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How to Use the Zeigarnik Effect to Boost Work Efficiency

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Netflix uses the Zeigarnik Effect to addict us. However, you can use the same principle to improve your productivity. Turn the power of incompleteness into your weapon!

First, read: What is the Zeigarnik Effect?

Hemingway Technique: Stop in the Middle​

Ernest Hemingway's Secret​

Nobel Prize Winner's Strategy

Hemingway had a strange habit when writing every day:

  • Stops when writing is going well
  • Stops while knowing what to write next
  • "To easily start the next day"

Why is it effective?

  • Incompleteness → Brain keeps thinking
  • Not overwhelmed by a blank page the next day
  • Removes "Where to start?" dilemma

Applying to Programming​

During Code Writing

Bad Habit

  • Completely finish and leave work
  • "Where to start?" dilemma the next day
  • Difficult to begin

Hemingway Style

# End today's work - Clearly leave next task
def process_data(data):
    cleaned = clean_data(data)
    validated = validate_data(cleaned)
    # TODO: Start here tomorrow - Implement transform_data()
    # Input: validated dict
    # Output: DataFrame

Effects

  • Immediately start the next day
  • Save time wondering "What was I going to do?"
  • Quickly enter flow state

Applying to Writing​

Blog, Report Writing

Stopping Points

  • ❌ After section completion (completed)
  • ✅ Midway through section (incomplete)
  • ✅ Write only the first word of the next sentence and stop

Example

## 2. Experiment Results

In the first experiment, participants...
(Stop here and continue tomorrow)

vs

## 2. Experiment Results

(Empty section - Difficult to start tomorrow)

To-Do List Strategies​

1. Just Start Big Tasks​

"2-Minute Start Rule"

Principle

  • Start, and you'll want to finish
  • Imperfect start > Perfect plan

Practice

  • ❌ "Complete report today" → Postponed due to burden
  • ✅ "Write report title and table of contents" → Easy to start
  • Result: Start, and you'll continue

Examples

  • Exercise: "Just put on workout clothes" → Will exercise
  • Study: "Open book, read 1 page" → Will continue reading
  • Cleaning: "Wash 1 dish" → Will finish everything

2. Visualize Progress​

Create Progress Bar

Project Checklist

Project A (Progress: 60%)
☑ Requirement Analysis
☑ Design Document
☑ Prototype Development
☐ Testing (← Currently here, 40% left!)
☐ Deployment

Psychological Effect

  • "90% done, should I stop?" → Continue
  • Visualization motivates
  • Anticipate satisfaction of completion

3. Leave Something Incomplete at Day's End​

A Gift for Tomorrow Morning

Before Evening Checkout

  • Leave one easy task
  • "Start with this tomorrow!"
  • Reduce warm-up time

Examples

  • "Reply to 3 emails" (Easy)
  • "Fix 1 simple bug" (Clear)
  • "Organize data" (Simple task)

Pomodoro + Zeigarnik​

Timer's Incompleteness​

Traditional Pomodoro

  • 25 minutes focus → 5 minutes rest
  • Regardless of task completion

Zeigarnik Enhanced Version

  • Stop mid-sentence/task even at 25 minutes
  • Clear "Where to start next?"
  • Brain continues thinking during rest

Practice Method

  1. Start 25-minute timer
  2. When timer rings → Immediately stop mid-sentence/task
  3. Memo: "Next: Start from XXX"
  4. 5-minute rest (Brain automatically keeps thinking)
  5. Quick restart when returning

Meetings and Collaboration​

1. End Meetings Just Before Conclusion​

Traditional Meetings

  • All decisions completed
  • Blank slate for next meeting

Using Zeigarnik

  • End with key questions left
  • "Decide between A and B next meeting"
  • Participants automatically think

Effects

  • Higher meeting participation
  • Bring prepared opinions
  • Increased meeting efficiency

2. Leave Questions in Collaborative Documents​

Google Docs, Notion

Completed Version (Bad)

2024 Marketing Strategy
1. Strengthen Social Media
2. Email Campaign
3. Influencer Collaboration

Incomplete Question Version (Good)

2024 Marketing Strategy
1. Strengthen Social Media - What's the budget?
2. Email Campaign - Who's the target? (Discussion needed)
3. Influencer Collaboration - 3 candidates (Please advise)

Effects

  • Colleagues automatically think
  • Prepared for next meeting
  • Induce active participation

Study and Learning​

1. Review Timing​

Optimal Review Point

  • Before completely forgetting
  • Slightly memorable state (incomplete memory)
  • → Highest relearning efficiency

Schedule

  • Right after learning: 100% memory
  • 1 day later: 60% memory (← Review timing!)
  • 3 days later: 30% memory (← Second review)
  • 7 days later: Reconfirmation

2. Study Interruption Strategy​

Traditional Method

  • Complete until chapter end
  • Neatly organize

Zeigarnik Method

  • Stop midway, at an interesting point
  • "What will happen next?" curiosity
  • Naturally open book next day

Practical Examples

  • Math: Stop at problem-solving roadblock (don't look at answer)
  • English: Exciting novel, stop at climax
  • Programming: Stop right before error resolution (morning energy)

Caution: Too Many Incompletions​

Incompletion Overload​

Symptoms

  • 20 tasks all incomplete
  • Cluttered mind
  • Anxiety, stress
  • Nothing progresses

Solutions

  • Maintain only 2-3 tasks incomplete
  • Complete or abandon the rest
  • "Strategic incompleteness" vs "Unplanned incompleteness"

Importance of Completion​

Zeigarnik Paradox

  • Incompleteness motivates
  • But satisfaction of completion is also needed
  • Balance is crucial

Practice

  • Daily small completion experiences (checklist)
  • Intentional incompleteness in big projects
  • Balance achievement + continuous motivation

Practice Checklist​

Start Today

Morning (Start)

  • Start with yesterday's incomplete task
  • 2-minute rule: Just start big tasks

Afternoon (Progress)

  • Pomodoro timer, stop midway
  • Visualize progress (update checklist)

Evening (Wrap-up)

  • Leave one easy task for tomorrow
  • Memo "Next: Start from XXX"
  • Maintain only 2-3 incompletions, organize rest

Learn More​

Conclusion​

The Zeigarnik Effect can be both Netflix's weapon and your weapon. The key is intentional incompleteness.

Core Strategies

  1. Hemingway Technique: Stop when writing is going well
  2. 2-Minute Start Rule: Imperfect start over perfect plan
  3. Progress Bar Visualization: Seeing 60% makes you want to complete
  4. End-of-Day Incompleteness: Easy morning start

Caution

  • Avoid incompleteness overload (only 2-3)
  • Need satisfaction of completion
  • Strategic incompleteness vs Unplanned incompleteness

"Don't completely finish today. Leave incompleteness for your tomorrow self."

Understand the power of incompleteness, and your productivity will double!