout with 9 rows or fewer |
| Writing projects as tasks | “Kitchen remodel” sits unticked for weeks | Write the next action only |
| A new template every week | Tasks fall through the gaps | Keep one “later” list that carries over |
| Never reviewing | Old tasks pile up | Spend 5 minutes on Sunday clearing the later list |
| Copying an elaborate planner spread | It takes longer to draw than to do the tasks | Plain boxes are enough |
If you have ADHD
A standard template can turn into another list you lose or ignore. A few changes help many people with ADHD:
- Use the pick-3 layout, not the daily 1-3-5. Nine rows can be too many to look at. Three is easier to face.
- Always fill in the first-move column. Starting is often the hardest part, and a written first move removes one decision.
- Keep one copy in one place. Tape it to the fridge or the bathroom mirror. A template in a drawer doesn’t get used.
- Tick the first move too. Starting deserves a tick, even if the task isn’t finished.
- Have a stuck-day page ready. On days when nothing feels possible, use a page with one task and two tiny wins on it.
The Stuck-day printable workbook in our shop has pages like that ready to print, along with brain dump pages and pick-3 sheets. For a step-by-step guide, read the ADHD to-do list article. If you fill in the template but still don’t start, how to stop procrastinating walks through a 10-minute reset.
FAQ
Where do you make a to-do list?
Anywhere you will look at it again: a sheet of paper on your desk, a notebook, a notes app, or a spreadsheet. The place matters less than the habit of checking it. If you keep losing lists, use one fixed spot, such as a printed template on the fridge or a pinned note.
How to create a list template?
Decide which columns you need (task, when, done), draw them once on paper or in a spreadsheet, and leave a fixed number of rows so the list can't grow forever. Save or photocopy that blank version and start each day or week from a fresh copy.
Can you provide me with a template for creating a to-do list in Excel?
Yes. Put Task in column A, Due in column B, Priority in column C and Done in column D. Add a checkbox or a data-validation list (Yes/No) in column D and a filter on row 1. The spreadsheet layout below works the same way in Google Sheets.
Is there a free daily checklist app?
Yes. Your phone's built-in reminders or notes app is free and works as a daily checklist. If you'd rather not install anything, our free online brain dump tool runs in your browser, sorts your list and has you pick 3 and circle 1, with nothing to sign up for.
What are some good daily checklists for adults?
A short routine list works best: one morning check (keys, calendar, anything you take daily), the day's 3 tasks, and a 10-minute evening reset (dishes, tomorrow's clothes, tomorrow's list). Keep the routine part the same every day so it becomes automatic.
What are some ideas for a daily to-do list?
Keep it short: one important task, two or three medium ones, and a few small chores like replying to a message or paying a bill. Add one task that makes tomorrow easier, such as laying out clothes or writing tomorrow's list.