How often do you finish what you start?
If you’re like most people, probably not as often as you’d like. It’s normal—a million things is pulling you in different directions: emails, Slack notifications, meetings. You start a task with full intention, then boom, an interruption. Next thing you know, you’ve spent 45 minutes checking social media.
But what if I told you that unfinished tasks aren’t the problem? They’re your secret weapon for getting more done.
The Zeigarnik Effect: The Power of Unfinished Business
In the 1920s, a psychologist named Bluma Zeigarnik made a strange discovery. She noticed that restaurant waiters had a remarkable ability to remember orders in progress. But as soon as the bill was paid? They forgot everything.
Turns out, our brains are wired to remember unfinished tasks better than completed ones. They stay open, like tabs in your browser, itching to be closed. This is called the Zeigarnik Effect—and it’s powerful.
Here’s how it plays out in your everyday life: When you start something but don’t finish it, your brain creates a mental bookmark. It nags you. It reminds you. It wants you to come back and finish what you started. That’s why unfinished tasks can be powerful motivation if you know how to use them.
My 10% Rule: Small Wins That Keep You Going
Let’s say I’m preparing for a leadership training workshop. It’s not just about the presentation. I’ve got emails to answer, side projects to manage, and daily tasks that need attention. There’s no way I can sit down and finish the whole workshop prep in one go. But instead of procrastinating, I rely on a strategy rooted in the Zeigarnik Effect: I start with 10 percent.
That’s it. Just 10 percent. Maybe I’ll sketch out the first few slides or jot down some ideas for exercises. It’s not finished—but it’s started. And starting is half the battle. Once the task is in motion, my brain can’t help but keep it in the background. The unfinished task sticks around in my head, urging me to come back to it. Suddenly, it feels easier to pick up where I left off.
And here’s where small wins come in. Every time I make progress—no matter how small—I get a little hit of satisfaction. It’s like crossing something off your to-do list. You’ve done something. And that momentum carries over into the next thing. It’s a mental snowball effect.
Why Big Rocks Aren’t Done in One Sitting
You’ve heard of the “Big Rocks First” analogy—start with your most important tasks. It’s solid advice, but people think that means you’ve got to finish the big rock 100% before moving on. In reality? That’s not how things work.
You can’t just block off eight hours to finish the big rock, not when clients and coworkers are throwing pebbles and sand at you all day.
But you can start with the big rock, make progress, and let the Zeigarnik Effect do its magic. You may not finish it in one go, but starting with 10 percent is enough to keep it in the front of your mind, pushing you forward.
And remember those pebbles and sand? They still need to get done, but they don’t have to overshadow your big rocks.
How You Can Use This to Beat Procrastination and Get More Done
Now that you know how the Zeigarnik Effect and small wins work, let’s talk about how you can use them to your advantage. Here’s how I do it, and here’s how you can too.
1. Start with 10 Percent
When faced with a big task, don’t aim to finish it all at once. Start with just 10 percent. Write the first few lines of an email. Outline the main points of your presentation. Brainstorm ideas. It doesn’t need to be perfect. It just needs to be started.
Once you start, the Zeigarnik Effect kicks in. The task is alive in your head. And guess what? You’ll naturally want to come back to it.
2. Celebrate Small Wins
Progress is progress, no matter how small. Don’t wait for the entire project to be done before celebrating. Finished one section of a report? Check it off. Sent out the first email in a chain? Pat yourself on the back. Each small win gives you the momentum to keep going.
3. Use the Power of Unfinished Business
Leave your task unfinished on purpose. Sounds counterintuitive, but it works. When you stop in the middle of something—say, halfway through a report or a presentation—your brain keeps thinking about it. You’ll find yourself naturally returning to it because your brain hates leaving things hanging.
4. Focus on Progress, Not Perfection
Here’s the thing: most people procrastinate because they feel overwhelmed by the size of the task. It feels like too much, so they avoid it altogether. But when you focus on just making progress, not perfection, the whole thing becomes less intimidating. You don’t need to finish it all at once.
You just need to get started.
So the next time you’re staring at a massive project and feeling the urge to procrastinate, don’t wait for inspiration to strike. Start with 10 percent. Let the Zeigarnik Effect remind you that you have unfinished business. Celebrate every small win.
Before you know it, you’ll be ticking off tasks, stacking up victories, and finishing what you started.
That’s how you beat procrastination, one small win at a time.
