Activation Energy: Why Getting Started Is The Hardest Part

Activation energy is the minimum amount of energy that has to be available for a chemical reaction to occur. Broadly speaking, the beginning of any complex or challenging endeavor is the hardest part. Equate it to getting up in the morning. Some wake and jump out of bed ready to conquer. Others need a brief pause. Still others require a little extra energy in the form of roasted bean juice. This principle extends far beyond science. The main idea is very simple and can help you overcome inertia.

As a concept, activation energy is very intuitive. Anyone who has ever lit a fire will have an understanding of the process. You know that putting a single match to a log will not be enough. There’s also no need for a full-blown flamethrower. If the logs are damp, large, or dense, that changes things. This is a key example of activation energy. For a chemical reaction to occur, existing bonds must break for new ones to form. In a fire, you convert carbon in wood into carbon dioxide. The challenge is the initial heat required to get the fire started.

The catch is that we have an intuitive understanding of activation energy. You and I have some knowledge of how much energy starting a fire requires. The same applies to other tasks. We know going out for a run is harder than plopping down on the sofa. We also know merely sitting on the sofa is less energy-efficient than gulping down ice cream while we’re at it. And we are well-aware that we could effortlessly enhance the experience with little energy by turning on a movie. So we opt in for that: the path of least resistance for the biggest short-term benefit. The “reaction” in this case was prioritized by the biological instinct to value energy.

Now the concept can be applied to many examples beyond coffee to get up in the morning. Take the example of going out for a run. You need a particular level of activation energy to get started. This could come from a motivating speech or an inspiring book you heard or read. It could also be in the form of a pre-workout supplement or a call from your running partner waiting outside for you. Understanding and applying activation energy does not require a degree in chemistry.

Real-world examples of activation energy:

• Business Innovation: a company wants to implement a radical new technology. It will streamline operations. The activation energy is significant initial training, system overhaul, and workflow redesigns required to integrate the technology. Once installed, the new technology significantly reduces operating costs and improves efficiency. The initial heavy lift paves the way for long-term benefit.

• Personal Development: you want to adopt a healthier lifestyle. This includes regular exercise and improved nutrition. Your initial effort to change routines — waking up earlier, learning new recipes, joining the gym — requires overcoming comfort and inertia. After you establish the new habits however, the benefit accumulate. Health is improved. Energy levels are consistently higher. Relatively little effort is required to maintain what you have built.

• Social Movements: a community wants to address climate change by implementing sustainable practices. The activation energy is mobilizing community resources, raising awareness, and changing outdated behaviors. Once these big steps take root, they create a ripple effect. Further actions are thus inspired. Conservation efforts are a self-reinforcing norm within the community thereafter.

• Organizational Change: a company needs to shift its culture. It wants to go from traditional hierarchy to an agile framework. This transformation requires initial training, restructuring, and change coach investments. Significant upfront cost. With time, the organization wins. Flexibility is increased, innovation moves faster than ever, and decisions don’t get frozen in layers of bureaucratic stupidity.

How you might use the activation energy mental model: (1) find the wall — clearly determine what initial hurdles exist before you try to change, breaking the process and pinpointing where the highest effort is required; (2) step on the shoulders of giants — use tools like technology, expert guidance, mentors, partners, and automation to reduce the initial burden as much as possible; (3) the big push — recognize that the beginning phase of any effort will be more challenging and plan for it to be so; (4) maintain momentum — focus on early wins and small steps instead of big shifts so that you see how your efforts pay off; (5) monitor and reward — celebrate small victories and map out milestones for yourself to reach (e.g. certain amount of weight lost, kilometers ran, workout days, meal prep consistency, budgeting wins).