What category does Zeigarnik Effect belong to?

Zeigarnik Effect belongs to the "Concepts" category in personal knowledge management and productivity.

What are the key topics related to Zeigarnik Effect?

Key topics related to Zeigarnik Effect include: cognition, concepts, productivity, psychology.

What are alternative names for Zeigarnik Effect?

Zeigarnik Effect is also known as: Zeigarnik.

Zeigarnik Effect

The tendency to remember uncompleted tasks better than completed ones.

Also known as: Zeigarnik

Category: Concepts

Tags: cognition, concepts, productivity, psychology

Explanation

The Zeigarnik Effect is the psychological phenomenon where people remember uncompleted or interrupted tasks better than completed ones. Open loops occupy mental space until resolved. This is why open tasks create cognitive load and why the GTD practice of capturing everything helps - once a task is written down and captured in a trusted system, the mind can let go of holding onto it. Closing loops through completion or capture frees mental resources.

Related Concepts

Capture System
Cognitive Load
Getting Things Done (GTD)
Open Loops

← Back to all concepts