Close the open loops

A long time ago, I learnt a trick to get rid of songs that are stuck in your head.

It’s simple: you listen to the ending of the song. The reason why is the Zeigarnik effect:

a psychological phenomenon stating that people remember uncompleted or interrupted tasks better than completed tasks.

Let’s saying you’ve been meaning to email someone, or call someone, or go to grocery store.

Even if you’re not actively thinking about that task, the Zeigarnik effect tells us going to steal from your attention.

You don’t realize it, but your subconscious is busy computing in the background.

Just like a song stuck in your head.

Here’s how to close an open loop.

Either complete a unfinished task from your todo-list, or just cross it out.

Now, your subconscious is free to think about more important things.

Have you ever noticed that the answer to a question or an idea just suddenly comes to you?

That’s the subconscious at work.

Closing loops helps particularly with creative tasks, like getting ideas, writing or poetry.

It also helps with the difficult decisions: do I take the job, do I move out, do I proceed with this idea?

It’s like swiping up on all the open apps on your phone.

It makes everything more efficient, and drains less battery.

By closing loops, you’ll be less “fried” at the end of the day, and feel satisfied.

You actually got so many things done today.

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PS:

You can also use the Zeigarnik effect to your advantage.

Open a loop before you walk away from your desk.

How?

Write a message (or an OBT) to your future self.

For instance, “Complete making the app store screenshots today.”

That way your subconscious will think about the specifics while you’re doing other things.

When you come back, you’ll know exactly what to do and hit the ground running.

It genuinely works, give it a shot!

-Armaan