Research on “attention residue” found that switching away from unfinished work can impair performance on the next task, especially when the first task remains mentally active. This does not mean you must finish everything before moving on. Real days contain interruptions.
It does suggest that vague, unresolved commitments have a cost. “Work on presentation” leaves more for your mind to hold than “draft the three slide headings.” A clear note about the next step can also make stopping easier.
Steady responds in two ways. It keeps the active plan small, and it asks you to resolve each commitment when you close the day. Complete, Later, and Skip create different records, but all three close the loop for today.
Closure is not the same as completion. It is knowing what happened and what decision comes next.