Reach a clear stopping point before switching tasks

Before switching to anything else, get to a natural completion point so the previous task has a cognitive bookmark.

Why it works

Leroy found that residue is lower when a task is complete or when the person has a clear plan for how to continue. A natural stopping point — a completed section, a saved draft with a clear next sentence, a filed note — creates a cognitive bookmark that reduces the brain’s background processing of the unfinished task. The residue mechanism is related to the Zeigarnik effect: the brain keeps incomplete tasks active; bookmarking reduces the sense of incompleteness.

How to do it

1. When an interruption or switch is necessary, spend 2–3 minutes writing a brief "re-entry note": where you are, what comes next, and any open questions.
2. Aim to reach a section boundary, a saved version, or a clear pause point before switching.
3. If switching is urgent and can’t wait for a stopping point, write a one-sentence note about where you are and what the next step is.
4. The re-entry note is for your returning self, not for the current task — keep it brief.

Evidence

Leroy (2009) found that participants who reached a stopping point before switching tasks performed better on the new task than those who switched mid-task. The stopping-point condition reduced next-task performance decrements. (observational)

Lab conditions; real-world interruptions often don’t permit stopping-point negotiation. The re-entry note is a practitioner extension of the stopping-point mechanism.

Sources

• Leroy (2009), "Why is it so hard to do my work?", Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes

Common mistake

Switching mid-sentence or mid-thought with the assumption that you’ll remember where you were — the residue effect means you will likely resume less effectively than you expect.