Why do I maintain Notebooks and To-do Lists?

Do you know what a “Zeigarnik Effect” is?

Well, it is a psychological phenomenon where you have the tendency to remember incomplete tasks rather than the completed ones. This effect has been developed by Bluma Wulfovna Zeigarnik, a Russian psychiatrist and psychologist.

Why am I talking about this? Erm, because I was looking into papers to know more about why I am so serious about keeping notebooks and to-do lists. I figured that I cannot remember anything that I need to do or have committed to do if I do not write them down anywhere. Yes, it sometimes gives me pressure and makes me sweat a LOT but on the bright side, it does keep me in a routine. Anytime I have forgotten any important activity or stuff, it is because I have not taken a note of it. It has also made me feel if I am too dependent on notes and to-do lists but then again, it makes my life and works easier, much much easier.

I have also understood over time that it gives me a false sense of staying in control of whatever I am doing. So, whenever something does go out of control in the truest sense, I stay content thinking that I have done everything I could in my capacity so I generally do not get highly affected by the outcome.

Very few people have said that they have started maintaining to-do lists and notes after seeing my stories and posts (I am not boasting, not at all). But it has made me happy seeing people trying out new things but if it, even for a second, makes you feel pressured and stressed, please do not go for it.

PS: Here are some notebooks I use to write down my daily to-do lists (the black spiral notebook), bucket lists (the FRIENDS’ planner), stuff for Tahiya Writes (the black notebook), and for weird thoughts of mine (the green notebook).