The Parking Lot Method: Stop Distractions Without Losing Ideas
How to keep your "shiny object syndrome" under control.
🐿️ The Problem: "I'll just check this one thing..."
You are deep in a report. Suddenly, a thought pops up: "I need to buy cat food." Or "I wonder who won the 1998 World Cup?" Or "I have a great idea for a new app!"
Your brain screams that this is urgent. If you don't check it now, you'll forget it. So you open a new tab. 20 minutes later, you're reading about the history of cats in ancient Egypt, and the report is untouched.
This is the ADHD Distraction Loop.
🅿️ The Solution: Park It
The Parking Lot method is deceptively simple: When a distracting thought arises, write it down immediately, then return to work.
You are not ignoring the thought (which causes anxiety). You are not acting on it (which breaks focus). You are parking it for later.
🔬 Why It Works: The Zeigarnik Effect
Psychologist Bluma Zeigarnik discovered that our brains hold onto unfinished tasks. This "cognitive itch" creates mental tension until the task is closed.
- Trying to ignore it: The tension grows. "Don't forget cat food. Don't forget cat food." This uses up Working Memory.
- Acting on it: You lose your flow state. It takes ~23 minutes to refocus after a distraction.
- Parking it: Writing it down tells your brain, "This is safe. It's recorded. We can let go now." The cognitive loop is closed enough to release the tension.
🚀 How to Use the Parking Lot Tool
- Open the Tool: Keep the Parking Lot open in a side tab or use the widget during a Focus Session.
- Capture Instantly: When an idea or urge hits, type it into the input field and hit Enter.
- Return to Focus: Immediately go back to your main task. Do not "quickly check" anything.
- Review Later: At the end of your session (during the Cooldown phase), review your Parking Lot.
- Cat food? Add to todo list.
- World Cup winner? Google it now as a reward.
- App idea? Move to your notes app.