In a meeting recently, someone mentioned their focus on closing open loops.
They wanted several loops to be closed by the end of the first quarter.
If you are wondering what an open loop is, these are the commitments we make to ourselves or someone else that we haven’t yet completed.
Without tight or specific deadlines, these loops can last for weeks, months, or even years.
My Perspective
This got me thinking how open loops hold us back.
First, they create a lingering stress in the back of our mind.
We aren’t always consciously thinking about the task, yet it’s there.
They begin to create a low-level stress and worry…. nagging to be done.
On a recent Mel Robins podcast, she made this comment:
“Procrastination is a habit driven by stress.” – Mel Robins
Tying the two concepts together, open loops lead to stress and procrastination.
My Story
This post has me thinking about the open loops I struggle with.
One is making appointments – dentist, hair, etc.
Because they aren’t typically urgent, they can sit on the list for weeks and nag at me.
Another area are “extra” projects.
An update to the website.
A planning document.
A thought leadership piece.
An outreach to a friend.
And the list goes on.
These are things I want to do, but they have no “must do by” deadline.
So, they fall behind commitments with deadlines in the list of priorities.
My goal is to pay more attention to my open loops and set deadlines.
Maybe that nagging stress will fade away.
Your Turn
Do you struggle with open loops in your life?
What form do they take?
What could you do in the year ahead to reduce the stress of open loops?