[ThinkBetter](https://thinkbetter.app/) → [Cognitive Biases](https://thinkbetter.app/cognitive-biases.md) → Zeigarnik Effect

# Zeigarnik Effect

We remember uncompleted or interrupted tasks better than completed tasks.

![Zeigarnik Effect illustration](https://assets.thinkbetter.app/images/zeigarnik_effect.png)

The Zeigarnik Effect is a psychological phenomenon named after Bluma Zeigarnik, a Soviet psychologist and psychiatrist who first studied it in the 1920s. She observed that waiters had better recollections of unpaid orders (i.e., tasks not yet completed) than of orders which had been paid and thus completed. The underlying principle is that incomplete tasks create a cognitive tension that enhances recall, while the completion of tasks offers psychological closure, leading to a reduction in mental focus on those tasks. This mental tension acts as a reminder to the brain, keeping the task at the forefront of consciousness, which can both aid in task completion and improve memory retention for the details of the task.

## Example

**Study Sessions**

A student uses the Pomodoro Technique, alternating between studying sessions and short breaks. Why? The short breaks create multiple 'unfinished' segments in the study material, leveraging the Zeigarnik Effect for better retention and recall during exams.

## In your professional life

**Use Intentional Task Interruption**

Use intentional task interruption as a technique to maintain engagement with complex projects over long periods. For example, if you’re an editor working on a lengthy manuscript, schedule breaks to switch between different sections or projects. This approach helps keep your attention sharp and prevents fatigue, making it easier to maintain a high quality of work over time.

## Go deeper in ThinkBetter

The ThinkBetter app has the full Zeigarnik Effect deep-dive: more examples, a quiz to test yourself, audio narration, and a weekly path that builds these ideas into a habit.

- iOS: https://apps.apple.com/app/id6459831884
- Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=io.ventureship.braintricks

### Related concepts

- [Hyperbolic Discounting](https://thinkbetter.app/cognitive-biases/hyperbolic-discounting.md)
- [Empathy Gap](https://thinkbetter.app/cognitive-biases/empathy-gap.md)
- [All mental models](https://thinkbetter.app/mental-models.md)

Page: https://thinkbetter.app/cognitive-biases/zeigarnik-effect