Is Executive Function on Your College Prep Checklist?
Life skills and emotional preparation should be top of the list.
What are Executive Function Skills?
To put it plainly, executive function is the set of skills that help you get things done.
According to the Center on the Developing Child at Harvard University, “Executive function and self-regulation skills are the mental processes that enable us to plan, focus attention, remember instructions, and juggle multiple tasks successfully.”
In other words, executive function is…
A control center
An emotional processor
A developmental process
Why are executive function skills so important?
Here’s the problem:
“During adolescence, executive function skills are not yet at adult levels, but the demands placed on these skills often are. Teenagers need to communicate effectively in multiple contexts, manage their own school and extracurricular assignments, and successfully complete more abstract and complicated projects.” (Harvard)
Because the frontal lobe of the brain doesn’t fully develop until about age 25, every high school student and most college students have executive function deficits.
Practically, teens need to work on developing their executive skills so they can study effectively, manage their time, and organize their schedules.
What’s more, without appropriate self-regulation, students break down emotionally after hours of school, homework, extracurriculars, and college preparation. Some burn out before they even start college, and others struggle to persevere through to the end.
How can you improve executive function skills?
The good news is that executive function skills CAN be learned. It just takes dedicated practice.
Here are some tips to get started:
Focus on one thing at a time.
For example, if time management is an issue, start by clearing the space of distractions and setting a timer for focus.
Investigate emotional roots.
Are there any underlying emotional causes of an executive function deficit? If so, those need to be addressed.
Be positive.
Maintaining a growth mindset is really important!
Ask for help.
A family member, trusted friend, helpful teacher, or an executive function coach can provide guidance as your child grows in this area.
Executive function skills are the key to success in high school and college.
Executive function refers to a set of cognitive skills that play a crucial role in managing and regulating various aspects of our lives. Often referred to as the brain's "CEO," executive functions encompass a range of abilities that enable us to plan, organize, initiate tasks, focus attention, shift between tasks, regulate emotions, and exhibit self-control. These functions provide the foundation for goal-setting, decision-making, problem-solving, and effectively navigating daily challenges. From accomplishing everyday tasks to achieving long-term objectives, understanding and honing executive function skills is essential for successful functioning in both personal and academic spheres.
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