Choose Your Struggle: Creating a Daily Rhythm That Solves Real Problems

WORKSHOP SCRIPT

Theme: “Choose Your Struggle: Creating a Daily Rhythm That Solves Real Problems”

Audience: Teens (13–19) + their parents

Length: ~90 minutes

Format: Interactive circle + reflective journaling + time-blocking activity

Goal: Help teens & parents co-create sustainable daily routines that solve real problems and lead to clarity, satisfaction, and better communication.

OPENING (0:00–0:15)

Facilitator Script:

“Welcome everyone! Thanks for coming. Today we’re here to talk about something simple, but powerful: how to build a daily rhythm that actually works—for YOU.But we’re not here to give you a one-size-fits-all ‘perfect routine.’ We’re going to explore how your problems—yes, problems—can actually be the key to feeling more in control and happier.As Mark Manson writes in The Subtle Art of Not Giving a Fck*, 'Happiness comes from solving problems. The keyword here is ‘solving.’ If you’re avoiding problems, you’re avoiding happiness.'So today we’re going to stop avoiding problems like ‘I have no energy’ or ‘I can’t focus’ or ‘I don’t talk to my teen without fighting.’ Instead, we’re going to choose our struggle. We’re going to pick worthy problems and solve them together through time-blocking and realistic rhythm."

“Also—let’s agree on something now: all requests we make of each other today—whether it’s ‘please respect my morning space’ or ‘I need help waking up earlier’—should be answers to problems. Not control. Not punishment. Not laziness. Requests should be solutions, not escapes.”

Having a schedule allows us to focus on the things we want..

SECTION 1: WHAT’S THE REAL PROBLEM? (0:15–0:35)

Activity: Silent journaling + pair sharingPrompt for Teens and Parents:

What is one thing you’re currently unhappy with in your daily rhythm? What is the problem behind that unhappiness? Is it a problem worth solving? Why or why not?

Facilitator Script:

“If your life were a video game, today we’re asking: what level are you stuck on? And what’s the real challenge there?Example: ‘I’m always tired’ isn’t just about energy—it could be a lack of sleep, no wind-down time, too much phone use, or pressure to be productive 24/7.Let’s write quietly for 5 minutes, and then teens and parents will pair to share one insight with each other. Try to listen without interrupting or fixing—just hear each other out.”

SECTION 2: TIME-BLOCKING AS PROBLEM-SOLVING (0:35–0:55)

Activity: Create a real-time daily schedule using 4 “focus blocks”:

1. Morning (6–10am)

2. Midday (10am–2pm)

3. Afternoon (2–6pm)

4. Night (6–10pm)

Facilitator Script:

“Ayurveda teaches us that the body, mind, and energy are different at different times of the day. We can either fight that… or work with it. This is why time-blocking isn’t about control—it’s about solving real problems in a rhythm that feels good.Let’s take 4 sticky notes or index cards and label them with each part of the day. On each one, write: 1 core activity 1 non-negotiable need 1 healthy boundary These blocks should be solving one of your real problems.”

Example Block (Teen):

• Core activity: Study or online class

• Need: Quiet space

• Boundary: No phone until task is complete

Example Block (Parent):

• Core activity: Work meeting

• Need: Breakfast & coffee

• Boundary: No family interruptions 8–9am

“Post them in order and let’s build your rhythm visually. You’re choosing your struggles: instead of arguing later about dishes or phone use, you’re solving the problem now—by naming needs, values, and boundaries.”

SECTION 3: CONVERSATION PRACTICE (0:55–1:15)

Activity: Role-play: “Make a Request That Solves a Problem”Prompts:

• “What’s the problem this solves?”

• “How can we both benefit?”

• “What boundary needs to be clear?”

Facilitator Script:

“Let’s shift from command-style parenting and passive-aggressive silence into real dialogue.The key: make requests that solve a shared problem and allow each person to feel heard.Remember: Happiness doesn’t come from having no problems. It comes from solving the right ones. So, choose them wisely.”

Examples:

• Teen: “I’d like 30 minutes alone after school to reset, so I don’t snap when we talk.”

• Parent: “I need help with dinner cleanup. It’s stressful after work. Can you take dishes on M/W/F?”

SECTION 4: WRAP-UP & INTEGRATION (1:15–1:30)

Activity: Share 1 insight + 1 commitmentTakeaway Tool: Printable "Choose Your Struggle: Weekly Planner" (can be provided on request)

Facilitator Script:

“Today we learned that solving real-life problems—like managing energy, sleep, and respect—is actually the foundation of a happy life.You can’t skip problems. But you can choose better ones. The ones that help you grow, connect, and feel satisfied.Mark Manson reminds us: solving problems well is what happiness is. So this summer, instead of aiming for ‘perfect,’ aim for meaningful rhythm. Make your daily life a tool for solving what matters—and forget the rest.”

SELF-REFLECTION QUESTIONS:

1. What part of your day feels most chaotic or frustrating right now? Why?

2. What’s one part of your daily routine that actually feels good? What makes it work well?

3. What’s a small change you could make to your morning or night routine that would improve your energy or mood?

4. Where do you waste the most time or feel the most drained? What problem could you solve there?

5. What’s something you always want to do, but never make time for? Could it go in a block this week?

6. What’s one non-negotiable need you have during the day (rest, food, movement, alone time)? How could you protect it?

7. What’s a habit you want to build (reading, journaling, moving your body, less screen time)? When could that realistically fit in your schedule?

8. How do you want to feel at the end of the day? What kind of rhythm would help you feel that way?

   
   

   CONVERSATION STARTERS FOR TEENS & PARENTS

   (Use during or after the “Make a Request That Solves a Problem” practice)

   1. What’s something you wish your parent/teen understood about how your day feels?

   2. What’s one thing that causes most arguments at home? Is there a way to schedule around it?

   3. What’s one request you could make that would help reduce stress or conflict this week?

   4. What do you need from your parent/teen in order to succeed with your new routine?

   5. What boundary do you want to set, and how can you explain that it’s a solution—not a rejection?

   6. How can we respect each other’s energy or focus times at home? (ex. quiet hours, shared work time)

   7. What’s a family rhythm that would make our house feel calmer or more cooperative?

   8. How will we check in about our schedules and support each other without pressure or guilt?

   
   

   CLOSING REFLECTIONS

   (Use to wrap up the session or week)

   1. What’s one thing that went well with your rhythm this week? Why do you think it worked?

   2. What surprised you about how you felt once your schedule had more structure?

   3. What do you still need to adjust or experiment with?

   4. Did solving one of your daily problems help you feel more in control or calm?

   5. What kind of problems do you want to be known for handling well?