Relax Without Feeling Lazy: Kill Open Loops

Open-ended tasks are any tasks that don't have a definite endpoint. Activities like "studying", "working" or "tweaking" waste your time and cause procrastination. "I should really study" is open-ended because it does not have a specific to-do list to learn the material.

A solution is to close all the ends. Set up specific to-do lists which outlines your tasks on what needs to be done. When the to-do list is completed, you stop.

When you have countless open loops in your life, you will never be able to relax.

• Define exactly what you need to do. In blogging, it could be getting a certain traffic volume or sustaining a certain posting rate.
• Define exactly what you will commit to. There will always be more to do. Close the ends by defining the amount you are willing to commit to.
• Define exactly the tasks that need to be done. Make a to-do list for each day and week.
• When you've finished, stop and enjoy your time off.