What To Add To Your Monthly To-Do List (Free Printable Checklist)
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Life gets busy, and it’s easy to feel overwhelmed when juggling work, family, and personal responsibilities. A monthly to-do list can help you break it all down into manageable tasks, stay on top of your goals, and feel more in control of your time as the clock rolls over to a new month.
Mastering to-do lists is one of the most effective ways to manage your time and regain control! Trust me, as a mother of 2 and owner of multiple businesses, having a to-do list is one of the keys to staying organised and on top of ALL THE THINGS!
There’s a good chance you’ve already got something in place, even if you don’t realise it. Monthly tasks that you always do, without having an official list. If not, now is a great time to get started!
This guide will walk you through everything you need to know about creating a monthly to-do list that works for you, including ideas for what to include and tips for staying consistent.
Why You Need a Monthly Checklist
A monthly to-do list is more than just a checklist—it’s a roadmap to a more organised and intentional life. And a perfect start to simplifying your life, one little step at a time! Here’s why it works:
- Keeps you focused: You’ll know exactly what needs to get done and when to help you avoid procrastination.
- Helps with goal-setting: Break big goals into smaller tasks and spread them throughout the month.
- Prevents overwhelm: Instead of trying to remember everything, you’ll have a clear plan.
- Creates balance: Include tasks for work, home, and personal life to keep areas of your life running smoothly.
How To Create A Monthly To-Do List
Your monthly to-do list won’t look like mine, just the same as it won’t look like your best friend’s or Betty at work. That’s why there is no simple monthly to-do list template that is ready to use! You need to create one that is specific to you and your lifestyle.
There are 2 different types of monthly to-do list that are both equally important. There is a monthly checklist that includes tasks you want to do every single month. This list does not change drastically month-to-month and you can create it once and reuse it over and over again.
There is also the monthly planning to-do list that is specific to the upcoming month. This list includes tasks related to your commitments that month, rather than recurring tasks.
Here are the steps to help you identify what should be on your monthly list of things to do:
1. Start with a Brain Dump
The best starting point is to do a brain dump, which is essentially a brainstorming session where you write down everything you can think of that might be relevant to your monthly planning.
I also do this at the start of each month, taking around 5 to 10 minutes to write down everything I need to do or want to accomplish for the month in both my personal life and my work life.
You might like to start with your calendar, if you use one, so you can see all your upcoming appointments and events for the month ahead.
Some of these events might have their own mini-list of related tasks. e.g. buying a gift for the birthday party you are attending or packing for a trip.
Don’t worry about organising it yet—just get it all out on paper.
Include tasks from different areas of your life, such as:
- Non-negotiables like special events and appointments
- Work deadlines or projects.
- Family commitments (birthdays, school events).
- Household chores or home maintenance.
- Personal goals (self-care, hobbies, fitness).
- Travel plans & school break.
- Recurring tasks (tasks you do every month)
2. Divide Your List into Categories
This is where you can take your huge overwhelming list of tasks and organise them! A fresh brain dump can be daunting without this next step.
Once you’ve written down all your tasks, group them into categories.
Common categories for you might include:
- Home: Cleaning, maintenance, repairs.
- Work/School: Deadlines, meetings, or professional development.
- Health & Wellness: Fitness goals, doctor’s appointments, or meal planning.
- Finances: Budgeting, bill payments, savings goals.
- Social/Family: Birthdays, holidays, or quality time with loved ones.
When you sort your tasks this way makes it easier to see where your focus needs to be. It also helps you see how realistic your planned tasks are vs your available time.
If you do have work tasks that need to be done each month, I find it easier to do my work and personal brain dumps separately. Even though they do overlap at times, having them all in a single to-do list does not always work, depending on your work commitments and the type of job you have.
3. Identify Recurring Tasks

I mentioned above that there are 2 different types of monthly lists to create – one with tasks you do every month and one with tasks related to a specific month.
There are certain tasks I do at the start of every month that form a monthly reset. This helps me transition from one month to the next, without feeling overwhelmed.
Now that you have gotten your list sorted into categories, highlight or add an asterisk to the tasks that you do (or want to do) every single month.
These are your recurring tasks and these will form your monthly checklist.
Examples of recurring monthly tasks may include:
- Clean the oven
- Dust ceiling fans and light fixtures
- Vacuum under furniture
- Meal planning
- Tidy pantry
- Wash windows and mirrors
- Deep clean bathrooms
- Declutter common areas
- Clean out refrigerator
- Clean garbage disposal
- Sanitise remote controls and switches
- Wash bedding
- Clean the dryer vent
- Review monthly budget
- Pay bills
- File receipts and documents
- Restock household supplies
- Review the family schedule
- Backup photos and files
- Swap out air fresheners
4. Set Priorities and Deadlines
Now that you’ve identified the tasks you want to do every month, you can now focus on the other tasks you have for the upcoming month.
Not everything on your list will be equally important. Use a priority system to rank your tasks:
- High Priority: Must be done this month (e.g., pay bills, prepare for a big event).
- Medium Priority: Important but not urgent (e.g., deep cleaning, backing up photos).
- Low Priority: Nice to have done, but not essential (e.g., reorganising bookshelves, decluttering your wardrobe).
Then, assign deadlines for each task. Spreading tasks out over the month will help you avoid burnout.
5. Add Your Tasks To A Planner Or Calendar

Choose a system that works for you, whether it’s a physical planner, a digital calendar, or a to-do list app. The key is to keep your list in a place where you’ll see it regularly.
If you currently do not have a system that you use to plan your time, now is a great time to experiment to see what works best.
Sometimes a simple printable calendar and checklist is more than enough to keep you organised!
My Current Planning System
My own planning system has evolved over the years from completely winging it (do not recommend) to a daily paper planner and now to a hybrid paper and digital approach.
This is what I am currently using to give you an example of a hybrid planning approach. For most people, a single system is best, to have everything in one place. However, sometimes there is a benefit to having a mix of digital and paper.
For monthly planning, I use a digital calendar app called Artful Agenda. This syncs with Google Calendar and iCalendar to have all your calendars in one place.

I have our monthly appointments, events and important dates in a family calendar shared with my husband and daughters. I also have a meal planning calendar so that each day I can see what meals are planned without having to click through.
This particular app is a lot like a paper planner, which was part of the appeal. It has pretty covers and stickers, but you can do pretty much the same thing with any of the main calendar apps, like Google or Apple.
For daily habits and goals, I have a paper planner to keep me accountable. I am using The Daily Grind planner which is a 4-month planning system that helps you get really focused on your goals and habits – the things that bring about action.

Get 10% off The Daily Grind planners, accessories and home decor with code HOLLY.
And for work, I use a project management system called Asana which is both a website and an app. This allows me to create monthly work-to-do lists and deadlines as well as the ability also to delegate tasks to team members and communicate with them. I currently have 2 team members.
However, Asana is great and can also be used to create recurring tasks if you want a digital monthly to do list.
What to Include in Your Monthly To-Do List
Here’s a comprehensive list of ideas to help you get started on creating your own monthly list of things to do:
Home Tasks
- Declutter one room or area each month.
- Deep clean high-traffic areas like the kitchen and bathrooms.
- Wash windows.
- Clean light fixtures.
- Run a cleaning cycle on appliances.
- Clean out the refrigerator.
- Home maintenance (e.g., mow lawns, clean dishwasher).
- Clean out your purse/wallet & handbag.
- Wipe down blinds.
- Clean oven.
Work/School Tasks
- Review upcoming deadlines or assignments.
- Organise your workspace.
- Back up digital files.
- Set professional goals for the month.
- Schedule meetings or check-ins with colleagues.
- Inbox zero (delete junk, unsubscribe, action and file emails).
Health & Wellness Tasks
- Schedule doctor’s or dentist appointments.
- Set fitness goals and create a workout plan.
- Meal planning.
- Take time for self-care, like a spa day or meditation session.
- Refill prescriptions.
Finances
- Pay bills and set up auto-pay for recurring expenses.
- Review your budget and adjust as needed.
- Set a savings goal for the month.
- File receipts and documents.
- Update tax spreadsheet.
Social/Family
- Plan birthdays, holidays, or family outings.
- Schedule time to call or visit loved ones.
- Plan date nights.
- Update family calendar.
- Purchase gifts for upcoming events.
Personal Growth
- Set monthly goals for personal development (e.g., read one book, learn a new skill).
- Journal or reflect on your progress.
- Update your vision board or goal tracker.
Free Printable Monthly To Do List Templates

If you are ready to get started on your monthly to do lists right away, make sure you grab my free printable templates. There are two different formats – one to create your recurring monthly checklist of items you do each month and one with a calendar to plan out your upcoming month.
These printable templates are included in my FREE PRINTABLE LIBRARY with heaps of other helpful freebies as a gift if you sign up for my free email newsletter.
Creating a monthly to-do list is a game changer for staying organised and reducing stress. When you plan ahead and break your goals into manageable tasks, you will feel more in control and ready to tackle whatever comes your way each month. Plus it means your home is being maintained regularly and you’re more likely to stay on top of those sometimes forgotten tasks!
Ready to start your monthly to-do list? Grab the monthly to-do list templates from my free printable library to help you get started!