The Zeigarnik Effect, Decision Fatigue and Procrastination
Reading up on the ‘Zeigarnik effect’ changed my life. Sometimes, a label can help us understand an issue, and we can do something about it. This can be why people want a diagnosis (aside from in some countries, it gives access to treatment), but we can ‘hook’ our minds onto an explanation and act. I know I could have acted logically without this label, but that is not what this blog is about.
The Zeigarnik effect is named after a psychologist who observed the power of unfinished tasks and the amount of brain space/energy these continue to take up versus completed tasks. This was observed when those serving in restaurants could remember the incomplete tabs/tables but not the ones that had been completed. This was repeated in a formal setting, including interruptions (thus ‘incomplete’), and it was found that even interruptions led to remembering the task in more detail. More details can be found at this link here or here.
How was this playing out in my life? It started every single morning. I had the same tasks that needed to be completed daily: walking the dog, rehab exercises, etc. Every morning, the immediate dopamine hit of whatever I was doing was more pleasurable, and I started to nudge the other things that needed doing down my mental to-do list. They remained incomplete and took up my brainpower throughout the day until they got done. Believe me, the list is always much longer than what I started writing above.
When I learnt about the Zeigarnik effect, I realised that these tasks stayed in my memory as incomplete tasks. Until I decided about them (to complete them), they added to my list of decisions to make in a day. When I have multiple (concentration) fatigue-y conditions to manage, I do not need to make it harder on myself by adding decision fatigue to the list.
I simply needed to act.
The days before the pandemic were long gone when I was walking with my dog to a work office and back. I now use Flown as a virtual co-working platform to hold me accountable for turning up, especially working from home. [If you would like to help me out with a referral bonus please click on this link to join up to Flown with no extra cost to you]. This is the most accessible, super-friendly, and supportive way of ‘flocking’ together. The sessions I sign into populate my diary, and I turn up and set my intention. These intentions might take me away from the computer: ‘walk my dog’.
Making a list, even of all the small side-tracks that get my attention and ticking them off is helping me. It is letting me know I have completed tasks. I also have incomplete tasks written down, ‘parked’ if I cannot act on them straight away. This is taking away from the mental list I was holding in my mind or in yet another notes file on my phone, convincing myself I would not forget it before the task was due.
Overall, learning about the Zeigarnik effect has made me realise I often need to ‘just do it’, but that can be easier said than done. Working from home has changed our lives, and our strategies will have to change with it.