(Oyama, Manalo, and Nakatani 2018)

is a psychological phenomenon describing a tendency to remember interrupted or incomplete tasks or events more easily than tasks that have been completed.

suggests that students who suspend their study to perform unplanned energizing distractions ¹ / unrelated activities (such as studying a different subject or playing a game), will remember material better than students who complete study sessions without a break.

The Power of Cliffhangers: Stop When You Know What Comes Next

• In practice, intentionally/strategically leaving certain pieces of your work/tasks/projects at a cliffhanger or an incomplete/unfinished/unresolved point can boost your motivation and engagement when you resume.
• By leveraging and applying the Zeigarnik Effect, you can optimize productivity and make progress feel more seamless / make it easier to come back and dive into the flow during the next session.

This technique aids in…

• maintaining continued forward momentum.
• enhancing natural curiosity and creativity by allowing your subconscious mind to work on the problem during breaks.