Why Most Checklists Don't Work

Used 47 different checklists over 2 years. 41 failed. Here's what makes good ones actually work.

I love checklists. I've tried them for cleaning, packing, groceries, work projects. Most lasted 2-3 uses before I abandoned them.

Why They Fail

Too generic. "Pack clothes." What clothes? How many? For what weather?

Too detailed. 127 items for a weekend trip. Nobody will use that.

Wrong order. Steps out of sequence. You have to jump around.

No context. Why am I doing this step? What's the point?

What Works

1. Specific to your situation. Not "clean kitchen." But "wipe counters (5 min), load dishwasher (3 min)."

2. Time estimates. Knowing it takes 20 minutes total helps you actually do it.

3. Logical sequence. Step 1 must come before Step 2. No jumping.

4. Right length. 5-15 items is perfect. More than that? Split into multiple lists.