A set of mental skills that act like the brain’s CEO, helping you plan, organize, remember, and manage tasks. Executive function skills include working memory (holding info in mind, like remembering instructions), cognitive flexibility (shifting your thinking or adapting to new rules), and inhibitory control (resisting impulses and staying focused). When a student has strong executive function, they can do things like break a project into steps, stay on schedule, and keep track of their stuff. If these skills are weak (common in ADHD and young kids), things like homework and time management are harder. The good news is, with practice and tools (planners, reminders, routines), executive function can improve over time, making school and daily life much easier to navigate.
Keywords: executive function, planning skills, self-regulation
