The Zeigarnik Effect
#psychology
Lately, I often think about unfinished tasks, such as washing dishes, reading a book, or practicing on Duolingo. It usually happens when I’m coding or playing games. Sometimes, it feels distracting, even though I already have a schedule to do those tasks.
These thoughts often appear while I’m waiting for a game to load or during compilation. It turns out that in psychology, this is called the Zeigarnik Effect — the tendency to remember unfinished tasks more than completed ones.
The Zeigarnik Effect has both advantages and disadvantages.
Advantages:
- Reduces procrastination
- Boosts motivation to complete tasks
Disadvantages:
- Can cause stress and anxiety due to constant thoughts
- May lead to overthinking
To deal with this, I usually start with easier tasks first, so the overall workload feels lighter.
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