How To Make A To Do List In Google Sheets (10 Easy Ways)

While there are multiple to-do list apps available in the market today, Google Sheets is not only simple to use, but it’s also intuitive and free. Not only that, but you can also learn how to make a to do list in google sheets with your G-suite apps.

To use Google Sheets for your to-do list monitoring, all you have to do is open a new Google Sheets and choose the To-Do list option. Once you’ve done this, you can freely change the format of your sheet by changing colors, fonts, bolds, italics, formulas, and more. 

The good thing about creating your to-do list using Google Sheets is that you can check and uncheck the tasks that you’ve done or you’ve skipped.

There’s also a feature where you can share the file with other people as your collaborators so that everyone who is involved with the project can monitor and edit the file.

How to Make a To-Do List in Google Sheets

Here’s a quick step-by-step tutorial on how to make a to-do list using Google Sheets:

1. Open Your Google Drive, Click New, Choose Google Sheets and Select “From a Template”

Google Sheets provides you with multiple templates to choose from to simplify your work where formats are already in place which is why you must choose the right template for this task.

• Open your Google Drive
• Click on “New”
• Click on “Google Sheets” and the side arrow
• Select “From a template”

2. Choose the “To-Do List” Option

The next thing you would want to do is to select the “To-Do List” option which will provide you with a template that you can use.

This is what your to-do list sheet should look like once you’ve opened it. 

You’ll notice that the template is ready to use and all you have to do is to change the items on the list and put on some dates.

Once you put a “check” mark on the box on the left side of the sheet, the task assigned to it will automatically be crossed out and a gray highlight color is seen on the row.

3. Changing the Format

Google Sheets allows you to change the design you see on your to-do list. To view the existing rules or change them, you have to click on the “Format” in the toolbar and scroll down to “Conditional Formatting”.

On the right side of the sheet, you’ll find the existing rules of the to-do list. You can also add rules if you think it’s needed. 

If you want to change any items on the existing rule, click on it and it will expand. On the “Formatting Style”, you remove the strikethrough, change the fill color icon, add italics and bold, and even change the color of the text. Once you’re done changing the rules, click “Done”.

4. Monitoring the Your Tasks

One of the features of the to-do list on Google Sheets is that you can monitor the tasks that you have accomplished. You will see a cell with an existing formula on cell C1 which will show you how many tasks are completed.

If you don’t want to see this, you can click on the cell and press “Delete” to remove the formula.

5. Adding Rows and Columns

If you need to add more detail on the tasks that you want to monitor, Google Sheets allows you to add as many columns as you like. This will allow you to put more description into the tasks or assign it to different people.

All you have to do is to highlight the column where you would want to add a column. Select “+ Insert 1 column left” or “+ Insert 1 column right“.

Adding columns

If you want to add more tasks, you can add more rows on the Google Sheets by clicking the row where you would want to add a row. Select “+ Insert 1 row above” or “+ Insert 1 row below”.

6. Changing the File Name of Your Google Sheet

For you to easily know which project you’re working on or to find your Google Sheets easier on your Google Drive, you can change the file name of the Google Sheets that you’re working on.

Highlight the “To-Do list” name on top of the page and change it to the new name that you like. The file will then be automatically saved on your Google Drive with its new name.

7. Freezing a Particular Column(s) or Row(s)

Freezing a particular column(s) or row(s) will help you scroll through your to-do list faster and will help you which column or row are you looking at. To do this,

• Select the column(s) or row(s) that you want to freeze
• Go to “View” in the toolbar
• Select “Freeze” >1 column or 1 row to freeze the particular column or row that you want

8. Hiding Column(s) or Row(s)

Another feature that you can use on the to-do list on your Google Sheets is by hiding the column(s) or row(s) that you think is no longer relevant. This will help you view and scroll through your Google Sheets faster. To do this,

• Click and highlight to the column(s) or row(s) that you want to hide
• Right-click on your mouse
• Click “Hide column(s)/row(s)”

9. Sharing and Collaborating Your To-Do List on Google Sheets

One of the most useful features of doing a to-do list on Google Sheets is that you can share your file with other people that you want to collaborate with on your project. You can choose if you want them to work as an Editor, Commenter, or Viewer. To do this,

• Click “Share” on the upper left corner of the Google Sheets next to your profile.

• Give access to the people that you want to share your file with.

• Choose the task of the person that you’ve added. You can choose either Editor, Commenter, or Viewer.

10. Adding Comments, Notes, and Tagging Your Collaborators

The last feature that we would want to highlight when you’re using Google Sheets for your to-do list is that you can add comments on your file, put notes on the task, and tag your collaborators with the tasks that you want them to work on. To do this,

Adding Comments

Adding Notes

Click on the cell where you want to add notes and choose “Insert note”.

If you want to tag a collaborator on a certain cell, all you have to do is to right-click on the cell, choose “Comment”, tag the person that you want to notify, and insert your notes.

You’re all done!

Final Thoughts

Making a to-do list in Google Sheets is fast and easy. With its easy-to-understand template and formulated cells, all you have to do now is to edit the tasks and you’re all set to go.

You also have the option to change the format of your to-do list, add columns and rows, and share your project with other people.

If you find this article helpful, you might be also interested to start a manifestation journal.