Chances are that if you don’t suffer from general anxiety, then you know at least one person who does. Anxiety can be distracting or it can be downright paralyzing. What can make things worse is when we don’t know what exactly we are anxious about.
In the 1920s, psychologist Bluma Zeigarnik observed that waiters could remember complex unpaid orders but immediately forgot them once the bills were settled. This cognitive reality presents both an opportunity problem. It seems that our minds are designed to keep track of unfinished tasks. Good. But if we don’t close off these open loops, then our minds continue to drain us mentally and emotionally until we do.
Many of us walk around under a mental burden of half-finished projects, abandoned to-do lists, and unmade decisions without even realizing the psychic toll this is taking on us. The good news is that there are a number of simple techniques for closing off open loops quickly. And don’t worry, you don’t have to finish a bunch of lingering tasks in order to close these loops.
In the article below, Brainsoft Oy, shows how you can reap the following benefits immediately by addressing open loops with quick techniques.
- Easier focus on current work
- Reduced background anxiety
- Better sleep
- More mental energy
- Increased creative capacity
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Open loops aren’t only in our brains. They can be anchored in our physical environment. Hence quotes like “Clean your space, clear your mind.” If you recognize you need to declutter, check out this post: Checklist for Decluttering: Your Fresh Start for Focus and Efficiency
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