A checklist is a small tool with a big payoff: it captures the steps of a task you do often so you never have to rebuild them from memory or skip one by accident. Start by picking a task you repeat, then do it once slowly and write down every step exactly as you take it, including the easy ones you usually do on autopilot, because those are the steps most often forgotten when you are busy or tired. Keep each item short and action-focused, beginning with a verb, so the list reads as a series of clear moves rather than vague reminders. Order the steps the way the work actually flows, and group long lists into a few labelled sections so the checklist stays easy to scan. Test it by following it exactly the next few times and fix anything that is unclear, out of order, or missing. Resist the urge to add detail no one needs; a checklist that is too long gets ignored, while a short, trustworthy one gets used. Store it where the work happens, and update it whenever the task changes, so it stays accurate enough to rely on.