The power of the first touch

11 maart 2025

You open an email, scan it quickly, and close it again. Sound familiar? Most of us do it. In today’s digital work environment, distractions are everywhere. But what happens if you apply one strict rule to the way you work?

In this blog, we explore the idea behind the Dutch expression aanraken is afmaken — roughly, “once you touch it, you finish it.” It is a simple mindset shift that can give you more control, more clarity, and a better overview of your day.

What the expression means

The idea can be traced back to situations where touching something creates commitment. A familiar example is the touch-move rule in chess, where touching a piece means you are expected to move it. In shops, people often use a similar phrase in the sense of “break it, you buy it.”

In everyday life, the expression has become a powerful metaphor. Once you start something, you deal with it properly instead of leaving it half-finished. That principle turns out to be highly relevant in modern knowledge work.

Why it works psychologically

Our brains do not like open loops. When you start a task and leave it unfinished, it often stays active in the back of your mind. That mental residue costs energy and attention.

The same thing happens at work. You open an email but do not answer it. You start a document but leave it for later. You read a message and decide to “come back to it.” Each unfinished item creates cognitive clutter.

By applying the “touch it, finish it” principle, you close those loops faster. That saves mental energy and creates more peace of mind. Instead of carrying unfinished tasks around in your head, you make decisions and move on.

What it changes at work

Many people spend their day switching constantly between tasks, messages, and notifications. That reactive way of working quickly leads to overload.

The first-touch principle helps you move from reactive behavior to deliberate action. If you open a message, decide what to do with it immediately. Reply, schedule, delegate, file, or delete it. If you start a task, complete the next meaningful action instead of postponing the decision.

That is also one of the foundations of effective email management. It is not just about having an empty inbox. It is about having a clear head.

Four practical steps

Step 1 | Start with the end in mind

Before you touch a task, know what you want to achieve. Do not open an email or a file unless you have enough time to process it properly.

Step 2 | Apply the one-touch rule

Handle items once whenever possible. Read it, respond to it, delegate it, schedule it, or remove it. Do not keep things unread as a false sense of control.

Step 3 | Manage expectations

Sometimes you genuinely cannot finish something immediately. In that case, communicate clearly about when you will handle it. Good expectation management is part of effective collaboration.

Step 4 | Train your focus

Focus is like a muscle. The more often you practice finishing what you start, the stronger that habit becomes. Begin with one task a day and build from there.

Take back control

The principle of aanraken is afmaken is more than an old phrase. It is a practical productivity mindset that helps you regain control of your time, attention, and energy.

It may feel uncomfortable at first, especially if you are used to multitasking. But if you stick with it, you will notice more calm, more focus, and more progress in your workday.