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.

Career & Success

The Science of Getting Started Book Summary - The Science of Getting Started Book explained in key points

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Name: The Science of Getting Started
Rating: 4.7 (183 reviews)
Author: Patrick King

Patrick King

How to Beat Procrastination, Summon Productivity, and Stop Self-Sabotage

4.7 (183 ratings)

18 mins

Brief summary

The Science of Getting Started by Patrick King unveils practical techniques to overcome procrastination, increase productivity, and build momentum. It combines psychological insights with actionable steps to help us initiate and sustain positive habits.

Topics

Time Management Goals Self-Help

Table of Contents

The Science of Getting Started
Summary of 4 key ideas

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Key idea 1 of 4

What’s in it for me? Overcome procrastination and boost your productivity.

Have you ever struggled with procrastination? If so, you’ll probably relate to this story about the author’s father. When Patrick King was still in the womb, his father promised to build a special shelf for his unborn child. This project, meant to be completed before King was born, ended up taking nearly eight years due to constant delays and distractions.

His father’s breakthrough came when he started breaking the project into small, manageable tasks. Instead of seeing it as an overwhelming job, he tackled it piece by piece: buying nails on one weekend, making measurements on another, and purchasing lumber bit by bit. This approach eventually led to the shelf’s completion. The moral? You can beat procrastination if you break down big projects into small tasks.

In this Blink, you'll learn how to do just that. By understanding the psychology behind why we delay tasks – and by learning specific, actionable techniques – you’ll equip yourself to change your habits and achieve your goals more efficiently. So let’s . . . get started!

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.

Overcoming indecision and inaction.

Imagine you’re standing at a crossroads. You know exactly what you need to do but feel paralyzed by the many choices and distractions around you. This state of indecision and inaction is something everyone faces, often leading to procrastination. To tackle this challenge, you need to develop a mindset that promotes productivity and counteracts procrastination.

Let’s start by considering how Newton’s three laws of motion apply to your behavior. Picture yourself as an object at rest; you tend to stay at rest unless an external force moves you. This is Newton’s first law. The hardest part is often taking that first step. Once you start, you’re likely to keep going. So, the key is to find ways to initiate action. One effective strategy is the two-minute rule. Commit to starting a task within two minutes of thinking about it. For example, if you need to write a report, start by jotting down the title and objectives. This small action can break the inertia and get you moving forward.

Building motivation through action.

You have a big project and it’s due soon. Try as you might, you just can’t seem to get started. You keep waiting for the right moment or the perfect mood to strike. Why is it that you find yourself like this, yet others don’t? Here's the secret: successful people don’t wait for inspiration. They start working, and the motivation follows. By taking action first, you create the momentum needed to keep going.

When you need to tackle a task, set a low threshold to get started. Instead of committing to a massive goal, break it down into something so simple that it feels effortless. For example, if you need to create a presentation, start by just writing the titles of each slide. This small step makes the task feel manageable and gives you an easy win, helping you build momentum.

Structuring your day for success.

It’s a perfect day. Your alarm goes off, and you get out of bed, already knowing what your day looks like. Instead of being ambushed by procrastination, you have a clear plan to make steady progress toward your goals. But procrastination can sneak up like a ninja, stealing your time before you even realize it. To prevent this, structuring your day and creating a schedule is essential. This strategy might not be foolproof, but it significantly increases your chances of success.

First, commit to avoiding “zero days.” A zero day is when you do nothing to advance your goals. This concept can apply to any time segment: an hour, a day, or even a week. The aim is to ensure every day includes at least one action, no matter how small, that moves you closer to your objectives. Even tiny steps count. If you write only two sentences for a project or read a single paragraph related to your research, you’ve made progress. This approach helps break the cycle of procrastination and creates a string of productive days.

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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

About the Author

Patrick King is a social interaction specialist and conversation coach. Featured in numerous publications such as GQ Magazine, Forbes, and Huffington Post, he’s also a #1 Amazon best-selling author known for his works on dating and relationships. Some of his other popular books include The Art of Witty Banter and Better Small Talk.

Categories with The Science of Getting Started

Career & Success Personal Development Motivation & Inspiration Productivity

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