You've Switched Tasks. Your Brain Hasn't.

You just finished a meeting. Now it's time to code. But your mind keeps replaying that conversation, worrying about that deadline, wondering if you said the right thing.

This is attention residue—and it's destroying your productivity.

What Is Attention Residue?

The term comes from Dr. Sophie Leroy's research at the University of Washington. She discovered that when we switch from one task to another, a "residue" of our attention remains on the previous task.

We're not fully present for the new task because part of our cognitive capacity is still processing the old one.

Why It Matters

Attention residue causes:

Slower performance on the new task

More errors and lower quality work

Mental fatigue from fighting your own brain

That fuzzy feeling of never quite being "here"

The more unfinished or stressful the previous task, the stronger the residue.

How to Clear the Residue

Complete tasks before switching. Even small completions ("I finished the outline") reduce residue.

Use transition rituals. A brief pause, a few deep breaths, or a short walk creates a psychological boundary.

Write down loose ends. Capture what's unfinished so your brain can let go.

Set clear intentions. Before starting new work, explicitly state what you're about to do.

This is exactly why Mushin includes pre-session rituals and Quick Capture—to help you arrive fully present.

Ready to eliminate attention residue? Start a focus session and feel the difference of truly single-tasking.