Tap into the “Hemingway effect” to finish what you start

Summary

Summarized wtih ChatGPT

Ernest Hemingway’s advice on productivity emphasizes stopping at an interesting point in your work to maintain motivation. This technique, known as the “Hemingway effect,” helps you easily return to your tasks and finish them. Research supports this approach, showing that unfinished tasks create psychological tension that can spur motivation.

Key Takeaways:

1. Stop working at an exciting moment to make it easier to resume later.
2. Start tasks even if you can only dedicate a short time; progress builds motivation.
3. Prioritize breaks and rest to maintain your overall well-being and productivity.

Highlights from Article

In Hemingway’s words: “The main thing is to know when to stop. […] When you’re still going good and you come to an interesting place and you know what’s going to happen next, that’s the time to stop. Then leave it alone and don’t think about it; let your subconscious mind do the work.”

• Stop working at your own cliffhanger

the experimental psychologist Bluma Zeigarnik was having a meal with her supervisor, Kurt Lewin, when she noticed that the waiters had exceptional memories. Without writing anything down, they could recall who ordered what meal and bring it to the proper table. However, when she followed up with them, she realized the information evaporated once the diners left. The waiters couldn’t remember who ordered what or where.

She discovered that unfinished tasks created psychological tension within us, and this tension causes us to remember information associated with these tasks. Even if a task is interrupted or we stop voluntarily, the tension remains, and the information will likely stay vivid. Conversely, finishing tasks eases this tension because, well, they’re done.

• We remember when we need to and when tasks aren’t done.

She found that unfinished tasks intruded on our thoughts, urging us to complete them, and this urge is also far stronger for unfinished tasks than tasks we haven’t started in the first place. This became known as the “Ovsiankina effect.”

One effective strategy is simply to start. Even if you can only dedicate a half hour to an important task, if you manage to stop at an interesting point where you know what to do next, you’re more likely to return to finish the project. If you procrastinate until the eleventh hour, you’ll likely overreach and risk burnout and stress.

All material owns to the authors, of course. If I’m highlighting or writing notes on this, I mostly likely recommend reading the original article, of course.

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