What is attention residue?
In modern work we think nothing of switching back and forth between incomplete different tasks - often multiple times per day. But is this efficient?
In 2009 Sophie Leroy identified the concept of “attention residue”. This is when you switch from one task to another, yet the first task is not completely removed from your mind, the first task still lingers even after you have started the second. Part of your attention stays behind on the old task even though you have switched - reducing the attention available for the new task.
For example you are writing a report and an email comes in, you switch, get the email done then get back to the report. The problem is the email is not complete, some of your attention remains there wondering if the recipient will accept the response etc.
The strength of the residue depends on how unfinished the first task was when you switched. This concept is similar to what David Allen calls “Open Loops” in his Getting Things Done methodology, and is the complete opposite of Deep Work (Cal Newport).
To overcome this, note down ad hoc work that comes in to your todo system, and put in set time during the day to check this system. The email can’t pull at your attention if you haven’t read it - but put it away to check at a set time in your day, so you are not worried about forgetting it either.