MAP Strategic Wealth Advisors

The Zeigarnik Effect

Five takeaways:

• In the 1920s, Russian psychologist Bluma Zeigarnik observed an odd thing. While dining out, she was impressed by the complex orders the wait staff was able to remember at one time. Yet, as soon as the bill was paid, the wait staff forgot completely what the orders were. This observation gave rise to the study of what would become known as the Zeigarnik Effect: our tendency to remember incomplete or interrupted tasks better than completed ones.
• The thought of Incomplete tasks divides your attention, splitting your focus and making it harder to concentrate on whatever you’re currently working on. The Zeigarnik Effect also lingers in our minds when we’re outside of work, allowing thoughts of unfinished work to seep into time meant for leisure or relaxation.
• The article provides some tactics for overcoming the Zeigarnik effect:
  1. Write Your Tasks Down: Reduce your memory’s habit of lingering on work…habitually write down tasks as they come to you using a digital task manager like Todoist.
  2. Have a System for Organizing and Regularly Reviewing your Tasks: Establish a systematic approach for going over your tasks to build trust in your task management system.
  3. Have an End of Work Shutdown Ritual: Before ending your workday, plan out the following day’s tasks. This can prevent lingering unfinished tasks from occupying your mind.
  4. Find a Small Way to Get Started: Overcome procrastination by identifying a small initial step to beginning work on a big or difficult task. Taking that first step can trigger your brain to continue.
  5. Don’t forget to look back at how far you’ve come: Be intentional in going over your list of completed tasks, possibly in a weekly review, allowing you to appreciate your achievements.

From Becky Kane for Todoist
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