Attention residue explained
Glancing at an unfinished email thread before a meeting leaves a thread of your mind on that email. Residue is strongest when the earlier task is unfinished or you expect to rush it later.
A short note on where you left off, or a clear stopping point, helps the brain let go.
Try it today
- Before switching, write one line on the next step of the task you are leaving.
- Avoid checking messages just before deep work.
- Leave a few minutes between meetings and focused work.
Where it comes from
Organisational psychologist Sophie Leroy named the effect in a 2009 paper, "Why is it so hard to do my work? The challenge of attention residue when switching between work tasks".
Frequently asked questions
- What is attention residue?
- Attention residue is the part of your attention that stays stuck on a previous task after you have moved on, which makes you worse at the new task.
- Where does attention residue come from?
- Organisational psychologist Sophie Leroy named the effect in a 2009 paper, "Why is it so hard to do my work? The challenge of attention residue when switching between work tasks".
- How do I start with attention residue?
- Before switching, write one line on the next step of the task you are leaving. Avoid checking messages just before deep work. Leave a few minutes between meetings and focused work.
- Which tools help with attention residue?
- Tools in our directory that help include Freedom, LeechBlock NG, Tasks for Obsidian, Momentum. Each has its own page with pricing, pros and cons.