People who say it cannot be done should not interrupt those who are doing it. —George Bernard Shaw
I don’t know about you, but I’m addicted to finishing tasks and crossing them off my to-do list. Even when I’m writing a book, I like to cross off a section or two at the end of the writing session. But guess what? Sometimes finishing a task can limit our productivity.
Psychology researcher Bluma Zeigarnik found that not finishing a task in one sitting is good—because we tend to remember the tasks we were working on when we were interrupted. So the next time we get to our desk, we can pick up where we left off. Brilliant!
Try this: Tackle one and a half sections (or two and a half or whatever). Just leave off at a juicy part!
Pro Tip: We can’t always plan interruptions—they just happen. So next time something or someone interrupts you, take time to write down a few words about what you’re writing and what you plan to do next. That will help you refocus when you get back to your desk.
