Can't stop thinking about an unfinished task? Make a plan
Making a specific plan for an unfinished goal stopped it from nagging at people's thoughts, even before they acted on it.
An unfinished goal tends to keep nagging at the mind. Making a specific plan for it stopped that, even before people acted on the plan.
The study
Across several experiments, the researchers showed that unfinished goals caused intrusive thoughts and got in the way of unrelated tasks, like reading or solving word puzzles. When people were allowed to make specific plans for those goals, the intrusions and interference went away. The effect was strongest for people who were earnest about their plans and later carried them out.
Starting small
When a task keeps circling in your head, writing one concrete line about when and how you will do it can set it down for now. A short note or journal entry is enough.