Executive Function Strategies Blog

Almost everyone has a picture in their head of how their lives should run. It typically goes something like this: Your living space is orderly and tidy, with carefully chosen containers and efficient ways to house your belongings. Last minute guests? No biggie. Your place always looks ready to entertain friends and family. Your finances are in good order and you live within your means, making wise choices about how you spend your hard-earned money. You monitor your bills and make sure every charge is legitimate and every payment is on time. You are on top of your schedule and never need to rush out the door.  And - hey look! - there are your keys/wallet/purse/phone in a dedicated space where they are always waiting for you to you grab on your way out.

OK, so this is just a fantasy, right?

Everything these days seems to be going digital. Apps for this, websites for that, Google Home or Alexa taking up residence in our living rooms. It can be helpful for planning and keeping track of our busy lives, but can also a bit overwhelming and distracting. For those of us who prefer paper and pen as opposed to a digital calendar, using a day planner can be one of the keys to success. While pre-printed planners are great for some people (kudos to you who rock your world with one), many of us would benefit from some flexibility and control over the content, design, and set up of each page. Enter the Bullet Journal.

The lazy days of summer are nearing an end and the kids are finally heading back to school. This time of year can be a relief for many parents, but it can also feel overwhelming: How will we be ready for that hectic first day? Where is that school supply list? Did my child complete their summer reading log? If your child has Executive Function issues, much of the burden often falls on you, as a parent, to help your child to be prepared for the first day of school. But what if you also struggle to stay organized?

If you’re like me, your life is totally together and scheduled and organized and you never feel stressed or overwhelmed by anything.

Ok, so maybe that’s not exactly true -- but that’s where improving Executive Function skills can help.

Executive Function skills are certainly not only about helping kids manage schoolwork. While adults tend to have better self-management skills than children, they have greater demands in their daily lives to meet as well. In fact, most adults feel that they barely have time to read a long intro to a blog post, so I’ll cut straight to the chase: Here are three common challenges that arise in adulthood and three ways that Executive Function skills can help you rise to those challenges.