Have you ever felt the urge to finish a task that you started, even if it’s not important? Or have you experienced the feeling of being overwhelmed by a long list of pending tasks? This is caused due to two psychological phenomenon in play: Zieigarnik Effect and the Ovsiankina Effect.

The Zeigarnik Effect

The Zeigarnik Effect was first observed by the Russian psychologist Bluma Zeigarnik in the 1920s. It refers to our tendency to remember uncompleted tasks better than completed ones. In fact, research has shown that the Zeigarnik effect can even improve memory retention for unfinished tasks compared to completed ones.

According to Zeigarnik, the human mind is wired to remember open tasks. When we start a task and leave it unfinished, our mind keeps thinking about it until we complete it. This is why we often feel the urge to finish a task that we started, even if it’s not important.

The Ovsiankina Effect

While the Zeigarnik effect can be a useful tool for remembering important tasks, it can also lead to distraction and decreased productivity. When our brains are preoccupied with unfinished tasks, it can be difficult to focus on the task at hand because our brain craves closure. This phenomenon is called the Ovsiankina Effect.

It was first observed by Russian psychologist Maria Ovsiankina in the 1930s. According to Ovsiankina, when we have many pending tasks, our mind becomes fatigued and we start to feel overwhelmed. This leads to a decrease in productivity and an increase in stress levels.

In conclusion, the Zeigarnik Effect and the Ovsiankina Effect are two psychological phenomena that can affect our productivity and stress levels. By understanding these effects and implementing strategies to manage them, we can optimize our productivity and achieve our goals while maintaining a sense of satisfaction and well-being.

Tips for Managing the Effects

Managing the Zeigarnik and Ovsiankina effects can be challenging, but there are several strategies you can use to mitigate their negative impacts and increase your productivity. Here are some tips:

1. Distinguish between tasks, habits/routines & rituals. Do not include your habits or routines into your to do lists. Habits/ Routines/Rituals are those activities that are already incorporated in your behavior. You just need to time block it. To do lists shall contain only tasks that are related to a specific project that you are working on.
2. Daily Highlights: One productivity tip to manage the Zeigarnik and Ovsiankina effects is to use the Daily Highlights technique. This involves identifying the most important tasks for the day and focusing on completing those first. This can help you avoid feeling overwhelmed by a long to-do list and can help you maintain focus and productivity throughout the day.
3. Eisenhower Matrix: Additionally, you can use the Eisenhower Matrix to prioritize tasks based on urgency and importance.
4. Timeboxing: This involves setting a specific amount of time for each task and focusing on completing that task within that time frame. This can help you avoid spending too much time on a single task and can help you maintain productivity throughout the day. Additionally, timeboxing can help you identify how long certain tasks take, which can help you better plan your schedule in the future.

✍️Quote of the Week

🧭Weekly Compass

Article📑: Addressing Overwhelm With a Prophetic H.E.A.R.T by Wadud Hassan. This article discusses how to address overwhelm through cultivating a Prophetic Heart, which is done by shifting out of autopilot or distractions to higher awareness and presence with God, and changing one’s mindset to attribute their actions to God instead of themselves. It suggests using the H.E.A.R.T. Mindfulness Model, which involves engaging with purpose, achieving with gratitude, rising with patience and humility, and thriving with compassion.

Article📑: Man Does Not Stand Alone by Wahiduddin Khan. In this article, the author argues that humans need to believe in God in order to find true fulfillment in life. He states that when faced with difficult circumstances, having faith in God can bring a sense of conviction and assurance that everything will be alright. The author also suggests that young people make superficial remarks about God due to their lack of life experience and knowledge, and that those who gain more experience and knowledge realize the importance of God in achieving their goals.

🧠Food for Thought

When is last time that you time blocked yourself to just pause and reflect ?

📖Read & Rise

Article📑 : Four Lessons My Windshield Wiper Taught Me About Effectiveness. Out of all the tasks that we do 80% of the outcomes come from 20% causes. This principle is called the 80-20 Rule or the Pareto principle.

Book Note📚: Delegate Your Work. Learn the art of delegating tasks.

🛠️ Tools for Thought

Muse app: Muse is an innovative brainstorming app that helps users generate and organize ideas. The app is designed to provide a platform for individuals and teams to collaborate and share their thoughts.

With Muse, users can create multiple idea boards and add their ideas in the form of notes, images, and links. The app also allows users to customize the look and feel of their boards by choosing different themes and colors.