Attention Residue Follows You From the Last Task

When you switch from one task to another, part of your mind stays behind. Researchers call this attention residue — a lingering trace of the previous task that keeps drawing on your focus even after you have moved on. It is why a rushed handoff between meetings leaves you half-present in the next one.

The fix is not speed, it is closure. Spend two minutes wrapping up before you switch — jot down where you left off, or finish the sentence you were writing. A clean break beats a fast one.