Attention residue
Attention residue is the phenomenon where part of your attention remains stuck on a previous task after you switch to a new one, degrading performance on the new task. Sophie Leroy coined the term in 2009, showing residue is worst when you leave a task unfinished or under time pressure. It is a core reason why constant switching feels busy but produces little.
| Field | Organisational psychology |
|---|---|
| Key researchers | Sophie Leroy |
| Related concepts | Context switching, Zeigarnik effect, deep work, multitasking costs |
The research
Leroy (2009, Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes) had participants switch between tasks and measured lingering thoughts about the prior task. Residue was strongest when the first task was interrupted before completion, and it predicted worse performance on the next task. Follow-up work by Leroy and Glomb (2018) found that writing a brief ready-to-resume plan before switching, noting where you stopped and what comes next, reduced the residue from interruptions.
Why it matters for procrastination
Attention residue turns a quick check of email into a tax on the following half hour. It compounds the cost of every notification and every open browser tab, and it explains why fragmented days end with the feeling of having worked hard on nothing. The countermeasures are blunt and effective: batch shallow tasks, close loops or write a one-line resume note before switching, and protect unbroken blocks for work that matters.
Related
Frequently asked questions
How long does attention residue last?
There is no fixed number; it depends on how unfinished and how engaging the previous task was. Leroy's work suggests the residue fades faster when you complete the prior task or write a concrete plan for resuming it, which is a practical reason to end every work block with a next-step note.