In common between the waiters of a Venetian restaurant in the 1920s and today’s average worker is the tendency to recall unfinished tasks.
Achieving Sustainable Performance: Harnessing the Zeigarnik Effect
Transport yourself back to the 1920s and imagine sitting in a Venetian restaurant with Kurt Lewin, a prominent Positive Psychology founder, and his doctoral student, Bluma Zeigarnik. The waiter takes your orders without writing anything down, leaving the group amazed by his ability to recall them all. But when Zeigarnik returned later to retrieve her forgotten purse, the waiter failed to recognize her. He explained that he forgot all the orders as soon as they were completed and shifted his focus to the next task at hand. This experience piqued Lewin and Zeigarnik’s interest in the phenomenon of the human mind differentiating between completed and unfinished tasks, leading to their discovery of the Zeigarnik effect.
Zeigarnik’s experiments in her laboratory revealed that incomplete tasks linger in our minds until we finish them, resulting in cognitive tension and mental effort. Hence, a plan to complete unfinished tasks allows us to harness the Zeigarnik effect consciously and later subconsciously, leading to sustainable performance, a relaxed state of mind, and a flow state.
Now, think about the times when you studied hard and performed well on a test, only to forget everything afterward… It’s another example of how the Zeigarnik effect is still relevant today and can help individuals achieve sustainable performance both consciously and unconsciously.
However, the Zeigarnik effect may cause us distress too…
The upcoming festive season of Lebaran is almost here, but are you finding it hard to stay focused amidst all the distractions? Don’t let the unfinished tasks weigh you down and ruin your holiday break. Not only do they create mental tension, but they can also detract from your ability to fully enjoy time with your loved ones. Read more about the both positive and negative impacts of the Zeigarnik effect here.
The Zeigarnik effect has proven that incomplete tasks tend to stick in our minds and create dissatisfaction until they are completed. But don’t worry, there are steps you can take to stay on track and make the most of this holiday season without worrying about work too much. So, are you ready to discover how to make the most of your time and fully enjoy the festivities ahead?
Unlock the Hidden Potential of Your Mind with Zeigarnik Effect Tips
The holiday season is a time of joy and festivities, but days leading to it can also be a time of distraction and lost focus at work. To make the most of this special time of year, it’s essential to stay productive and focused on our goals at work before taking your days off. Here are some helpful tips to help you stay on track during these last few days of Ramadan:
- Plan ahead: It’s easy to get sidetracked when the holidays are drawing closer, but planning your day in advance can help you stay on task and make the most of your time. Focus on the most important tasks first and prioritize your to-do list accordingly.
- Start small: When faced with a daunting task, it can be tempting to procrastinate until you’re back to work after holiday or put it off entirely. But by breaking it down into smaller, more manageable pieces, you can use the power of the Zeigarnik effect to your advantage and get started with ease. Plus, you don’t have to come back to the office stressed out!
- Take it one step at a time: Don’t try to complete the entire task all at once. Instead, focus on making progress each day by completing smaller, attainable goals. This will help you stay motivated and make steady progress toward your ultimate objective.
