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Ep. 87 - Part 3: The Toll of Open Loops
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This is the final episode in a special three-part series on ADHD-friendly strategies for improving productivity—focusing on task initiation, continuation, and completion.
(Missed the first two episodes? This episode builds on Episode 85: Touching the Task—a strategy to bypass resistance by physically engaging with a task in a small way, and Episode 86: The Sufficiency Mindset—reframing the belief that you don’t have enough time, energy, or focus to move forward. If you haven’t listened yet, I highly recommend starting there.)
Have you ever felt weighed down by unfinished tasks, like your brain is keeping too many tabs open at once? You’re not alone. The Zeigarnik Effect is a psychological phenomenon that explains why uncompleted tasks create mental tension—and why our brains struggle to let them go.
Understanding this effect is key to breaking cycles of procrastination, managing cognitive overload, and using open loops as a tool for momentum rather than stress. In this episode, we explore how to strategically open and close loops to reduce mental clutter, free up focus, and finally finish what matters.
What You’ll Learn in This Episode:
- Why unfinished tasks take up so much mental space
- The history of the Zeigarnik Effect and what it reveals about how our brains handle unfinished business
- How the Zeigarnik Effect can create both momentum and overwhelm—and how to use it to your advantage
- Why ADHD brains may experience heightened cognitive load from too many open loops
- Practical strategies to close loops, lighten mental strain, and reclaim focus
Resources & Links
- How The Little-Known Zeigarnik Effect Impacts Everyone Daily. McMenimin, K. Psychology Today (Sept. 2022) (Article)
- Zeigarnik Effect. Psychology Today. (Article)
- Why We Hate Not Finishing What We Start. Sarkis, Stephanie. Psychology Today (March 2014) (Article)
- The Real Reason Why You May Get Overwhelmed. Wilks, Corey. Psychology Today. (May 2024)
- Consider It Done! Plan Making Can Eliminate The Cognitive Effects of Unfulfilled Goals (abstract). Masicampo, E.J. and Baumeister, R. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 101(4), 667–683. (2011) (Accessed abstract via APA PsycNet)
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