The Zeigarnik Effect is a term coined in the 1920s by Gestalt psychologists. It refers to the tendency of people to continue working on problems or tasks when there is no hope of finishing them. Everyone experiences it to some degree. When there’s so much to do, and so little time to do it, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed and forget about some of the work you’ve already completed. But the Zeigarnik Effect can be used to your advantage to help you stay focused and motivated. And there are many ways you can use the Zeigarnik Effect to help you stay on task and get more done in less time.
What is the Zeigarnik Effect?
Have you ever had a task that you were working on and then just stopped when it looked like it was going nowhere? You may have experienced the Zeigarnik Effect. Gestalt psychologists, who coined the term in the 1920s, observed that people continue working on problems or tasks when there is no hope of finishing them. The reason for this is that we want to know why something didn’t work out and what we could have done differently. Our brains are curious creatures, and they crave closure.
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The Zeigarnik Effect can be used to your advantage, as it can help you stay focused and motivated in a way that few other things can. It’s often difficult to get started on a new task because your brain isn’t looking for closure from the previous one. But if you allow yourself to finish one job before starting another, you’ll find that your mind will be more focused on the new task. Using the Zeigarnik Effect strategically can optimize your productivity by finishing tasks in order of importance instead of completing tasks out of order due to deadlines or lack of focus.
How to Use the Zeigarnik Effect to Stay Organized
The Zeigarnik Effect can be a valuable tool in your productivity arsenal. The key is to use it strategically to help you stay organized and on task. Please write it down so you remember. Prioritize your tasks for tomorrow by how difficult they are or how time-sensitive they are. Make sure to set realistic deadlines that fit into your schedule. Divide up your long-term projects into smaller steps with achievable deadlines.
You’ll find the work becomes less intimidating, and the Zeigarnik Effect will help keep you focused on those small goals instead of feeling overwhelmed by the larger project at hand. Figure out when in the day you have the most energy to focus and commit to doing as much as possible during those times. It might be first thing in the morning or late at night when everyone else is asleep, or maybe it’s midday on Fridays when no one is looking over your shoulder waiting for the report you’re working on.
Use the Zeigarnik Effect to Stay Motivated
The Zeigarnik Effect can give you the momentum to complete your tasks. By putting in a few minutes of work on a task before moving on to something else, you’ll be able to remember the job and stay motivated. This is why some people like to check off items from their list as they complete them. You can also use a Wunderlist or Google Keep doc to set reminders for tasks that are still unfinished so that you don’t forget about them.
Plan Your Day From Start to Finish
Start by making a list of everything you need to do and prioritize the most critical tasks. Next, break each task into smaller action steps, assign them a time frame (based on your availability), and set deadlines for yourself. If you have a habit of taking on too many projects at once, this is an effective way to manage your workload.
Don’t Distract Yourself
You should not ignore Zeigarnik Effect. You can use the Zeigarnik Effect to your advantage by distracting yourself before you start a difficult task. There can be psychological benefits to this approach. If you feel like you’re in a rut and need a break before beginning a new job, take some time off from that task and do something unrelated for 20 minutes. This approach takes advantage of the Zeigarnik Effect by giving your brain time away from thinking about the difficult task and then coming back with fresh ideas about how to complete it successfully.
It also helps reduce stress and anxiety. Another way you can use the Zeigarnik Effect is by breaking up your day into manageable tasks, which reduces stress and makes it easier for us to stay motivated throughout the entire day. You might find that if a project doesn’t seem daunting when broken down into smaller tasks, it’s easier to maintain motivation and interest in completing it. Read more on how we use our memories here: