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Blink 3 of 8 - The 5 AM Club
by Robin Sharma
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The Science of Living summary
Stuart Farrimond
219 Reasons to Rethink Your Daily Routine
20 mins
Brief summary
The Science of Living by Stuart Farrimond is a guidebook for everyday life. It explores the science behind our daily routines, from sleep and exercise to food and stress, and provides practical tips for improving our well-being.
Table of Contents
The Science of Living
Summary of 7 key ideas
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Key idea 1 of 7
Mornings can be tough, but there are some tricks that can help.
Beep-beep-beep-beep! It’s morning, and that sound you hear? It’s the dreaded and familiar racket of your alarm clock going off. You reach out and hit snooze before it can drill any further into your sleepy head.
It’s a familiar scenario to many. After all, it’s hard to wake up in the morning. When you do finally pull yourself out of bed, you likely feel as if you’ve gone a few rounds with a heavyweight boxer. Why is it so difficult to feel fresh and sprightly first thing? And what can you do differently?
The key message here is: Mornings can be tough, but there are some tricks that can help.
Feeling a bit groggy in the morning is natural. That’s because many of your bodily systems, like the digestive tract and parts of your brain, fall into deep sleep at night. Getting them all going again can be like starting a car on a frosty morning; it takes a bit of time.
Also, the precise timing of when you wake determines how you feel. At night, your body passes through different stages of sleep. The lighter ones are REM phases – that’s when you dream – while the rest are deep and dreamless. If you wake during REM sleep, you’ll often feel refreshed. But waking from deep, dreamless sleep can leave you in a fog, as the frontal, thinking parts of your brain aren’t ready yet.
So what can you do when this happens? Well, getting out into daylight can help, as it increases levels of special “wake-up” hormones. You could also try stretching, gentle exercise, or yoga, as this will increase your heart rate and get blood flow to the regions of your brain that are still “asleep.”
But while these techniques can help shake off some morning inertia, part of it’s simply biological. Everyone has a different body clock, or chronotype. Your chronotype determines whether or not you’re a morning person, a night owl, or something in between.
For instance, if you always feel sluggish in the morning and alert at night, you’re a night owl. Your natural rhythm is set and there’s little you can do to change it. If that’s the case, your best career choice is one that allows flexible working – a workday tailored to your own personal body clock.
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What is The Science of Living about?
The Science of Living (2020) explores the science behind things you do every day and debunks some of the common myths that shape your habits. By doing this, it seeks to help you plan your days better, so that you can live a healthier, happier, and more productive life.
The Science of Living Review
The Science of Living (2021) by Stuart Farrimond is an insightful exploration of the principles that govern our daily lives and how we can use them to live better. Here's why this book is worth reading:
- It offers a deep dive into the science behind our habits, emotions, and decision-making processes, providing valuable knowledge for personal growth.
- With its practical advice and actionable strategies, the book empowers readers to make positive changes in their lives and cultivate healthier habits.
- The book's engaging storytelling and fascinating examples bring the science to life, ensuring that the exploration of human behavior is anything but boring.
Best quote from The Science of Living
The significance of breakfast is down to an individuals preference, lifestyle, and body clock.
—Stuart Farrimond
Who should read The Science of Living?
- Anyone interested in living a healthier, happier life
- Those looking to squeeze as much out their days as possible
- Workaholics, insomniacs, and oversleepers
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The Science of Living FAQs
What is the main message of The Science of Living?
Discover the scientific principles behind our everyday lives and learn how to make informed decisions for a healthier and happier life.
How long does it take to read The Science of Living?
The reading time for The Science of Living varies depending on the reader's speed. However, the Blinkist summary can be read in just 15 minutes.
Is The Science of Living a good book? Is it worth reading?
The Science of Living is worth reading as it offers valuable insights and practical knowledge to help you improve your well-being and understand the world better.
Who is the author of The Science of Living?
Stuart Farrimond is the author of The Science of Living.
What to read after The Science of Living?
If you're wondering what to read next after The Science of Living, here are some recommendations we suggest:
- Manage Your Day-To-Day by 99U and Jocelyn K. Glei
- Grit to Great by Linda Kaplan Thaler & Robin Koval
- Hyperfocus by Chris Bailey
- The Power of Starting Something Stupid by Richie Norton
- Getting COMFY by Jordan Gross
- How Not to Die by Michael Greger and Gene Stone
- Built to Move by Kelly Starrett & Juliet Starrett
- Successful Aging by Daniel J. Levitin
- Outlive by Peter Attia
- The Pause Principle by Cynthia Kane