Excel Task Tracker Template to Get More Work Done (Free Download!)

If you’re like me, you struggle with how to get things done.  Almost every day, I think of something that I’ve been meaning to do or plan, but I don’t do it.

Why?

There are times when I just forget because I don’t have a time management system and other times when I don’t plan ahead and run out of time.  In short, we all have good intentions, but many of us lack a plan to take action on them.

To gain more efficiency in my life, I have created a task tracker template in Excel to manage my projects (it is available for download at the bottom of this post).

Let me show you how it works:

Before I continue, I need to say that I got the idea for this spreadsheet from the Getting Things Done method and the ideas presented on this website.  Everyone is different, and the system that works for me may not work for you, so I recommend checking it out!

Now, back to my excel task tracker spreadsheet.

1. Write down EVERYTHING you need or want to get done in your lifetime (yes – your lifetime).  This is oftentimes called a “dump-session.
2. If the task can be done in less than 2 minutes, do it now.  No excuses!
3. Place the tasks you need or want to do every day in the blue area.
4. Place all other tasks under the “Project Name” column (do not put events from your calendar that have already been planned in your task organizer list – they don’t belong there).
5. Note the project due date in the next column (create your own due dates if necessary).
6. For each project, ask yourself, “What is the next actionable step?” Write that down in the “Next Step” column.
7. Decide when you would like to have the Next Step completed and note that date in the “Date(s) Alotted for NS [Next Step]” column.
8. Finally, label each task.  In the example, I categorized my tasks by projects for work or for my day to day home-life (you can add one for school, or any other activities you are involved in).

After all of your data is in the task manager spreadsheet, color-code it to indicate urgency and importance.

RED – Task MUST be completed ASAP and is very important.

ORANGE – Task needs to get done relatively soon but doesn’t have an immediate time constraint.

YELLOW – Task needs to get done at some point, but timing is flexible.

GREEN  – Task doesn’t necessarily need to be done (or you are waiting on someone to move forward with it), but don’t forget about it! (this category also includes those things you have on your “someday I want to do X” list).

Every day, look at your priority list and write down every Next Step that has been assigned for that day as well as everything from the “Things I do Everyday” section.  Also – look at your calendar for the day and write down any appointments or events that are happening at a certain time that day.  Organize the tasks on your to-do list from most important to least important.

Finally, eat that frog and do the hard stuff first!  I can’t explain it scientifically, but doing the hard things first makes you more productive later on.  I believe it’s a mental thing – you feel like the worst is behind you.  The days where I woke up on time and finished the hard things first were the days I got done working early and felt my best!  Prioritizing your time ensures that the things that are most important to you are completed first and helps beat procrastination.

Feel free to edit this spreadsheet however you want – everyone’s brain thinks differently!  This system is just how my mind works and organizes things, and I guarantee not everything thinks like me!

Here is the link to download the above spreadsheet.

Don’t wait!  Start organizing your task list today!

 

Until next time,

Hope Frances

 

Photo by Glenn Carstens-Peters on Unsplash