What Are Open Loops?
An open loop is any task or decision you haven’t completed or fully closed.
Over time,
This becomes an invisible weight that many of us carry.
These unspoken, unresolved commitments are called open loops —
and they drain more of your energy than you realize.
It can be anything, like:
- Writing that resume you’ve been postponing
- Applying for internships and jobs
- Having a tough conversation you’ve been avoiding
- Starting a project you keep putting off
- Ignoring your academic obligations
Individually, they seem small.
But together, they create mental clutter.
The Psychology Behind Open Loops: The Zeigarnik Effect
In the early 1900s, psychologist Bluma Zeigarnik discovered something fascinating:
Your brain remembers incomplete tasks more than completed ones.
This constant mental reminder creates tension, pulling your focus and stealing your energy —
even when you’re not consciously thinking about it.
That’s why unfinished tasks feel heavy.
Your brain keeps them “open,” consuming background processing power like apps running on your phone.
Avoidance Makes It Worse
Modern research shows something counterintuitive. When given a choice between:
- A strong discomfort now, or
- A mild discomfort later
Most people choose the strong discomfort now.
Why?
Because uncertainty and avoidance create more anxiety than facing discomfort directly.
Avoiding a loop doesn’t make it disappear —
it stretches your stress across days or even weeks.
Why Closing Loops Gives You Instant Energy
When you close a loop — clearing that backlog exam, applying to internships (even if they don’t reply), sending that message — you experience an immediate release of mental tension.
Your mind relaxes.
You feel lighter, clearer, and more focused.
Closing one loop leads to another.
Momentum builds.
Confidence grows.
It’s the simplest productivity hack that feels like magic.
How to Close Your Open Loops with a Simple System
Here’s a practical way to reclaim your mental energy:
-
Admit you have open loops, We all do.
-
Write every loop down, Dump everything into your notes or a piece of paper. Visibility destroys overwhelm.
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Pick one loop — the scariest one. The one you’re avoiding drains you the most.
Start there.