The Interstitial Journal blog
Built on evidence, not hype.
Short, evidence-based reads on attention, task-switching, and journaling — what the research actually supports, and where it runs out.
The Planning Fallacy: Why "Twenty Minutes" Is Never Twenty Minutes
We reliably underestimate how long our own tasks will take — even when we remember the last one running long. Why the fix is an outside view, and how a timestamped log builds a personal reference class. Graded Early to Strong.
Read →The Zeigarnik Effect: Why Unfinished Tasks Keep Tapping You
Unfinished tasks linger in the mind — but the research suggests it isn't finishing that quiets the loop, it's writing down the next step. The evidence behind the interstitial line. Graded Contested to Strong.
Read →Interstitial vs. End-of-Day Journaling: Which Fits the Workday?
Capturing notes between tasks and reflecting once at day's end lean on different research and do different jobs — continuity versus learning. An evidence-based comparison, and why the two stack. Graded Strong to Contested.
Read →The Hidden Cost of Task-Switching — and How a Pause Helps
Switch costs and attention residue make jumping between tasks more expensive than it feels. What the research actually shows — and why a brief note at the boundary is a reasonable response. Graded Strong to Contested.
Read →Work-Journal Prompts for the Gaps Between Tasks
A small set of prompts for the seams between tasks — starting, switching, getting stuck, finishing. Each one tied to the research it leans on, and graded against the evidence.
Read →Attention Residue and the Evidence-Based Case for Interstitial Journaling
Attention residue is the part of your focus that stays stuck on the last task. One experiment shows a brief "ready-to-resume" note helps it clear — here's the evidence, and where it ends.
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