Ever notice how checking something off a to-do list feels surprisingly good?
That feeling isn’t just satisfaction. It’s dopamine.
When you mark a task as done, your brain releases a reward signal —
that worked. Do it again.
But the opposite is also true.
Psychologists call it the Zeigarnik Effect:
unfinished tasks stay active in your mind, creating a low-level mental pull that drains your energy.
That’s why a long, unchecked list are so heavy. Your brain wants closure.
So give it smaller steps. Small wins. So you can enjoy the progress, check by check and not just wait until you get to the finish line. You got this.
Get the Science Behind the Wonder in Your Inbox Weekly Here.
