When I took the bar exam, I spent months studying, cramming information into my brain with the fervor of someone preparing for an intellectual triathlon. Every day was filled with learning about estates and trusts, family law, civil procedure, and everything in between. It was like preparing to be a Westlaw database. My brain was a sponge, soaking up every shred of legal knowledge I could find. Everything else in my life and in my brain was put on hold.

By the time exam day came around, I had mastered the art of navigating hypothetical questions in virtually every area of law, from dividing marital assets in a divorce case to establishing ownership by adverse possession. My long hours of preparation ultimately paid off on that day back in 1992.

Then, the day after the exam, it felt as though my brain hit the “delete” button. I couldn’t remember half the things I had studied just hours before. The substantive law that had once seemed second nature now felt like a distant memory. It was as though my brain had decided that, after that grueling ordeal, it deserved a vacation. The bar exam had officially become a “closed book” in my mind. And I could practically hear my brain saying, “Well, that was fun. But now let’s make room for something more useful.” This experience was not unlike final exams in college and law school. The day after those exams, I flushed most of the information I had learned down the drain.

All of us have had that experience in our lives. Our brains prioritize unfinished tasks and information and then hit the delete button once we think it’s no longer needed. This phenomenon is known as the Zeigarnik Effect.

The Zeigarnik effect, named after Soviet psychologist Bluma Zeigarnik, refers to the tendency of our brains to remember unfinished tasks more vividly than completed ones. In other words, when something is left unresolved, our mind keeps bringing it back to the forefront, reminding us to complete it. The classic experiment that led to this discovery involved Zeigarnik observing that waiters in a restaurant could remember orders they hadn’t yet delivered but often forgot about those they had completed. This simple observation has since evolved into a profound insight into how our memory works: unfinished tasks stick with us far longer than the ones we’ve crossed off our to-do list.

For waiters, the Zeigarnik effect does not have much of a long-term impact. They finish waiting on a table and move on to the next patron. For lawyers, this effect is amplified. On any given day, a lawyer’s mental to-do list can include everything from preparing documents to meeting with clients to navigating complex legal issues. The Zeigarnik effect means that when tasks are left unfinished, they linger in the mind, making it harder to concentrate on other things. This can be particularly overwhelming in the legal profession where we constantly have multiple unfinished tasks and responsibilities.

For example, a lawyer might be drafting a pleading and find themselves repeatedly thinking about the remaining sections that need editing, even when they try to focus on other cases or personal matters. Likewise, a missed email or an unresolved issue from a client meeting can stick in a lawyer’s brain, pulling their attention back to the “open loop” of unfinished business. 

While the Zeigarnik effect is a natural and necessary part of human memory, it can lead to feelings of stress, fatigue, and frustration, making it harder for lawyers to find moments of clarity or relaxation. These negative effects can be mitigated with the right strategies. Here are some practical tips for managing its influence:

1. Organize and Prioritize: Using tools like task lists, legal practice software, or simple reminders can help manage the flow of work. By organizing tasks and deadlines, lawyers can reduce the feeling of being overwhelmed by an ever-growing to-do list.
   
2. Break Tasks into Manageable Steps: Instead of seeing a legal project as one giant, looming task, break it down into smaller, more achievable steps. This helps close the mental “loops” that remain open and allows you to check things off with a sense of accomplishment.
   
3. Set Boundaries Between Work and Personal Life: It is important to draw a line between your workday and personal time. Whether it’s setting aside time for family, hobbies, or simply disconnecting from emails, establishing clear boundaries helps your brain transition from “work mode” to relaxation.
   
4. Practice Mindfulness: Simple mindfulness practices, such as meditation or deep breathing exercises, can help ground your thoughts and clear your mind. These techniques help you be present in the moment, making it easier to step away from unfinished tasks and avoid rumination.
   
5. Celebrate Small Wins: Recognizing and celebrating small victories—whether completing a section of a brief or responding to a difficult email—can provide a sense of progress and alleviate the stress that builds up from tasks left undone.
   
6. Use technology tools to offload the stress of needing to remember so many things. Automated reminders help to track deadlines and upcoming meetings.

The Zeigarnik effect is a powerful force in our brains, and for lawyers, it is especially influential. It can make unfinished tasks feel like they are constantly tugging at our thoughts, leading to stress, burnout, and difficulty relaxing. However, by recognizing the effect and implementing strategies like organizing tasks, setting boundaries, and practicing mindfulness, lawyers can manage the mental clutter and maintain a healthier balance between work and personal well-being.