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Why Can't I Just Start?

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Lesson Plan

Unlocking Task Initiation

Students will identify common psychological barriers to task initiation and learn practical strategies to overcome procrastination.

Understanding why we delay starting tasks is the first step to overcoming procrastination. This lesson equips students with self-awareness and actionable techniques to tackle their to-do lists more effectively, reducing stress and improving academic performance.

Audience

9th Grade Students

Time

50 minutes

Approach

Interactive discussion, strategic note-taking, and practical application.

Materials

Smartboard or Projector, Markers or Pens, Whiteboard or Chart Paper, The Procrastination Puzzle, Brain Freeze Challenge, My Starting Line Stories, and Barrier Buster Blueprint

Prep

Teacher Preparation

15 minutes

Step 1

Warm-Up: Brain Freeze Challenge

10 minutes

  • Begin with the Brain Freeze Challenge warm-up displayed on the board.
  • Ask students to quickly jot down their initial thoughts or share with a partner.
  • Facilitate a brief class discussion about their experiences and what made starting difficult or easy for them. (5 minutes)

Step 2

Introduction: The Procrastination Puzzle

10 minutes

  • Present The Procrastination Puzzle slide deck, focusing on the initial slides that introduce task initiation and common barriers.
  • Use the script provided within the teacher notes of the slide deck to guide the discussion.
  • Encourage students to share examples of these barriers from their own lives (e.g., perfectionism, fear of failure, unclear instructions). (5 minutes)

Step 3

Discussion: My Starting Line Stories

15 minutes

  • Transition to the My Starting Line Stories discussion prompts.
  • Divide students into small groups (3-4 students).
  • Provide each group with a set of prompts or display them on the board.
  • Circulate among groups to facilitate conversation and offer guidance.
  • Bring the class back together for a brief whole-group share-out of key insights or challenges. (10 minutes)

Step 4

Activity: Barrier Buster Blueprint

10 minutes

  • Introduce the concept of

Step 5

Wrap-Up: Quick Reflection

5 minutes

  • Ask students to reflect on one new strategy they learned today that they will try.
  • Briefly discuss how overcoming task initiation barriers can positively impact their academic and personal lives.
  • Collect the Barrier Buster Blueprint worksheets for review.
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Slide Deck

The Procrastination Puzzle: Why Can't I Just Start?

Ever feel stuck before you even begin?
Let's crack the code of getting started!

Welcome students to the lesson. Engage them with the title and ask them to think about what 'procrastination' means to them. Introduce the concept of task initiation as the opposite of procrastination.

What's the Deal with 'Starting'?

It's the first step, the jump-off point.
But sometimes, that first step feels impossible.
Why do we delay even when we know we should start?

Ask students to consider some tasks they have put off. Facilitate a brief discussion about why they think they put those tasks off. Introduce the idea that there are common reasons behind this.

Barrier #1: The Mountain Ahead

Feeling Overwhelmed

  • Task seems too big, too complex, too much.
  • Where do I even begin?!

Introduce the first barrier: Feeling Overwhelmed. Ask students if they've ever looked at a big project and just frozen. Explain how breaking tasks down can help.

Barrier #2: The Perfect Trap

Fear of Failure & Perfectionism

  • What if it's not good enough?
  • I need it to be perfect before I show anyone.

Introduce the second barrier: Fear of Failure/Perfectionism. Discuss how the desire to do something perfectly can ironically prevent us from starting at all. Emphasize that 'done is better than perfect' for initial steps.

Barrier #3: The Foggy Path

Lack of Clarity

  • I don't know what to do.
  • I'm not sure where to find the information.
  • The instructions are confusing.

Introduce the third barrier: Lack of Clarity/Unsure How to Start. Explain that sometimes we don't start because we genuinely don't know what to do or how to do it. Highlight the importance of clear instructions or asking for help.

Barrier #4: The Siren Song of... Anything Else!

Distractions & Low Motivation

  • So many other interesting things to do!
  • This task is boring/hard.
  • My phone is right there...

Introduce the fourth barrier: Distractions & Low Motivation. This is often the most relatable. Discuss how easily we can be pulled away and how a lack of inherent interest makes starting harder.

Cracking the Puzzle: Strategies to Start!

Good news! You're not stuck with these barriers.
We can learn ways to break through and get things done.
Let's explore some 'Barrier Buster' strategies!

Transition to strategies. Introduce the idea that just as there are barriers, there are also tools to overcome them. This slide sets up the upcoming discussion and activity.

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Warm Up

Brain Freeze Challenge

Instructions: Think about a task you really needed to start recently, but just couldn't. It could be homework, a chore, or something else.

Quickly jot down your answers to the following questions. Don't overthink it!

  1. What was the task?



  2. What was the very first thing you needed to do to start it (even a tiny step)?



  3. What stopped you from starting right away?



  4. If you eventually started, what finally helped you get going?



Share your thoughts with a partner, or be ready to discuss with the class.

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Discussion

My Starting Line Stories

Instructions: In your groups, discuss the following prompts. Be open and honest about your experiences. There are no right or wrong answers, just shared understanding!

  1. Think about a time you had a big project or assignment, and you kept putting off starting it. What was that task, and what thoughts or feelings did you have before you finally began (or didn't begin)?






  2. Have you ever felt completely overwhelmed by a task and just didn't know how to take the first step? Describe that feeling and what about the task made it seem so daunting.






  3. Sometimes, the fear of making a mistake or not doing something perfectly stops us. Has this ever happened to you? How did the idea of perfection prevent you from starting?






  4. What kinds of things distract you most when you know you should be starting a task? (e.g., phone, friends, other activities, even just staring into space!)






  5. Share a success story! When was a time you did manage to start a difficult task, even when you didn't want to? What helped you push through and begin?

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Worksheet

Barrier Buster Blueprint: My Plan to Get Started!

Instructions: Based on our discussion and the strategies we talked about, choose ONE task you need to start soon. Use this blueprint to create a plan to tackle it!

1. The Task I Need To Start:

(Be specific! e.g., "Start my history essay," "Begin my science project research," "Clean my room")




2. My Biggest Barrier(s) to Starting This Task:

(Circle or list the barriers you think apply most to this specific task)

  • Feeling Overwhelmed
  • Fear of Failure/Perfectionism
  • Lack of Clarity (Don't know what to do)
  • Distractions/Low Motivation
  • Other: ____________________________




3. Barrier Buster Strategies: My Action Plan!

For each barrier you identified, choose at least one strategy to help you overcome it. If you have another barrier, come up with your own strategy!

If I'm Feeling Overwhelmed...

  • Strategy: Break the task into tiny, manageable steps. What is the absolute smallest first step I can take? (e.g., "Open laptop," "Read the first paragraph of instructions," "Find one source")




If I have Fear of Failure/Perfectionism...

  • Strategy: Give myself permission to make a
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Why Can't I Just Start? • Lenny Learning