I love ‘to do’ lists. They help organize my brain.

Once I get it down on paper, I’m free to think of other things that could be put down on a different list.

But to do list-ing (is that a thing?) is tedious if you record the same ‘to dos’ for every project.

In an earlier post, I showed you how to set up a habit tracker in your bullet journal – tasks done every day to form habits. Read the post here. I thought about that layout and decided to transform the same format into a framework for accomplishing tasks that have the same group of “to dos”. But instead of tracking daily tasks, check off a to do list on projects. For instance, my blog posts have similar tasks before I can post each one. I found that I was writing the same tasks over and over. (And taking up a lot of room to do it!)

Here’s the first part of my to do list for a video + blog post:

Start with a topic
Brainstorm
Plan ideas
Layout
Create content
Video
Audio recording
Music
Edit video
Edit pictures
Write post
Edit post
Schedule Post
Etc.

That’s not even half the list! I was spending more time creating the list than I was doing the tasks on the list. The kicker was they were the same tasks over and over for every project!

So I set up a Master Project Checklist.

For more efficient project tasking sharing a common to do list, create a Master Project Checklist.

The size of your to do list vs. number of projects will help you decide on a vertical or horizontal layout. I opted for a horizontal checklist as I needed more room for the ‘to dos’ for each project. I counted down 4 dots from the top of my A5 Leuchtturm1917 and 8 dots over. After squaring all the boxes in the to do list, I added the task lines at an angle (which allows more room to write). I filled in my tasks grouped by the typical timeline. Since this is a ‘master page’ I knew I would return to it, so I added this fantastic feather and *To Do* washi tape to the edges of the page as a marker (I found it at Michaels at a steal), but if you want to know what the set looks like -here is a link.

This will do nicely. I can check that off the list!

Let me know what you think in the comments below. Subscribe to my newsletter and follow me on Pinterest for more ideas! Be sure to pin this for later.

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Implementing any of these 4 items could increase your habit tracker effectiveness – and help you achieve even more!

Ever heard the quote “What gets measured, gets managed”? Logging month-to-month totals and/or percentages creates a quick overview of your habits each month. Use it to supercharge your habit tracker.

Implementing any of these 4 items could increase your habit tracker effectiveness – and help you achieve even more! Ever heard the quote “What gets measured, gets managed”? Logging month-to-month totals and/or percentages creates a quick overview of your habits each month and facilitates improvement. Want to know how to set up a habit tracker? Here is my step-by-step instructions on setting-up your own habit tracker.

You’ve been tracking your habits, and making some progress! (Good for you!) I know that my habit tracker in my bullet journal has helped me make some major improvements in my life, simply because I like filling it out every day, and I can’t fill it out unless I do the things that are in the tracker! This practice has boosted my motivation, and I have seen a difference in making positive changes. It really helps to hold myself accountable.

Would you like to see more progress or easily compare last month’s tracking numbers without flipping back and forth pages? Here are some super simple ways to help you keep track of your past ‘tracking’.

Idea #1

I have seen some yearly or extended trackers for each habit, but even a double-page spread is simply not big enough to accommodate multiple months with multiple habits. So one month ends and you start a new month with a new habit tracker. The past is in the past right? But aren’t you trying to create a habit? If you don’t know where you came from, then how do you know when to improve? Wouldn’t it be good to see your progress from the previous month?

Bullet Journal Habit Tracker Percentage Chart — Track percentages in your bullet journal habit tracker

Supercharge your habit tracker Idea #1:

Add a “Last Month” Totals Column. Track the same habits over and over again? Add a column at the end of your tracker showing how many days you accomplished your habit last month. Competition with yourself? Yes, please. But no smack talking.

Idea #2

Idea #2: Add a “This Month” Totals Column. {Or a ‘Last Month’ vs ‘This Month’} Prefer not to carry forward the numbers? Add a column for “This Month” or “Totals” to the end of your tracker. When you flip back in your planner to see how you’ve done, you have a quick reference. You could always add a ‘last month’ column and a ‘this month’ column at the end of the tracker – creates a great comparison month to month. An end of journal reflection (because seriously, who can use a single journal for a whole year?) will show improvement at a quick glance month-to-month.

Idea #3

Idea #3: Track Percentages. Really serious about the improvement of your habits? Include a percent field. (To figure the percent – take the total number of days you did your habit – say 13 and divide by the total number of days in the month = percent.) Hate math? no problem. I’ve created a graphic for your reference.

Idea #4:

Idea #4: Cross out days for seldom-tracked habits. Do you have a habit that you want to track, but don’t do it every day – cross out the days that don’t apply for that habit so you don’t become discouraged for only having completed 3 or 4 days in the month.

Use these tips to help change not only your habits but change your character. After all, “it’s never too late to be who you might have been.” -George Elliot

What gets measured, gets managed - Peter Drucker

Leave me a comment below – let me know of any tips or tricks you might have for your bullet journal habit tracker. I’d love to hear from you, and try out some things you like to do too.

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Eliminate the Same To Do List – Create a Master Project Checklist