Finish This One Thing Today…

Have you ever noticed how the work we put off doing is louder than the work we’re getting done?

That follow-up email that needs sending.
The meeting that needs documenting.
Those donor letters that need signing.

… all of it!

Things unfinished drain our energy, take up physical and mental space, and often ruin what should’ve been a solid night’s sleep.

It’s not always the important stuff, either. Even delaying small things can use up an unfair amount of brain space. It’s like carrying around a big boulder - heavy, unrelenting - that you just can’t put down until the task is officially crossed off the to-do list.

But here’s what I’ve learned: it’s not the size of the task, but the weight of carrying it undone.

It’s called the Ziegarnik Effect.

In the 1920s, a psychologist named Bluma Zeigarnik noticed something strange in a café. Waiters could flawlessly recall long, complicated meal orders only until the order was delivered. Once the food was served, the waiter’s memory of that order seemed to vanish almost immediately.

The cafe observation shows us that unfinished tasks pull disproportionately on our focus and memory. That’s why our unfinished tasks are so loud… they circulate in our brain until we close the loop.

So, what are we supposed to do? When life feels like we’re running in mud and can hardly finish a single dang task, what should we do about it?

Some say eat the big frog first… start by tackling the hardest one.

Some say do the smallest task first, so you have immediate victory - like Dave Ramsay’s Debt Snowball approach.

Here’s what I say: Finish the loudest task first. The one circling your brain, replaying itself at 2 a.m., demanding attention no matter what else you’re working on. Don’t let it keep draining your energy… just get up and get it done.

Once the task is complete, the thought-pattern loop is broken, and your brain can return to business as usual. Just like Zeigarnik’s waiter: as soon as I no longer need to remember something, I can forget it.

As nonprofit CEOs, you have a lot on your plate! Take a look around your office right now and ask yourself: which task is the loudest at this moment?

That’s the one to tackle next!

Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’ve got a few mental loops to close and a little unfinished business to finally cross off my list. Here’s to a better night’s sleep for all of us.

👋 One Last Thought:

At Jenni Craig & Co, we provide nonprofit leaders like you the tools and guidance to free up your time, amplify your impact, and focus on what matters most. If there’s a way we can help you and your team with fundraising strategies and initiatives, just reply to this email to start a conversation.

You’ve got this,
Jenni