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Blink 3 of 8 - The 5 AM Club
by Robin Sharma
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The Science of Getting Started summary
Patrick King
How to Beat Procrastination, Summon Productivity, and Stop Self-Sabotage
18 mins
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The Science of Getting Started
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Key idea 1 of 4
The psychology behind delaying tasks.
Imagine you’re sitting on your couch. You know you have a pile of work to do, but instead of getting on with it, you reach for the remote. Why does this happen? It’s not necessarily because you’re lazy or unmotivated; there’s a deeper cycle at play.
Procrastination has been a part of human behavior for centuries. The word derives from the Latin word procrastinare – the prefix meaning “forward” and the suffix meaning “till next day.” And we get in the habit of putting things off till the next day at an early age, like when you chose to build a Lego castle instead of doing your homework. It becomes a persistent shadow, always lurking and encouraging you to delay important tasks in favor of immediate pleasure.
Understanding this cycle is key to overcoming it. The procrastination cycle consists of five stages: unhelpful assumptions, increasing discomfort, making excuses, engaging in avoidance activities, and dealing with consequences. These stages create a loop that traps you into repeatedly putting things off. For instance, you might think, “Life is short, I should enjoy it,” which leads to discomfort when you consider tasks like washing the car. This discomfort spurs excuses like, “It’s too hot outside,” and you end up doing something else, like cleaning the bathroom. While this makes you feel productive, the car remains dirty, and the cycle continues
The struggle between your impulses and your rational thought plays a significant role here. Your brain has two parts: your limbic system, which seeks immediate pleasure, and your prefrontal cortex, which handles rational decision-making. Your limbic system is fast and automatic, pushing you toward activities that release dopamine, the pleasure chemical. In contrast, your prefrontal cortex is slower and requires effort, often making it the losing side in this internal battle.
You might find that impulsivity also drives your procrastination. Traits like urgency, lack of planning, lack of perseverance, and sensation-seeking make it harder to stick to tasks. For example, the sudden urge to check social media can derail your focus, leading you to spend hours online instead of working. This impulsivity is similar to behaviors exhibited by people with ADHD, where immediate desires overshadow long-term goals.
To combat procrastination, consider the HALT method: check if you’re hungry, angry, lonely, or tired. These states make you more prone to poor decisions. Addressing them can help you regain control. Deficiencies in nine traits can also make you more prone to procrastination. These include inhibition, or your ability to control impulses; self-monitoring, which involves being aware of your own behavior; planning and organization, essential for managing tasks; activity shifting, or your ability to move smoothly between tasks; task initiation, your ability to start tasks; task monitoring, which involves keeping track of progress; emotional control, important for managing your stress levels; working memory, necessary for holding information; and your general orderliness, which helps keep your environment conducive to productivity.
Bearing all these factors in mind, reflect on your own habits. What excuses do you make to avoid tasks? Are you letting immediate pleasures sabotage your long-term success? By examining these questions, you can begin to change the patterns that hold you back.
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What is The Science of Getting Started about?
The Science of Getting Started (2019) delves into the psychological and biological underpinnings of procrastination, offering a comprehensive analysis of why we delay tasks. It provides practical, science-based solutions to overcome these tendencies, helping you enhance your productivity and achieve your goals by understanding and defeating your inner procrastination triggers.
The Science of Getting Started Review
The Science of Getting Started (2019) is a practical guide on overcoming procrastination and kickstarting productivity. Here's why this book is worth reading:
- Offers straightforward strategies to beat procrastination and take action immediately.
- Provides insightful tips on setting achievable goals and maintaining motivation throughout the process.
- Employs real-life examples and relatable scenarios to keep readers engaged and inspired, ensuring a valuable and enjoyable reading experience.
Who should read The Science of Getting Started?
- Chronic procrastinators struggling to find solutions
- Self-improvement enthusiasts seeking better habits
- Busy professionals seeking productivity tips
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The Science of Getting Started FAQs
What is the main message of The Science of Getting Started?
Overcome procrastination and kickstart productivity with actionable strategies.
How long does it take to read The Science of Getting Started?
Reading time depends on personal pace. The Blinkist summary can be read swiftly.
Is The Science of Getting Started a good book? Is it worth reading?
The Science of Getting Started is a gem for those wanting to boost productivity efficiently.
Who is the author of The Science of Getting Started?
Patrick King is the author of The Science of Getting Started.
What to read after The Science of Getting Started?
If you're wondering what to read next after The Science of Getting Started, here are some recommendations we suggest:
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