What Are Executive Function Skills?
These skills are the mental functions we need to use to "execute" our daily lives and tasks. The term comes from neuroscience descriptions of the following skills:
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Planning/Organizing
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Self-Control/ Emotional Regulation
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Time Management
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Initiating Tasks
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Perseverance
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Flexibilty
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Attention
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Working Memory
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Metacognition (awareness about your thinking, thoughts, and learning)
Typically those with any learning challenges or brain-based differences, like ADHD, can be developmentally 3-5 years behind those without these conditions...but coaching can help close that gap!
What does it look like in everyday life?
In children & teens:
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low tolerance for frustration; gives up easily
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Bossiness and stubbornness
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rejection and/or bullying by peers
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academic struggles
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poor self esteem
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emotional immaturity
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loses things, messy rooms or uncompleted chores and tasks
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can't remember directions given
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racing thoughts
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poor sleep, eating and exercise habits
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interrupts others speaking
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can't wait their turns
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problems with authority figures
In adults:
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"ADHD tax": money lost by forgetting to pay things on time, cancel things, impulsive purchases, forgetting to save
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marital and relationship problems
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time management struggles at home and work
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low tolerance for frustration
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poor sleep, exercise, diet habits
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can't keep up at work
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internal restlessness
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racing thoughts and rumination
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explosive temper or rapid onset of negative emotions