The Zeigarnik Effect

In the 1920s, psychologist Bluma Zeigarnik noticed something interesting—waiters could perfectly remember orders until they were paid, then forget them instantly.

This led to what we now call the Zeigarnik Effect: we tend to remember unfinished tasks far better than completed ones.

While helpful in some cases, this can harm productivity by constantly splitting our focus and dragging unfinished tasks into our personal time.

Luckily, planning tasks can ease the mental load without needing to finish everything.

Write tasks down immediately to free mental space.

Have a trusted system for reviewing and organizing them regularly.

End your day with a quick shutdown ritual by planning tomorrow’s tasks.

Finally, start small—just taking one step can trigger your brain to keep going.