Welcome To The Executive Functioning 101 Resource Hub

Executive functioning (EF) literally refers to our ability to execute brain functions. These functions develop in the prefrontal cortex and are are essential for academic success, work performance, and everyday life.

While there is no commonly agreed upon or standardized list, executive functioning skills include:

• Planning: This involves goal setting, task analysis, and sequential organization. Good planning skills are essential for success in school, work, and life.
• Time Management: This skill allows us to plan and organize our time efficiently, which is essential for achieving goals and maximizing productivity.
• Task Initiation: This refers to the ability to start tasks and see them through to completion.
• Organization: This skill involves organizing one's thoughts, time, and resources effectively.
• Problem-Solving: This skill allows people to identify issues and develop creative solutions.
• Cognitive Flexibility: This skill allows us to adapt our plans in response to changing circumstances.
• Working Memory: This cognitive function allows us to temporarily hold and manipulate information in our minds.
• Emotional Control: This skill involves being able to maintain emotional control, which is essential for success in the workplace.
• Impulse Control: This skill involves the ability to resist the urge to do something that you know you shouldn’t do.
• Attentional Control: This skill helps us to focus on tasks, ignore distractions, and resist impulsive behavior.
• Self-Monitoring: This skill involves being able to monitor one’s own behavior.

Actionable strategies to help improve one's ability to identify and sequence the activities required to achieve a desired goal.

Actionable strategies to help improve one's ability to use time effectively and understanding how it impacts oneself and others.

Actionable strategies to help improve one's ability to begin working on a task without the need for external prompting.

Actionable strategies to help improve one's ability to design and maintain systems for keeping track of information.

Actionable strategies to help improve one's ability to find multiple solutions to difficult or complex issues.

Actionable strategies to help improve one's ability to adapt thought processes in response to their ever-changing environment.

Actionable strategies to help improve one's ability to remember information and recall it later when needed.

Actionable strategies to help improve one's ability to respond to and manage positive and negative emotions and experiences in their environment.

Actionable strategies to help improve one's ability to prioritize wants and needs and resist or avoid doing things that may be harmful to ourselves and others.

Actionable strategies to help improve one's ability to choose what to pay attention to and tune out distractions.

Actionable strategies to help improve one's ability to understand their own actions or behaviors and adjust them to make changes for the future.