You know that "Continue Watching" section on streaming platforms? Mine looks like this:

30 minutes left. 2 episodes left. 1 episode left. 8 minutes left.

It's like a graveyard of nearly finished shows and movies. And it doesn't stop there—I also have five books with fewer than 100 pages left, three half-done projects, and a couple of video games frozen right before the final boss fight. (Ganon can wait, okay?)

Sound familiar? If you're feeling called out, congratulations—like me, you've mastered the art of never finishing what you start.

But why do we do this to ourselves? Why do we spend hours, days—sometimes months—investing in something, only to abandon it right before the end? (These are the things that keep me awake at night.) So, I went searching for answers and found some fascinating (and oddly relatable) psychological reasons behind this quirk of ours.

🚨 Spoiler alert: It's more than just procrastination. It's also not necessarily an ADHD thing, although neurodivergence can definitely add some spice!

If you're curious about why so many of us have this mildly infuriating habit, and you want to learn a few ways to deal with it, keep reading! … Unless, of course, you'd rather leave this blog unfinished, too. 😉

Why do we avoid finishing things we enjoy?

There's plenty of explanations for why we may not finish something: boredom, loss of interest, perhaps it grew tedious, or we just can't afford it anymore. That's all fine and dandy, and completely normal... But what about the times when we have the means and the desire to finish something that we're actually enjoying... but we abandon it before it's done?

Here are some of the explanations I found through research!

1. Preserving the joy: "I don't want it to end!"

Sometimes we put off completing something because we’re not ready to let go of the enjoyment it brings. This is probably the most common reason for not finishing things. Avoiding the end of a show, book, or project can feel like pausing time itself, giving us more moments to savor it.

When we’re attached to a story or project, completing it means letting go of the comfort and happiness that came with it. And since no one likes feeling empty, we preserve the good feelings by dragging it out. Leaving it incomplete keeps the experience alive, giving us the option to revisit it whenever we want.... almost like it never ended.

2. Avoiding emotional intensity

Endings can carry emotional weight, and that’s true for everyone.

Whether it’s saying goodbye to characters we’ve grown to love or letting go of a project we’ve poured our hearts into, there’s a weird kind of grief involved. So, knowing that we're about to face The End can trigger a type of anticipatory anxiety and dread, where the brain interprets the approaching conclusion as a threat.

This anticipatory anxiety stems from a fear of confronting potential negative feelings that might pop up when it's all over. 1 The last chapter, a series finale, or the finishing touch on a project forces us to deal with that closure, and for some, the emotional intensity is overwhelming. As a result, we'll put it off indefinitely because leaving it hanging in limbo seems easier than confronting the emotional intensity of closure.

3. Fear of disappointment

You might leave things unfinished because you're worried that the ending won't meet your expectations. This one is less about perfectionism, and more about the fear that the conclusion will disappoint you and leave you feeling unfulfilled or frustrated.

Think about it: You've invested time, energy, effort, and emotions into this project, book series, documentary, etc. What if the ending falls flat? You deserve a satisfying conclusion, dang it! 😤

So instead, you leave it hanging in the balance. This way, you can preserve the experience exactly as it is, protecting it from the potential letdown of a weak ending.

4. Perfectionism in enjoyment

A fear of disappointment can quickly spiral into perfectionism if we set the bar impossibly high for how we should feel when it ends. Whether it’s a project, book, or show, we want to wrap it up on a perfect note—one that feels satisfying, meaningful, or “worth it.”

The pressure to have a flawless conclusion can be paralyzing because it means we need to “get it right” and live up to our own ideal ending.

The irony? The more we aim for the perfect ending, the more likely we are to avoid finishing things altogether. The fear of it not meeting expectations, paired with perfectionism, creates a vicious cycle—one that keeps us from actually enjoying the conclusion, even if we might have had a p̶e̶r̶f̶e̶c̶t̶l̶y̶ fine experience if we just let go and finished.

5. Escapism and a fear of the unknown

For some people, a new hyperfixation can serve as a “mental escape”—a safe space to retreat when reality becomes too overwhelming or unpredictable. Books, television series, and creative projects offer a welcome distraction from everyday challenges. But as the ending draws nearer, that once-comfortable world starts to feel threatened, and they begin unraveling as the fear of the unknown creeps in.

When the series (or book or project) is over, there's no more escape, and they have no choice but to face reality head-on.

The loss of that comfort zone, combined with the uncertainty of what lies ahead, is far more daunting than the prospect of leaving things unfinished.

6. Decision fatigue: "But... now what!?"

Once you've wrapped up one hyperfixation, the next question becomes: "What now?" Even with plenty of options, the weight of picking The Next Thing can be enough to leave you paralyzed. This is what’s known as “analysis paralysis.” (AKA, decision paralysis, choice paralysis, and decision fatigue.)

It’s not that you don’t know what you could watch or read next, but narrowing it down to just one feels like an impossible task. When you’re #IndecisiveAF, it makes sense that you’d avoid finishing your current series, project, or book. You’ve been enjoying the freedom of not having to make decisions, so why would you willingly put yourself back into that situation? (Seriously, though - there’s such a thing as too many choices, Netflix.)

7. The comfort of routine

When you sit down in the evening to watch your favorite show or read a chapter of a book, it’s easy to get used to the coziness and comfort it brings. Getting lost in a good story or humming along to the opening theme song creates a sense of predictability and control—something we could all benefit from these days. The world is stressful right now, so routines are almost necessary if we want to feel stable and centered.

But have you ever noticed that as you get closer to the end, you start to feel unsettled by the thought of disrupting this routine? You become reluctant to finish, so you slow down or stop altogether because you don't want it to end… all while failing to recognize that by doing that, you're unintentionally breaking the very routine you were trying to preserve.

But some of us grow bored of routines, which brings up #8…

8. Procrastination as a habit

For some of us, sometimes leaving things unfinished is just a result of procrastination being our second nature. This is especially true for ADHDers, who often require novelty (newness) and dopamine (brain chemical linked to pleasure) to stay engaged. Starting is exciting, but once it becomes routine or boring, we lose interest in finishing it and leave it in limbo.

This lack of follow-through can also be fueled by a lack of deadlines. Without a sense of urgency, things that are “almost done” tend to slip away. Our brains abandon them for something newer or more stimulating, leaving that TV series in the “Continue Watching” list with only two episodes left… indefinitely.

Over time, this becomes a habit, reinforcing a cycle of avoidance and leaving you with gigantic piles of “done-ish” tasks, movies, shows, books, hobbies and projects. It’s not that we don’t care or think it’s unimportant, but pushing through to the end just doesn’t provide the instant reward our brains crave. So, we leave things dangling, convincing ourselves we’ll get to them them later—which we totally will! (…That is, after we’ve started—and abandoned—a few more things. 😬)

9. Shame and embarrassment over a lack of progress

Sometimes, the longer a series, book, or project remains unfinished, the more shame we feel about not completing it yet. These feelings can become an extra barrier, making it even harder to resume whatever we’re watching, reading, or working on. We might worry about what it says about our abilities or discipline, feeding into our cycle of avoidance.

This feeling of embarrassment might be tied to what researchers call "the ostrich problem," where we avoid confronting our lack of progress because doing so forces us to face uncomfortable truths about ourselves. 2

For example, we might think, “Leaving that show unfinished for two years makes me wonder if I'm capable of ever following through on anything.” So, quitting right before the finish line helps us avoid facing judgment—from others and ourselves—even if it means leaving things perpetually incomplete.

So, I never finish what I start. What’s the big deal?

Why does it matter if we never finish anything? Is it really that big of a deal if I haven’t finished Lucifer, Good Girls, Brooklyn Nine-Nine, Shameless, Ozark, Cobra Kai, Grey’s Anatomy, You, Better Call Saul, The Walking Dead, Orange is the New Black—You know what? I’ll stop there, otherwise we’ll be here all day.

Let’s get back to the point of this blog, shall we?

Here’s the thing: leaving things “done-ish” isn’t just about ignoring a checklist. It actually triggers a unique kind of stress. When we avoid finishing something—whether it's a task, a series we’re binge-watching, or a project on the back burner—it puts a strain on our cognitive load, adding unnecessary mental clutter that human brains are wired to ruminate over.

Cognitive load

Cognitive load is the mental effort our brains use to process information, whether it’s from our environment or our own thoughts. But when something's left unfinished, it doesn’t just disappear.

Even when we stop engaging with it - as long as it remains unfinished, we unwittingly let it live in our heads, rent-free. It keeps nagging at us, draining valuable mental space and energy that could be used elsewhere. This chronic low-level stress can impact focus, mood, and even energy levels.

This is where the Zeigarnik Effect kicks in.

The Zeigarnik Effect

Can you name three shows or books you haven’t finished?

Chances are, you didn’t have to think too hard about this one.

That’s because our brains are wired to hold onto things we abandoned before they were done. Even if it’s been a while since you last thought about them, that feeling of "I should finish this" sticks around, right?

This is the Zeigarnik Effect—a psychological phenomenon where we tend to remember unfinished tasks more vividly than completed ones. 3

When something’s left unfinished, the mind clings to it like it’s waiting for closure, creating tension. The more unfinished tasks we have, the more mental clutter builds up, which can make it harder to enjoy other things.

🤔 Why should we care? Because that mental "nagging" doesn’t just take up space; it affects our sleep, productivity and our sense of accomplishment. 4 In extreme cases, it can contribute to anxiety.

But there’s good news: It’s totally possible to break the cycle of leaving things in the void. Let’s see if we can’t clear our that mental clutter so we can finally move on, eh?

How to finish what you start

If you see yourself in these patterns, fear not! There are ways to address them. (If you want to!) Keep in mind that this list isn’t exhaustive, and there are probably lots of other hacks out there to try. But here’s what seemed most helpful:

Finish it in reverse

Once you find yourself paralyzed by anticipatory dread because you don’t want to face the emotionally charged ending, try finishing the last season (or chapter, if it’s a book) in reverse. Skip ahead to the last episode, or read the last few pages. Spoil it for yourself. It sounds counterintuitive, but it’s a solid way to sidestep that avoidance anxiety—because you’ve already seen how it ends. Now, you might be more inclined to go back and fill in the gaps.

But if not, at least you know what happens now, and maybe your brain won’t fixate so much on the incompleteness of it.

Make a wish list

Keep a running list of shows, books, games, or projects you want to dive into. If you already habitually avoid endings, I'd bet you also struggle with indecision when trying to pick what to focus on next. Having a list of things you already know you're interested in can help cut down on that overwhelming sense of too many choices.

Because, seriously, I can’t be the only one who spends 20 minutes browsing Netflix and then ultimately decides to just fire up the PS5 instead… am I?

The best part about this hack is that you don’t have to make your wish list rigid or set-in-stone. Think of it more like a mental inventory—an easy "go-to" when you're ready for the next thing. This eliminates the stress of scrolling through endless options and not knowing what to pick. Plus, knowing that “once I finish this, I get to enjoy that” can be just the motivation you need to finally cross something off your list.

🧠 If you have ADHD, this also helps you avoid the trap of impulsively starting a new series when you’re definitely not ready to commit yet—or buying a bunch of expensive art supplies for a hobby you only just now decided to try, only to never touch them again.

Use a buddy system

Next time you start a show, book, or project, recruit someone to join you from start to finish. Whether it’s binge-watching Squid Game with a friend or joining a book club so you can finally get through the ACOTAR series, having someone else in the mix gives you that extra nudge to finish strong.

🧠 It’s called accountability—which happens to be a great way to keep ADHDers on track with their goals.

Having someone along on the journey and knowing they’re waiting for you to finish makes it way harder to abandon something before the finish line.

Set a deadline

Deadlines aren’t for everyone; they can feel like the enemy of creativity and relaxation. But for some, they can be a secret weapon for finishing what’s been started.

Set a firm deadline or goal for finishing your show, book, or project—something specific like "by next Friday" or at the "end of the month."

A clear finish line shifts your focus from "I’ll get to it eventually" to "I need to finish this by X." It makes it more tangible.

Track your time and progress

If deadlines freak you out—because same—try tracking your progress visually so you can actually see how much you’ve done and how much is left. This gives you a sense of forward movement, even when it’s at a turtle’s pace.

For example, log how many chapters you’ve read, episodes you’ve watched, or milestones you’ve hit on a project. There’s actual science behind why this works!

🔬 Studies show that tracking progress—especially when you manually record it—boosts the likelihood of following through. And sharing your progress publicly makes this effect even stronger. 5

This makes sense when you think about it. Aren’t we all more likely to actually do something if we’ve told people we’re going to do it? (Accountability, anyone?) Not to mention, seeing a progress bar fill up is so satisfying!

Use Does the Dog Die and Fable to get a heads up on content

Does the Dog Die is one of my favorite apps. (And it’s free!) If you ever find me watching something on TV but I’m also on my phone, you can bet that I’m either deep in an IMDB rabbit hole or I’m checking DDD to make sure the dog doesn’t, in fact, die.

DDD is a crowdsourced database of “triggers” in movies and shows. Users mark “yes” or “no” for specific emotional or plot elements, like if a character dies or if there’s a sad ending. If you're someone who avoids endings because you're not sure how it'll make you feel, this app is a game changer.

Personally, I’ve found that knowing what to expect makes the experience of watching (and finishing) something a lot less anxiety-inducing.

Examples of triggers on Does the Dog Die?

• Does it have a sad ending?

• Does a main character die?

• Does someone leave without saying goodbye?

• Does someone sacrifice themselves?

• Is there an end-credit scene?

For books, there’s an app called Fable. (Also free!) It’s like Goodreads, but with a cleaner interface and more crowdsourcing for its review elements. (They also have stuff for series, but I haven't used it enough to know if it's as good as DDD!)

⚠️ Keep in mind that these apps are crowdsourced, so you can’t always rely on them to catch every trigger for everything you watch. If you can’t find what you’re looking for, try Reddit. (But, hey! Make sure you go back to the app to contribute and mark your answers after you watch it!)

The End (You better finish this!)

Whether it’s the fear of a disappointing ending, not wanting to break up your routine, or the dread of imminent emotional intensity — there’s usually more going on than simply “not having time” to finish what you started. Sure, ADHD adds its special brand of chaos, but it’s hardly the only reason things stay unfinished.

Here’s the takeaway: It's ridiculously freeing to finally wrap up something you started. Clearing out the mental clutter is like finding an extra slot in your brain for something else. (SO much room for activities!) You get to step into that satisfying “done” zone, where everything feels a bit lighter.

So, the next time it feels like your “Continue Watching” queue starts giving you side-eye, just remember:

It’s okay that you paused a bunch of shows and then completely abandoned them like they meant absolutely nothing to you. We've all done it.

What's not okay is letting yourself ruminate over the lack of closure to the point of negative emotions. In that case, use one of the tips above and get on with it.

Besides, I KNOW you’re capable of finishing things because—hey—you made it to the end of this blog! Look at you go! It's like you're not even the same person you were when you started reading this. 🥹 I feel like a proud mama bird right now.

Now, go forth and finish more stuff!

G'on, now—git! 🐎