Executive Functioning
Surprisingly, there is no single agreed upon definition of executive functioning (E.F.) even after decades of the concept's existence!
Executive Functioning foundations and skills are learnable, and we learn many of them in childhood. Everyone’s skillset is different.
My colleague, ​Rhys McGovern, of New Leaf Language, describes three executive functioning foundations as the following: working memory, cognitive flexibility, and inhibitory control.
Below is an example of how those three foundations, as well as executive functioning skills, exist in a student's life.
Taylor's story
A college student ADHDer, Taylor, is required to write a research paper for a writing class. They want to get a good grade and choose to do it on house cats. 😻
EF foundations & skills used: setting goals, making choices
Taylor loves cats, and is excited! While this excitement does engage them, they notice that they feel a little overwhelmed by the sheer amount of information available. They take some slow, deep breaths.
EF foundations & skills used: cognitive flexibility, self-monitoring, regulating
Fortunately, they have learned that outlines are helpful for them, and they sit down at their desk to start writing one.
EF foundations & skills used: working memory, self talk, self-motivation, transitioning, adjusting to change
To help them focus better, they turn on do-not-disturb to help reduce distractions. They set their visual timer for 20 minutes, so they can check in with themself when it goes off, and then begin with writing just the names of sections for the outline.
EF foundations & skills used: inhibiting distractions, working memory, focusing attention, initiating action, managing time, sequencing information, organizing thoughts, persisting towards a goal