Day 27

How To-Do Lists Help Us Work Better

https://eikaiwa.dmm.com/app/daily-news/article/how-to-do-lists-help-us-work-better/VtThxtVlEeqvkcNXnbxl-A

Vocabulary

• psychologist

• cross (something) off

Questions

1. The 2011 study on Zeigarnik Effect found that when people were not allowed to finish an activity they performed poorly on the next task given to them.

2. According to E.J. Masicampo from Wake Forest University in North Carolina having an unfinished task or goal can cause worry.

3. According to experts, a to-do list should make it clear which tasks or goals are the most important and that big tasks should be made into a number of smaller ones.

Discussion

1. I thought that Zeigarnik Effect was very agreeable. When I have unfinished tasks I sometimes dream about them.

2. Yes I must write to-do lists at work. This is because I let my team members know the status of my work, but it’s hard to use to-do lists. Some tasks are too big or remain forever.

3. Yes I am interrupted at work when someone sends me a dm, so I sometimes ignore it and continue working.

4. When I’m having trouble focusing at work I make a cup of coffee and take a break.

5. Last week I completed a system change that will save my company a million yen per month. It was a great feeling.

Further Discussion

1. No I wouldn’t. My current job is not stressful at all. I just don’t like the low pay though.

2. No, I don’t have anyone like that around me.

3. It was helping a blind black man in the city. I took him to the train station. I was worried at first but then I felt a sense of accomplishment.

4. My opinion is that it is good practice to prepare for failure in advance.

5. I completely disagree. A goal is just a goal.