How Completing Your Tasks Can Save Your Life by Dirk Hooper

Recently, I became sick for a couple of months. Unfortunately, that put me behind on everything that I do. And, I don’t know about you, but when I get behind on things I get stressed out, which makes it more difficult for me to complete all the stuff that I have on my plate.

That leads to a never-ending cycle of not getting things completed and being stressed because none of the things you're doing are finished. Do you get me?

A maelstrom of uncompleted activities is going to drive you insane.

You must complete your tasks.

I'm in an unusual situation because I am a fiction and nonfiction writer. I'm a professional photographer. I do consultation and social management and coaching through Sexy Networking. I also do illustrations and artwork and I'm trying to finish comic book stuff on the side.

Needless to say, I'm busy.

What I do requires me to juggle numerous different jobs all at the same time. And I’ve learned methods to create organization, but if I don’t finish tasks, they nag me.

I'm the type of guy who can be a worrier instead of being a warrior. Maybe you're like this too.

There’s something called The Zeigarnik Effect which is created when an interrupted task occurs. It’s the same thing that happens when a movie ends in a cliffhanger, like Avengers: Infinity War, or when your favorite show has a character shot in the season finale. It creates stress on the audience that keeps them interested until it’s resolved.

Look no further than the box office receipts for Avengers: Endgame to see how effective that is.

The Zeigarnik Effect constantly brings up tasks in your mind until you have completed them.

From Right Attitudes,

“Psychologist Bluma Zeigarnik’s research showed that the human mind hates unfinished tasks. Zeigarnik theorized that incomplete tasks incite psychic tension in you, which can be a persuasive impetus to complete the task. As long as you leave the task unfinished, your brain is in an uncomfortable position. Thoughts of the task serve to remind your brain of what it needs to do to get “comfortable” once again. As soon as you complete the task, this tension is alleviated, and in so doing, your brain lets the mind to release thoughts of the task from consciousness.”

http://www.rightattitudes.com/2017/03/14/zeigarnik-effect/

Simply put, uncompleted tasks cause you stress. Stress from not completing your actions can be a major factor in your health. And without health, you're sunk.

Here are some of the long-term effects of stress on your body;

· digestive problems

· anxiety

· headaches

· depression

· sleep problems

· weight gain

· memory and concentration issues

· high blood pressure

· heart disease and stroke[1]

My proposal on how to combat this issue is to simply complete your tasks.

If you open an email from someone and read it then reply to it then and be done with it.

If you have a project, then set up goals throughout the project and mark them off, to give your noggin a break.

And if you have jobs to do around the house, take the time to wrap them up. Your body will thank you.

There’s another option too. Sometimes it’s a good idea to walk away from a project or task that you’re not going to get done, or if it’s causing you too much stress.

Maybe you should delegate it to someone else, or pay someone to do it, or just accept that it’s not going to get done.

The more tasks that you get done the more peace of mind you will have.

That, in turn, clears your mind so you to get more things done. But, more importantly, it will protect you from stress, and that’s something we should all be working on.

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Footnotes

https://www.heart.org/en/healthy-living/healthy-lifestyle/stress-management/lower-stress-how-does-stress-affect-the-body