Zeigarnik effect
When we have an "open task" or "open loop", it tends to stay atop our mind, causing our mind to involuntarily bring these up again and again. Zeigarnik effect.
Writing them down can convince our brain to let the matter rest. With all tasks written down (or loops closed) in a way that convinces us that they will be taken care of, we achieve David Allen's "mind like water". Get all the little stuff out of our short-term memory.
We can weaponize the Zeigarnik effect for knowledge work. Many mathematicians are familiar with the effect where if they think hard about a math problem and then do something else, the solution can come to them during the day.
As of , the stuff atop my mind tends to be "there's something I have to do", which is not very useful to dwell on. What could I load it with that's an unsolved problem?
- Coding or other engineering challenge
- A current relationship question
- Something to do with work