When Are You Done?
A task with no clear finish line lingers forever on your list, quietly draining attention. Defining "done" lets you close it and move on.
The Idea
Recognizing when a task is truly complete lets you confidently mark it off, preventing it from lingering and causing stress.
A task without a definition of "done" never ends. Clear completion criteria are what let you close the loop and free your mind.
Closing the Loop
Define the objective
A specific, measurable goal makes completion obvious.
Set completion criteria
Decide in advance what "finished" looks like for each task.
Mind the final steps
The last steps are often hardest; don't let them leave a task open.
Set a deadline
A firm deadline motivates you to actually close the task.
Atomic Ideas From This Page
A task without a definition of "done" lingers forever.Clear completion criteria are what let you close it and move on.
A specific, measurable objective makes completion obvious.Defining the goal upfront tells you exactly when a task is finished.
The final steps of a task are often the hardest.Neglecting them leaves a task open and quietly draining attention.
An unfinished task lingering on a list causes stress.Closing the loop frees mental space and reduces anxiety.
A deadline motivates you to actually finish.A firm cutoff pushes a lingering task to completion.
Define "done," so the task can actually end.