The scientific foundations behind our approach to transition moments and mental friction.
Between Tasks is built on decades of research in cognitive psychology, neuroscience, and organizational behavior. Our programs translate peer-reviewed findings into practical interventions that work in real-world contexts.
We don't invent new science — we bridge the gap between what researchers know and what practitioners can actually use.
When we switch tasks, cognitive residue from the previous task persists in working memory, degrading performance on the next task. This "attention residue" accumulates throughout the day.
Leroy, S. (2009). Why is it so hard to do my work? Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes.
Working memory has severe capacity constraints. Poorly managed transitions increase extraneous cognitive load, leaving less capacity for actual task performance.
Sweller, J. (1988). Cognitive load during problem solving. Cognitive Science.
Pre-commitment to specific behavioral responses in specific situations dramatically increases follow-through. Transition rituals work because they leverage this mechanism.
Gollwitzer, P. M. (1999). Implementation intentions: Strong effects of simple plans. American Psychologist.
Environmental and behavioral cues automatically activate associated mental states. Intentional cue design enables faster, more complete cognitive shifts between tasks.
Bargh, J. A., & Chartrand, T. L. (1999). The unbearable automaticity of being. American Psychologist.
Psychological detachment between work episodes is essential for resource replenishment. Micro-recoveries between tasks prevent accumulation of fatigue.
Sonnentag, S., & Fritz, C. (2007). The Recovery Experience Questionnaire. Journal of Occupational Health Psychology.
Behavioral automaticity develops through consistent cue-routine-reward loops. Transition practices become effortless when properly habituated.
Wood, W., & Rünger, D. (2016). Psychology of Habit. Annual Review of Psychology.
We tracked detailed work patterns across knowledge workers in six industries over 12 weeks, measuring actual transition time, self-reported cognitive strain, and output quality markers.
A randomized controlled trial testing the effectiveness of brief (< 30 second) reset interventions on post-transition task performance compared to immediate switching.
An observational study examining how team transition practices affect coordination costs, meeting effectiveness, and collective cognitive load in collaborative work environments.