40 Free Task List Templates [Daily, Weekly, Monthly]

Working productively brings satisfaction and increases confidence. One of the ways to be productive is to create lists for tasks. They let you know which tasks need to be done first and the sequence of things that follow. It is important to list project tasks as priorities. A task list template allows employees to create a systematic way of doing assignments in the company. They stop focusing on less impactful issues and put more energy into the things that bring better results

Task list templates help teams ensure projects are moving in the right direction. Managers use a task tracking spreadsheet to keep group tasks organized. They guide the teams into the proper steps a project should follow. Organizations use different types of task list templates. They may use a daily checklist template or a weekly task list template. Some may have task list templates that run for weeks or several months.

Task List Templates

What are task list templates?

Task list templates capture everything that needs to be done on a single day or week. People and organizations that use task list templates enjoy an organized lifestyle. They understand what needs to be done daily. Individuals may lead productive lives by just using a simple task list template. 

On the other hand, organizations might need a complex task list template to help manage large teams of workers. The main goal of developing a task management template is to get more done in specified timeframes. The design task management template depends on its use. 

For instance, an employee task list template is created to break down tasks based on employee capabilities. Once completed, the task tracker template is then shared among the teams. Each team gets a view of things to do at the individual or group level. 

They may break it further into subtasks and customize it the way they prefer. It is important to add all tasks that you want to tackle to the task tracking spreadsheet. It gives a user ideas on what to prepare for and get organized to get the most benefits from each task. 

Task Tracker Templates

Types of project tasks templates

Task list templates help people to complete tasks in an organized way. Organizations use the templates to define project tasks in terms of their life cycle and planning processes. Some tasks in a project may require testing to allow execution. All these are phases that different tasks may go through. 

The type of project tasks adopted by a company depends on the type of project it is. Teams may need to prioritize tasks depending on the amount of labor they demand. Here are the different types of prioritize tasks templates.

• Daily checklist template
  A daily checklist template is a project tasks document that defines what teams are required to do daily. It is a great option for allocating daily and routine assignments. It keeps teams busy and moving in the right direction.
• Weekly task list template
  A weekly task list template is a project tasks template that directs teams on what to do in an entire week. It provides an excellent way for teams to monitor their activities throughout the week.
• Task checklist templates
  Task checklist templates help managers keep track of tasks in a daily or weekly task list template. Managers use this template to tick what has been completed, or pending. It can be customized to allow switching between a daily checklist template and a weekly task list template.
• Services provision task list template
  This is a task tracker template for monitoring services offered by the service provider. For instance, a company can create it to track the types of services expected from a cleaning or software company. This task tracker template allows organizations to get a view of tasks done by the service provider.
• Employee task list template
  An employee task list template is a task management template used mostly by HR managers. They create an employee task list template and divide the tasks according to the number of employees. The template helps them keep track of the assignments done by each employee.

What are the attributes of a good task list template?

Every type of task tracking spreadsheet should allow individuals and companies to plan their tasks better. However, the attributes of a task tracker template make it a good fit or a poor choice for an organization.

The attributes in one task management template may differ from another. Let the most important ones include the following. 

• Should be flexible
  A flexible task tracker template allows users to adjust it based on their current needs. It should be adaptable to fit different types of users.
  An individual may use the task tracking spreadsheet to create personal tasks, in the same way, an organization may use a similar sheet to prioritize tasks for employees.
• Must make the information clear
  A good employee task list template should not make understanding its information tedious. The data in it should be simple and to the point. For instance, an employee reading an employee task list template should know what to do without the need for confirmation.
• Should allow tracking
  Some tasks in a daily checklist template or a weekly task list template may have multiple phases. As days of the week go by, individuals may want to look back and view the progress of each task. The task list templates need to have features that allow tracking.
• Lets users stay organized
  A good task management template should never be confusing. The purpose of the template should be to allow teams or individuals to get organized. Its structure needs to have a smooth flow from one task to the next.
• Offers chances for timeline management
  The task tracker template should never be without deadlines. These are timelines that guide teams into when a task should start and its ending date.
• Should allow setting reminders
  Some due dates in project tasks are crucial. If teams fail to meet them, they could be breaching an important contract agreement.
  Reminders help the team to prioritize tasks based on how soon they will be due. They can set the task tracking spreadsheet to get notifications when due dates are near.

Task Management Templates

What should a weekly task list template include?

A weekly task list template shows assignments for a whole week. The tasks could be for a group or individual workers. This task tracker template requires it to be divided into several columns and rows. 

Each may have assignments to be completed daily and those that can be done in a week. The manager chooses the starting day and the closing day. Traditionally, a weekly task list template runs from Sunday to Sunday. The task tracking spreadsheet may include the following. 

• Day of the week
• Employee ID
• Employee name
• Task ID
• Task description
• Hourly tasks
• Total hours worked

How to prioritize tasks in a project

Prioritizing tasks helps managers and other users decide what assignments need to be completed first. Different factors may influence the way an individual or organization prioritizes tasks. When they do it right, it reduces stress that might come due to fast-approaching deadlines. 

An organization frees itself up from penalties and court battles that may come due to contract breaches. These are some of the important reasons that make it necessary to prioritize tasks. There are different ways by which individuals and organizations can do it. 

• Look at the availability of resources for each task
  Some tasks in a task list template require more time and resources. The amount of resources in terms of money, equipment, and human capital might not be available at the moment.
  If it is available, you may prioritize it. If resources are scarce at the moment, you may push it further down the line. Ensure its resources are available sooner to avoid delays.
• Consider the approaching deadlines
  Some task deadlines could be near enough such that any delays could impact the project. Delays could also affect relationships with clients and getting projects in the future.
  The assignments whose deadlines are near can be marked as urgent. Those whose deadlines are far away can be marked as important. Work on the urgent ones first and proceed to the important ones.
• Consider the hierarchy of the flow
  In a weekly task list template the project tasks may flow in a hierarchical order. It could be the tasks on top of the hierarchy must be completed for those in the next phase to start. For instance, in product development, the tasks must start with a basic structure of the product.
  If it is software, developers must start with the code. The basic code acts as the nucleus of the software. The rest of the tasks are built upon the main structure. If your team is working on this type of project, prioritization must be based on the hierarchical flow.
• Prioritize tasks based on value
  Some tasks might bring a higher value to the business than others. However, they might all be urgent due to their approaching deadlines. The personnel available might not be enough to handle the business of each task.
  In this case, handle them based on the value they bring. It cushions the business from experiencing a bigger loss if the more valuable task goes beyond the deadline.
• Use a first come first served approach
  Prioritize tasks based on the time the project was received. You may create priorities based on the time when the client signed the project contract.
  It is important to let the client know there is another ongoing project. Let them have a tentative date when the project shall be delivered. This way, you may prioritize tasks based on who came first.

Employee Task List Templates

How do I create a task list?

You may decide to create a task tracking spreadsheet and develop it in a personalized way. You may also decide to create it from an already-designed template. The second option lets you quickly fill in the details of the tasks in the pre-designed framework.

When you organize tasks this way, it saves you time and your team creates a task tracker template that looks professional. When creating a task list template, the following steps are important.

• List your goals. Tasks should be guided by goals like you would usually you do in a to do list. Some goals are short term but others are long-term. Define and divide them based on their lifespan. Short-term goals may go in line with urgent tasks.
  Long-term goals could be aligned with less urgent tasks. Understanding your goals helps you know how you will insert task status in various sections of the task tracking spreadsheet.
• List your tasks. Once you list your goals, the next step should be to list tasks. It does not matter the order you list as long as they are listed. Write them in a separate sheet instead of the task management template that you want to create.
• Choose the task list template that best fits you. There is a large number of task list templates available online. They cannot all be perfect for your intended project. The perfect sheet is the one that allows you to add every important detail of the tasks or project. You may choose printable, customizable, or fixed templates.
• Fill in the tasks. Filling in the tasks might be the toughest part of the work. This is because each must either fit in a priority, urgent, or long-term task. They must also be broken down according to the personnel that will be responsible for each.
  This level might need brainstorming for your team to know where each task will fit. Allocate more time for this process to ensure no task goes into the wrong place. Categorize tasks because it will finally help you in monitoring tasks without any hassle. Cross check the project task list before moving on to the next step.
• Develop the deadlines for each. Once you fill in all the takes correctly, the next phase should be to develop a timeline for these multiple projects. This section could be guided by the resources available for each task. It could depend on the due date or when the project documents were signed.
• Share the template for feedback. Before launching the Excel task list template, share it for feedback. It will work similar to a to do list template. Let the team get a view of it and make comments. Use the feedback to gather insights. You may make changes to the template to ensure all or at least most of the teammates are happy with it.