Tap Into the “Hemingway Effect” to Finish What You Start

Sitting around and wondering what to do, especially at the beginning of the day, makes it more likely that other, less critical tasks will distract our attention.

“The main thing is to know when to stop. [...] When you’re still going good and you come to an interesting place and you know what’s going to happen next, that’s the time to stop. Then leave it alone and don’t think about it; let your subconscious mind do the work.”

Because Hemingway left his work at an interesting moment, it became easier to return to his typewriter the next day. Think of it like a TV show cliffhanger. If you are interested in the story, you’re more likely to return to the show next season. Hemingway essentially incorporated self-made cliffhangers into his productivity schedule to maintain hi... See more