Reference
Printable launch pad checklist
What should be on a leave-the-house checklist?
Four to six items you need every time you leave, in the order you pick them up, plus a line for anything outgoing today. Keep it short enough to read in three seconds. Tape it at eye level by the door, right above your keys.
Checked 2026-11-03
Why a list by the door helps
The moment of leaving is when attention is thinnest: you are late, someone is talking to you, the bus is coming. That is exactly when a short visible list does its job. You do not have to remember, only to look up. It works best taped above the launch pad, where your keys already live.
A starting list
- Keys
- Wallet or card
- Phone
- Bag
- Headphones or earplugs
- Today's outgoing thing (library book, parcel, form)
Make it yours
Cross off anything you never forget and add the thing you always do. If you take medication with you, a pill case can go on the list; our pill organizer shortlist covers reminder hardware only, with no medical advice. Keep the order the same as the order you pick things up, so your eyes and hands move together.
Six items is plenty. A list of twelve stops being read after the first week.
The weekly reset column
The sheet has a column for a weekly check: once a week, empty the key bowl, clear the outgoing spot, and check that the tracker battery is fine if you use one. An AirTag or Tile on the key ring is the backup for days the list fails; see key finders.
Why lists by the door fail, and fixes
| Problem | Fix |
|---|---|
| You stop reading it after a week | Cut it to four items; change the paper color monthly so it looks new |
| It is above the wrong spot | Move it to where your keys actually land |
| Outgoing things pile up | Clear the outgoing spot every evening, not only weekly |
| Someone else moves your things | One labeled bowl or hook per person |
A version for kids
For school mornings, make a separate list at child height with pictures: backpack, water bottle, lunch, coat, shoes. Let them tick it with a dry-erase marker on a laminated copy. Ticking is the reward, so keep it to five items. The weekly column becomes a Friday check that the backpack is empty of old papers.
When you leave from more than one door
Pick one door as the main exit and put the launch pad there. If you regularly leave through a garage or back door, tape a second copy of the list there with one line at the top: "Keys are at the front door." It sounds silly, and it saves the morning hunt.
Printing tips
Print on card stock if you can and tape it at eye level for the shortest person who uses it. In a shared home, print one per person and put them side by side. Fill in the items in thick marker so they read from a step away.
Launch pad checklist
Name:
Week of:
| Item | Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Questions
- Q. How many items should a leave-the-house list have?
- A. Four to six. Short enough to read in three seconds as you leave.
- Q. Where should I put the checklist?
- A. At eye level directly above the spot where your keys live by the door.
- Q. Do I need a key tracker as well?
- A. It is a good backup for the days the list fails. AirTag suits iPhone households and Tile works across platforms.