You need to leave for a meeting, but you're halfway through something. You close the document, promise yourself you'll remember where you were, and go.
Tomorrow, “Continue report” doesn't give you much to work with.
Before you leave, try writing a quick note:
Totals checked through March. Start with April, then ask Sam about the missing invoice. Continue tomorrow morning.
It takes a little more thought now, but gives you a clear place to start later. It may also help you turn your attention to the meeting you're about to join.
Three things to leave yourself
A return note only needs to tell you:
- Where you stopped.
- What to do next.
- When you expect to come back.
For an essay, that could look like this:
The outline is finished. Next, find a source for the second paragraph, then write the example about public transit. Return after Thursday's lecture.
Use your own shorthand. You don't need to summarize everything you've done or write a new project plan. The next step is usually the part you'll be glad to find waiting for you.
If you can choose when to stop, look for a sensible boundary, such as finishing a calculation or a section. If someone needs you right away, even a few words can save you from relying on memory alone.
Why unfinished work follows us around
Sometimes you're in the next meeting but still thinking about the work you left behind. Researcher Sophie Leroy calls this attention residue. In two experiments published in 2009, difficulty letting go of unfinished work affected performance on the next task.
A later study by Leroy and Theresa Glomb explored making a brief plan to return. When people expected to be pressed for time on their return, this preparation helped them leave less attention on the unfinished work and perform better on the interrupting task. The studies examined that next task, rather than testing how well people worked when they eventually returned.
That's a useful reason to try the note before you switch. You can see for yourself whether it makes the transition feel easier.
Put the next step where you'll see it
In Timetable Maker, give the work a place in your weekly schedule and put your return note in the event's notes. “Finish report” becomes much easier to approach when the next action is right there with it.
Choose a session that fits between your other commitments. If you keep interrupting yourself to check nonurgent messages, you could give those their own slot too. Agree on response times with anyone who needs to reach you, so you know what can wait.
When your plans change, move the session and update the note. Whether you're returning tomorrow morning or after your next class, leave yourself something more helpful than “pick up where I left off”.