A useful checklist starts with the expected state, then lists only the commands or observations needed to confirm it. Long explanations can live elsewhere.
I try to keep each item small enough that it can be completed in a few minutes. If a step needs judgement, the note should say what a normal result looks like.
A practical shape
- What should be running.
- Where logs are stored.
- What changed recently.
- How to roll back safely.
This kind of note is plain, but it saves time because it removes guessing from routine work.