My Task Blockers Quick Poll

Instructions: Check the box next to any reason that typically makes it hard for you to start a task. You can check more than one!

• Perfectionism: I want it to be perfect, so I don't start until I'm sure I can do it flawlessly.
• Fear of Failure: I'm worried about not doing well, so I avoid starting.
• Lack of Clarity: I don't know exactly what to do or where to begin.
• Overwhelm: The task feels too big or complicated.
• Distraction: There are too many other interesting things to do.
• Lack of Motivation: I just don't feel like doing it.
• Don't know how to start: I have the information, but I don't know the first physical or mental step.
• Other: (Please describe briefly)
  
  
  

Sharing Our Starting Struggles: Discussion Guide

Instructions: In your small groups, discuss the following questions. Be respectful of each other's experiences and perspectives.

Discussion Questions:

1. Looking at the common task blockers we discussed (perfectionism, fear of failure, lack of clarity, overwhelm, distraction, lack of motivation), which one resonates most with you? Why?
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

2. Can you think of a specific time recently when you felt

Reflecting on My Hesitations

Instructions: Choose one or two of the task blockers that you identified as a challenge for you today. Then, think about a task you need to start soon (it could be for school, at home, or a personal goal). Use the prompts below to reflect on how you can apply the strategies we discussed.

Journal Prompts:

1. My Top Task Blocker(s): What is one or two specific reasons that make it hard for you to start tasks?
   
   
   
   
   
   

2. The Task I Need to Start: Describe a specific task you are currently struggling to start or anticipate struggling with.
   
   
   
   
   
   

3. My Chosen Strategy: Which of the strategies we discussed (Breaking it Down, The 5-Minute Rule, Setting Realistic Goals) do you think would be most helpful for this specific task and your specific blocker? Explain why.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

4. My First Small Step: What is the very first, smallest step you can take to begin this task? Make it so small it feels almost impossible not to do. (e.g., 'Open the document,' 'Write down one idea,' 'Find my notebook').
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

5. Anticipating Success: Imagine you successfully take that first small step. How do you think you'll feel? What might be the next tiny step after that?
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

The Starting Line Script

Warm-Up: My Task Blockers Quick Poll (10 minutes)

Teacher: "Good morning/afternoon, everyone! Today, we're going to tackle something that I think almost everyone experiences: getting stuck before you even start something. You know that feeling when you have a paper to write, a chore to do, or a project to begin, and for some reason, you just... don't?"

"To get us thinking about this, I've handed out a quick poll called My Task Blockers Quick Poll. It's anonymous, so be honest with yourselves. Simply check off any of the reasons that usually make it hard for you to start a task. Take about 5 minutes to complete it."

(Allow students to complete. Collect if desired or guide them to a digital submission. Briefly review the most common blockers if time allows.)

Teacher: "Thanks for sharing your thoughts. It looks like many of us face similar hurdles, and that's totally normal! Today, we're going to dig into why we get stuck and, more importantly, how we can get ourselves moving."

Introduction: Why Do We Get Stuck? (10 minutes)

Teacher: "Let's look at our first slide on The Starting Line Slide Deck." (Advance to Slide 2)

"The big idea we're talking about is task initiation. It's basically your ability to start a task without putting it off. Think about it like the starting line of a race. You know you need to run, but sometimes your feet just won't move."

"Why do you think we sometimes feel this way? Why is it so hard to take that first step? We're going to explore common 'task blockers' that prevent us from starting and, by the end of this lesson, you'll have some strategies to help you push through that initial resistance. Our goal is for you to be able to identify your own blockers and start finding ways to overcome them."

Exploring Common Barriers: Sharing Our Starting Struggles (20 minutes)

Teacher: "Let's dive deeper into some of these common 'task blockers.' Take a look at Slide 3 on The Starting Line Slide Deck." (Advance to Slide 3)

"We have perfectionism, fear of failure, lack of clarity, feeling overwhelmed, distractions, and lack of motivation. These are all very real and valid feelings. Now, I want you to talk about these with your classmates."

"I'm going to put you into small groups. In your groups, use the Sharing Our Starting Struggles Discussion Guide to talk through the questions. Be open and honest, but also respectful of each other's experiences. You'll have about 15 minutes for your discussion, and then we'll briefly share some key takeaways as a whole class."

(Circulate, listen, and facilitate. After 15 minutes, bring the class back together.)

Teacher: "Alright, let's bring it back together. What were some of the key ideas or feelings that came up in your discussions? Did anyone have an 'aha!' moment or realize something new about their own starting struggles?"

(Allow a few students to share briefly.)

Strategies for Unlocking Task Initiation (10 minutes)

Teacher: "Excellent discussions, everyone. It's clear this is something many of us deal with. The good news is, there are strategies we can use to overcome these blockers and get ourselves moving. Let's look at a few powerful ones."

(Advance to Slide 4 - Strategy 1: Break It Down)

Teacher: "Our first strategy is to Break It Down! When a task feels huge, like writing a 10-page research paper, it can feel impossible to start. But if you break that big task into super small, manageable steps – like 'research topic,' 'create outline,' 'write introduction' – it suddenly feels less daunting. What's an example of a big task you could break down into smaller steps?"

(Advance to Slide 5 - Strategy 2: The 5-Minute Rule)

Teacher: "Next, we have the 5-Minute Rule. This is a personal favorite! If you're really struggling to start something, tell yourself you only have to work on it for 5 minutes. Set a timer. Often, once you start, you'll find yourself getting into a groove and continuing for much longer. Even if you stop after 5 minutes, you've still started, and that's a win! Has anyone tried something like this before?"

(Advance to Slide 6 - Strategy 3: Set Realistic Goals & Celebrate Small Wins)

Teacher: "Finally, Set Realistic Goals and Celebrate Small Wins. We often get caught in the trap of perfectionism. It doesn't have to be perfect on the first try! Aim for progress, not perfection. And when you complete one of those small steps you broke down earlier, give yourself a mental high-five! Acknowledging those small wins builds momentum and confidence."

Reflection: Reflecting on My Hesitations (10 minutes)

Teacher: "Now it's time to put this into practice, at least in your thoughts. I'm handing out the Reflecting on My Hesitations Journal."

"Your task is to choose one or two of the blockers you identified earlier and think about a task you need to start soon. Then, use the prompts in the journal to apply one of the strategies we just discussed. This is for your personal reflection and growth, not for a grade, so really dig deep and think about how you can use these tools in your own life."

(Allow students to work on their journals. Circulate to offer support or answer questions.)

Cool Down: One Small Step (5 minutes)

Teacher: "To wrap up, let's look at our last slide on The Starting Line Slide Deck." (Advance to Slide 7)

"Thinking about everything we discussed today – the blockers and the strategies – what is one small step you can commit to taking today or tomorrow to overcome a task blocker for a real task you have? It could be as simple as 'I will open my math textbook' or 'I will write down the first sentence of my history paragraph.'"

(Optional: Have students share their small step with a partner or on an exit ticket.)

"Remember, the hardest part is often just starting. By understanding why we get stuck and having a few tools in our belt, we can make that starting line a little less intimidating. Great job today, everyone!"

My Starting Line: Cool Down

Instructions: Please answer the following questions honestly.

1. What is one new thing you learned today about why people get stuck before starting tasks?
   
   
   

2. Which strategy for task initiation (Breaking it Down, The 5-Minute Rule, Setting Realistic Goals) do you think you will try first? Why?
   
   
   
   
   
   

3. On a scale of 1 to 5, how confident are you feeling about taking a first step on a challenging task after today's lesson? (1 = Not confident at all, 5 = Very confident)