第1915期:Why our brains love lists

Productivity can be a struggle for many of us. Overflowing email inboxes, housework, social obligations – it can be easy to feel overwhelmed. However, one simple tool that can help us stay on top of everything is the to-do list. Write it down, do the tasks and cross them off – simple!

对于我们许多人来说，生产力可能是一个难题。 爆满的电子邮件收件箱、家务、社会义务——很容易让人感到不知所措。 然而，一个可以帮助我们掌控一切的简单工具就是待办事项列表。 写下来，完成任务，然后划掉它们——简单！

There are three key reasons why lists are beneficial, according to psychologist and author David Cohen. Firstly, they help to drown out the chaos and anxiety that comes with having never-ending tasks. By writing everything down, we don't have to rely on our memory and can instead focus on the task at hand. Secondly, lists provide structure and guidance, giving us a plan to follow. As well as this, our brains are more likely to retain information that is presented in a structured and organised manner. And finally, lists serve as proof of what we have achieved, which can help boost our sense of accomplishment and motivation.

心理学家兼作家大卫·科恩 (David Cohen) 认为，列表之所以有益，有以下三个关键原因。 首先，它们有助于消除永无休止的任务带来的混乱和焦虑。 通过写下所有内容，我们不必依赖记忆，而是可以专注于手头的任务。 其次，列表提供了结构和指导，为我们提供了可遵循的计划。 除此之外，我们的大脑更有可能保留以结构化和有组织的方式呈现的信息。 最后，清单可以证明我们所取得的成就，这有助于增强我们的成就感和动力。

Another possible reason our brains love lists is because of something called the 'Zeigarnik Effect'. This is the name psychologists use for when we remember things we need to do, our unfinished tasks, better than things we have already completed. Researchers from Wake Forest University tested the interference of the Zeigarnik effect on a group of people. The experiment began with a warm-up task, though it was stopped half-way through, and only some people were allowed to make plans to finish it. The researchers found that the group permitted to plan had reduced anxiety and performed better in the second task. The problem was, the others still had the warm-up task stuck in their active memory – an unticked list of tasks. So, once we tick something off our list, our brain forgets about it and we can relax.All in all, it seems lists are a valuable tool for staying on top of life!

我们的大脑喜欢列出清单的另一个可能原因是“蔡加尼克效应”。 当我们比已经完成的事情更好地记住我们需要做的事情、我们未完成的任务时，心理学家使用这个名称。 维克森林大学的研究人员测试了蔡加尼克效应对一群人的干扰。 实验以热身任务开始，但中途停止，只允许部分人制定完成计划。 研究人员发现，允许制定计划的小组减少了焦虑，并且在第二项任务中表现更好。 问题是，其他人的活动记忆中仍然保留着热身任务——一个未勾选的任务列表。 所以，一旦我们从清单上勾掉某件事，我们的大脑就会忘记它，我们就可以放松了。总而言之，列表似乎是保持生活巅峰的宝贵工具！

词汇表

productivity 效率
overflowing 爆满的，装满了的
overwhelmed 难以承受的，不知所措的
tool 方法，工具
to-do list 待办事项清单
task 任务
cross off （从清单上）划掉
drown out 盖过，压过
never-ending 没完没了的
write down 写下，记下
at hand 手头的，手边的
structure 条理，结构
retain 记住
structured 有条理的，结构清晰的
organised 有条不紊的，安排有序的
proof 证明
accomplishment 成就
motivation 动力
unfinished 未完成的
interference 干扰，干预
active memory 短期记忆
unticked 未（在清单上）勾掉的
tick off 在（清单上）勾掉
stay on top of 时时关注，掌握最新进展