A to-do list can be a great way to make sure you are making progress in your day-to-day tasks. Setting up a to-do list in Microsoft OneNote is straightforward and offers many advantages over pen and paper.
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OneNote is available on all devices. It lets you find important tasks quickly. If you categorize to-dos, OneNote compiles all tagged notes for easy access, viewing, and printing. This is just one of the basic amenities.
We’ll show you some easy tips for creating a task-worthy to-do list in OneNote, so you can get your work done on time.
1. Use Shortcuts to Make Checklists Breeze
The to-do tag adds a checkbox next to the note. You can use it to mark pending tasks and create a checklist, such as tasks to run and daily tasks that you need to complete. Once they’re full, check them out. OneNote lets you easily create a to-do list.
Select the note or note text and press Ctrl + 1 to add the checkbox. You can add tags to your to-do list to mark important items in a note, add context information for clarity, and retrieve those tasks as you search. For example, press Ctrl+2 to add a star, Ctrl+3 to add a question mark, and more.
If the preset tags don’t meet your needs, you can assign a custom tag and use it with a keyboard shortcut. You don’t need to search or click in the long tags menu. To learn more, read this interesting piece on OneNote tags and how to use them.
It is also possible to control the hierarchy of the list and create subtasks. For example, if you’re doing a complex project, you may need to check off sub-lists of smaller tasks before the entire project is completed.
Simply press the Tab key to create a subtask. To move tasks up or down on your to-do list, press Alt+Shift+Up or Down Arrow.
2. Embed Your Files in OneNote
When you’re working on a project, it’s easy to keep track of what you need to accomplish or remember to complete the project. Instead of duplicating such information in multiple places, you can bring the content directly into OneNote.
In the OneNote app for Windows 10, place your cursor next to the task, then click Insert > File.
From the dialog box that appears, choose one of three options: Upload to OneDrive and Insert a Link, Insert as Attachment, or Insert as Printout.
The first option uploads a copy of the file to OneDrive (in the OneNote uploads folder) and inserts a link to the current page. If it’s an Office document, OneNote will display a live preview of the file without opening it in the associated app. For all other document types, you’ll just see a link to that file.
When you insert a file as an attachment, attached files have no link to their source, so any changes you make will only be present in OneNote. OneNote also includes a file icon for each attachment in your notes.
Whichever option you choose, create a to-do list and start working on your document. You’ll never forget things, and the latest copy will always be in OneNote.
3. Create a Kanban Board in OneNote
If you’re trying to handle multiple tasks and are having trouble prioritizing them, the Kanban method will work for you. With Kanban, you can break down complex tasks into smaller steps and complete them visually.
You can understand the progress of your tasks, related problems and establish room for improvement. Creating a kanban template in OneNote is easy.
First, create a new page and name it “My Board”. We will create three tables and label them as To Do, This Week and Archive. For each table, create three columns—Project, Task, and Priority.
Type the first column, press Tab, and name the next column. Repeat the steps until you have turned it into a table. Tables act as the focal point for all your work. Then, design it in a way that makes sense to you.
In each row, create a task. As you complete a task, move the mouse cursor to the left to reveal the anchor. Click and drag the row between the tables.
You can insert a link to a file or a different OneNote page in the column cell for more details about the task.
There is a readymade OneNote Kanban template by Auscomp that implements all the best practices of Kanban. The board has several columns: Backlog, Next, In Progress, Focus, and you can even customize them.
Organize your tasks and to-dos visually, then drag and drop tasks onto other columns.