Attention residue is the film of leftover focus that clings to a task after you've moved on to the next one. Switch from one thing to another and a piece of your mind keeps chewing on the first — so the second gets a diminished version of your attention.
Why it matters
Residue explains why rapid switching is so costly: you rarely bring your full mind to the task in front of you. Reducing it is one of the biggest levers for higher-quality focused work.
How to apply it
- Bring tasks to a natural close before switching where you can.
- Jot a quick note on where you left off to "park" the open loop.
- Batch similar work to minimise the number of switches.
- Avoid quickly checking messages mid-task — the residue outlasts the glance.