How to Use the Zeigarnik Effect for Increased Productivity
Have you ever been working on a task, only to be distracted by another task and find it difficult to get back into your original work? This phenomenon is known as the Zeigarnik effect, which states that incomplete tasks are more memorable than completed ones. The good news is that you can use this effect to your advantage to increase your productivity.
Understanding the Zeigarnik Effect
The Zeigarnik effect was named after psychologist Bluma Zeigarnik, who observed that waiters could easily remember incomplete orders but struggled with completed ones. This led her to conclude that incomplete tasks create a cognitive tension that keeps them on our minds until they are resolved.
In practical terms, this means that you are more likely to remember an incomplete task and feel a sense of urgency to complete it than a completed one. This can be useful in motivating us to work on a task until completion.
Applying the Zeigarnik Effect to Boost Productivity
To use the Zeigarnik effect to increase your productivity, you need to create a habit of breaking down goals or tasks into smaller, manageable chunks. This way, you can complete each part of a goal, which will give you a sense of progress and reduce the cognitive tension created by the incomplete task.
Another way to use the Zeigarnik effect is to make a to-do list or schedule for the day, week, or month. By doing this, you will be able to see your incomplete tasks, and you can work on them until completion to lessen the cognitive tension they create.
Examples of the Zeigarnik Effect in Action
Research has shown that the Zeigarnik effect is a powerful tool for improving productivity. For example, a study conducted by MIT found that people who plan their tasks for the day are more productive than those who don’t. They found that writing down your tasks for the day, week, or month creates a sense of commitment and urgency that makes it easier to focus and complete tasks.
Another example is how gamification uses the Zeigarnik effect to engage users. Games often present players with incomplete tasks, such as unlocking the next level or earning rewards, to keep them engaged and motivated to continue playing.
Conclusion
The Zeigarnik effect is a powerful tool that can help increase productivity by leveraging our cognitive tendencies. By breaking down goals into smaller chunks, creating to-do lists, and designing tasks that leverage the Zeigarnik effect, we can increase our motivation and focus, leading to improved productivity. Remember, the key to using the Zeigarnik effect is to complete tasks or goals in small portions to feel the sense of progress and reduce the cognitive tension created by incomplete tasks.
