Delay

How long the loop takes to come back around. You time the gap between an action and the moment its effect returns to you, because a lag long enough to hide the connection is why a fix looks like it worked before the problem returns.

How long the loop takes to come back around. You time the gap between an action and the moment its effect returns to you, because a lag long enough to hide the connection is why a fix looks like it worked before the problem returns.

Example

Answer emails fast on Monday, and the extra replies they provoke land Wednesday through Friday. Lag of two to four days. That gap is why inbox zero on Friday feels like victory: the bill for Friday's fast replies does not arrive until midweek.