The Ultimate Any.do Tutorial for Busy Families (Step-by-Step + Video Guide)

Affiliate Disclosure:
This post contains affiliate links. This means we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you if you choose to make a purchase through our links. We only recommend tools we genuinely believe can help busy families simplify life.

✨ Before You Start — Get Any.do Free + Optional Upgrade

If you don’t have Any.do yet, grab it below:

👉 Get Any.do Here
(Instant setup. Works on every device.)
👉 Any.do Tutorial Video Coming Soon

Why Any.do Is One of the Best Tools for Busy Families

If your home feels like 20 tabs open at once — school schedules, meals, chores, bills, sports — Any.do helps bring everything into one simple system even for the most non-tech parents.

It gives you:

  • Shared to-dos
  • Shared grocery lists
  • Voice-to-task
  • Reminders
  • Calendar sync
  • Family collaboration
  • Templates for routines
  • And a gentle “today view” that reduces overwhelm

This tutorial walks you through the exact steps so you can start using it today, with zero learning curve.

SECTION 1 — How to Set Up Any.do (Super Basic)

Step 1: Download the App

  • Go to your app store.
  • Search Any.do
  • Tap Install
  • Or click HERE

Step 2: Create Your Account

  • Open the app
  • Tap Sign Up
  • Choose Email or Google/Apple login
  • Create a password
  • Done!

Step 3: Turn On Sync

This makes your tasks appear across phones, tablets, laptops.

  • Tap Profile (top left)
  • Tap Sync
  • Make sure it is toggled ON

⭐ EFL Tip: This ensures you never lose tasks if you switch devices.

SECTION 2 — Understanding the Home Screen (Beginner-Friendly)

When you open Any.do, you’ll see four tabs at the bottom:

  1. Tasks — Your to-do lists
  2. Calendar — See schedule + tasks together
  3. Grocery — Auto-sorted shopping lists
  4. Settings — Reminders, integrations, sharing

We will walk through each one.

SECTION 3 — How to Create Your First To-Do List

Step 1: Tap “Tasks”

You’ll see pre-made lists like:

  • Personal
  • Work
  • Family
  • Groceries

Step 2: Create a New List

  • Tap + New List
  • Name it something simple, like:
    • “Kids’ Chores”
    • “Weekend Plan”
    • “Home Projects”
    • “Errands”

Step 3: Add Items (the easy way)

You can type or use your voice.

To type:

  • Tap + Add a Task
  • Type “Laundry”
  • Tap Add

To use voice:

  • Tap the microphone icon
  • Say: “Add pick up prescriptions tomorrow at 4pm”
  • Any.do will auto-create the task + reminder

⭐ EFL Tip: Voice input is perfect for parents running between activities.

SECTION 4 — Add Reminders (Don’t Skip This!)

Step 1: Tap the task you created

Example: “Doctor appointment”

Step 2: Tap “Set Reminder”

Choose:

  • Date
  • Time
  • Or “Location Reminder” (triggers based on where you are)

Step 3: Choose Reminder Type

  • One-time — good for events
  • Daily — ideal for medications or chores
  • Weekly — sports practices or trash day
  • Monthly — bills

SECTION 5 — Share Lists With Your Family

This is where the magic happens.

Step 1: Open the list (example: “Grocery List”)

Step 2: Tap the three dots (top right)

Step 3: Choose “Share List”

Step 4: Add family emails or send an invite link

Your entire family can now:

  • Add items
  • Check things off
  • See updates in real time

⭐ EFL Tip:
Turn on “Show who completed tasks” for accountability with kids.

SECTION 6 — Use the Family Grocery List (Game-Changer)

Any.do has an auto-sorting grocery system.

Step 1: Open the Grocery Tab

Step 2: Tap “+ Add Item”

Type something like “milk” or “apples.”

Any.do automatically:

  • Sorts by category
  • Adds icons
  • Keeps it neat
  • Syncs across family devices

Step 3: Share the grocery list

Your partner can pick up items without a text message exchange.

SECTION 7 — Set Up Your Daily Planner (The “Today” Screen)

This reduces overwhelm better than any paper planner.

Step 1: Tap “Plan My Day”

This opens your Today View.

Step 2: Review tasks from other lists

You choose:

  • Do it today
  • Postpone
  • Mark done

Step 3: Keep it to 3–5 tasks

This prevents parent burnout.

⭐ EFL Productivity Rule:
Never schedule more than 5 tasks per day unless absolutely necessary.

SECTION 8 — Sync Your Calendar (Optional but Helpful)

Works with:

  • Google Calendar
  • Apple Calendar
  • Outlook
  • Yahoo

Step 1: Tap the Calendar Tab

Step 2: Tap “Connect Calendar”

Step 3: Choose your email

Now you’ll see:

  • Events
  • Tasks
  • Reminders
    — all in one place.

SECTION 9 — Use Templates for Routines

Great for busy parents.

Examples:

  • Morning routine
  • After-school routine
  • Weekly cleaning flow
  • Sports bag checklist
  • Meal planning list

Step 1: Go to “Tasks”

Step 2: Tap “Templates”

Step 3: Choose a template OR make your own

⭐ EFL Tip:
Create a “House Reset Routine” template that repeats every Sunday.

SECTION 10 — Download Any.Do

👉 Try Any.do Free + optional upgrade. Click HERE
Make family life calmer in under 10 minutes.

SECTION 11 — Troubleshooting for Non-Tech Parents

Problem: “My family isn’t seeing the lists.”

✔ Make sure they accepted the invite
✔ Make sure sync is toggled ON in their app

Problem: “Tasks are disappearing.”

✔ They may be in the “Completed” section
✔ You can restore them with one tap

Problem: “I’m overwhelmed by too many lists.”

✔ Start with just 3:

  1. Family
  2. Grocery
  3. Today

That’s enough for 90% of families.

SECTION 12 — Sample Family Setup (Copy This)

Here’s a simple setup for most families using Any.do:

Lists:

  • Family
  • Grocery
  • Kids’ Chores
  • School
  • Bills
  • Long-Term Projects

Routines:

  • Morning
  • After-school
  • Sunday reset

Calendar:

  • School calendar
  • Sports practices
  • Family birthdays
  • Meal planning

Use this as your starting blueprint.

FINAL CTA — Start Your Easier Week Today

If you’re ready to simplify your home, reduce the mental load, and get everyone on the same page, start with Any.do today.

👉 Get Any.do Here
👉 Watch the 10-Minute Beginner Tutorial (Coming Soon!)

You’ll be set up in minutes — and your home will finally run calmer, smarter, together.