I’m a list maker. To me, the only thing as satisfying as completing a task is checking it off on a list. Aside from prefab notepads with blank checklists, I’ve also made my fair share of checklists in Microsoft Word by using a bullet style that looks like an open box. (Bullet library>Define new bullet>symbol>select empty box>OK) You can’t click the box to mark it completed, but if you’re printing out the checklist, it works fine.
I wasn’t surprised to find out that checkboxes could also be added to spreadsheets. What surprised me is that checkboxes can be used in formulas and as parameters for conditional formatting.
For example, you could create a formula that shows you at a glance what percentage of your list is complete. You could also use conditional formatting to change your list items’ colors when completed.
To learn more about how to create checklists in Microsoft Excel and Google Sheets, as well as how to use them in formulas and formatting, have a look at this Tech-Talk article about spreadsheet checklists.
If you liked this article, check out our other articles about Microsoft Office/Google Workspace applications.
