In 1927, the Russian psychologist Bluma Zeigarnik discovered that we remember unfinished things better than finished ones. The scientific explanation: (as yet) unfulfilled wishes generate residual tension in our memory.
The so-called Zeigarnik effect is used, for example, as a design device in film series when an episode ends at the most exciting point (so-called cliffhanger).
In a work context, you could say that this effect is useful because it helps you to remember typical "I must not forget..." tasks today. Example: You wake up in the morning, think about the day ahead and go through the to-dos: "I must not forget today,
- make a workshop appointment,
- prepare the presentation and
- call the important customer back."
The negative side of this is that it disturbs your concentration. Because you could also ask: who wants to keep thinking about the call-back, the presentation and the workshop - when a small note would ensure that the individual tasks are completed? In fact, the habit of keeping such things in your head has serious disadvantages - the Zeigarnik effect has a negative impact on productivity:
- Unfinished and postponed tasks rob you of valuable energy because you have to constantly remember not to forget them.
- Mental distractions disrupt your concentration. You take longer to complete tasks and mistakes creep in more easily.
- This distraction in turn creates negative stress, which further reduces concentration and creativity.
- These distractions in turn create negative stress, which further reduces concentration and creativity.
In addition, of course, the Zeigarnik effect is by no means reliable as a memory aid. After all, can you be sure that the reminder will always come at the right time and in the right place? Does it have to be in bed at five o'clock in the morning, for example? Or does the reminder for a telephone appointment have to come when you actually want to concentrate on working on a project?
Constantly thinking, planning and mentally chasing everything you need to get done steals your time and energy. If you work with simple reminder systems, you can optimise your concentration and increase your productivity.
The advantages of a to-do list
A to-do list offers a simple but extremely effective way of counteracting the negative effects of the Zeigarnik effect. By writing down your tasks, you take the pressure off your memory and can focus your mental energy on actually completing the tasks.
Firstly, a to-do list helps to create clarity. You know exactly what needs to be done and in what order, which makes it easier to prioritise. Secondly, it prevents you from constantly ruminating and worrying about forgetting something important. With a well-structured list, you can concentrate on your tasks with peace of mind as you are sure you won't overlook anything.
Another advantage is that ticking off completed tasks gives you a sense of fulfilment and progress. This positive feedback can have a motivating effect and further increase your productivity.
A to-do list also enables better time planning. You can realistically estimate how much time you need for each task and plan your work accordingly. This helps to reduce stress and achieve a better work-life balance.
Overall, a to-do list provides a structured approach to daily work and can therefore help to minimise the negative effects of unfinished tasks, improve concentration and increase overall efficiency.
