When creating a document, there are times that you need to break down the text into an easier to read format. We’ve always had bulleted lists and numbered lists, but now we can add a new option — the Google Docs checklist feature!
Whether you are making a list and checking it twice or you are creating an agenda for your upcoming meeting, using this feature will help you see where you are and what else is needed.
The Feature in Action
Take a look at this 3-minute video to give you a hands-on look at how to use the Google Docs checklist feature to its fullest. Or simply follow the transcript below.
Transcript:
Hi, Paula here from Tessera Virtual Business Solutions. Just wanted to give you a quick update on a new feature that is available in your Google docs, and that is the Google Docs checklist feature. So let’s share screen and I’ll show that to you.
Checklist for Meeting Agenda
Here we are on our shared screen, in Google docs. And I have a basic meeting agenda. You may use something similar if you use Google docs for your agendas.
For a long time, we’ve had bulleted points, bulleted lists, numbered lists. But we now have a new checklist available. The shortcut for the Google Docs checklist feature is command shift nine, or you can use the highlight and click method. But, basically what we have here is a checklist. And the beauty of something like this over just a bulleted list is that you are able to check off those things on the list that are complete.
Two Ways to Activate
If I highlight the things that I want in the checklist and hit the checklist button in the top menu bar, I now have that checklist. You’re able to check off an item when it is complete, and when you do check off it, it crosses that item out. So that’s just one thing to note. You can also turn the Google Docs checklist feature on in the top menu bar before you start typing or simply highlight as I’ve done here and click the button at that time.
Connecting Document Dates to Your Calendar
I’ve got a checklist here for each of the different things that should happen in my meeting. One other thing that I wanted to show you is if you have dates in your meeting that you need to connect directly to your calendar, that is possible from the doc itself. For instance, in this meeting, let’s say the monthly reports are due on the 30th of July. If I’m in this meeting and I want to put that date on my calendar as a reminder for myself that the reports are due, it’s simple. It could also be put in as the @ symbol. And then, the date, July 30th. I then click on that date, and it is a clickable date.
I don’t like the wording here “book meeting,” because when you click on that, it takes you to your own calendar. And that may not be where you can book a meeting actually with someone. It’s more likely that I might be adding an event to my calendar, or adding something to my calendar as a reminder.
When it goes to my calendar, it will open up the event tab and I can then make changes to it or add things to it, like “Report due.” It always puts the event at 12:00 PM that day. If you want it to land at the top of your calendar, you can just click on “all-day”, click save, and then it lands at the top of my calendar, on the 30th, as you can see.
Oops, it landed with no title. So perhaps I need to go back to it and make sure it landed correctly. Let’s go back. Perhaps that changed when I changed it to an all-day event? I’m not sure, but let’s check again, then save. And then it just shows up here as report due.
The date feature is a great way to save time. Also, you can use the @ symbol and the date itself for it to load, or if you can’t remember that you can just use the insert at the top menu bar, and there it is. You can put a date anywhere in a document.
Hopefully, that’s helpful. And if you need more tips and help to speed things along in your Google documents or in your Asana Organization that will help you get things done quickly and easily with higher productivity, just get in touch with me and let me know.
I’m happy to help!
About the Author
Paula Holsberry is the founder of Tessera Virtual Business Solutions, specializing in optimizing work processes for remote teams. With experience in both start-ups and larger companies, she helps teams maximize productivity through efficient Asana training and consulting.
