Executive Function Skills and the High School Student
Executive functioning skills in high school are critical to your success and beyond. They are essential cognitive processes that enable individuals to manage their thoughts, emotions, and behaviors effectively. Further, these skills are crucial for high schoolers’ academic success, social interactions, and well-being. Examples of executive function skills are planning and organization, time management, attention control, working memory, inhibition, flexibility, goal setting, and monitoring and initiation.
Planning and Organization: This involves setting goals, developing strategies, and creating plans to achieve them. You must effectively organize your time, materials, and tasks to complete assignments, study for exams, and balance extracurricular activities. High school is the best time to develop good organization habits and sharpen executive functioning skills that you will carry into college and life. An easy one to start learning now is to check your email regularly! Colleges will not text or WhatsApp you with news or important information. You will miss key deadlines without checking your email at least twice daily.
Keeping your papers organized and knowing when assignments are due is a good start. Whether you use Post-it notes, different-colored pens, or the various trackers available, find a system that cuts down on clutter and makes materials easy to see and find. Several apps are available to help you do this; I’d be happy to help you find one that meets your needs .http://rememberthemilk.com is an app I’m trying right now. I’ll keep you posted on how I like it.
Time Management: Next is time management. You must learn to allocate your time wisely, prioritize tasks, and meet deadlines. Practical time management skills help students avoid procrastination, reduce stress, and maintain a healthy balance between academic responsibilities and other activities like napping and hoping it all goes away. (It doesn’t.) It’s so easy to get lost scrolling on Instagram or reading on Kindle. Set a timer and stick to it.
Find Your Peak Work Hours
I do the work that requires the most concentration in the morning, and I take a break from 2 to 3. Find a system that works for you. I understand some of you are night owls and work better at that time. Plot your quizzes and tests in your calendar app beforehand; no surprises!
Attention Control: This refers to the ability to focus and sustain attention on tasks, ignore distractions, and shift attention when necessary. You must concentrate during class lectures, study sessions, and exams to comprehend complex information and retain key concepts. This has been a hard one with my townhouse undergoing significant renovations. It’s loud! I learned about ambient noise devices, and they have been a huge help. Noise-canceling headphones are worth the investment! Turning the phone on Quite/Focus has been a game-changer for me!
Working Memory: Working memory involves holding and manipulating information in the mind for short periods. High schoolers use working memory when following multi-step instructions, solving problems, and completing tasks that require mental manipulation of information. Our working memory is not great for those of us (like me) who take various medications. We need to keep an organized calendar, to-do lists, and prompts to keep us organized and on time.
Inhibition involves controlling impulses, regulating emotions, and resisting distractions or temptations. High school students must inhibit impulsive behaviors, manage emotions effectively, and stay focused on academic tasks despite external distractions.
Flexibility refers to adapting to changes, shifting strategies, and approaching problems from different perspectives. Additionally, high schoolers encounter various academic and social challenges that require them to be flexible in their thinking and problem-solving approaches.
Goal Setting and Monitoring: Set specific, achievable goals for your academic performance, extracurricular involvement, and personal development. Track progress toward these goals, adjust strategies as needed, and celebrate your successes, no matter how small.
Initiation In conclusion, initiation involves starting tasks independently without excessive procrastination or avoidance. To avoid falling behind, you must initiate studying, homework assignments, and other academic tasks promptly. Reach out to your teachers for assistance or tutoring. You might not know where to start or feel overwhelmed. That’s ok. Everyone has to start somewhere, and we will do it together. Learning these executive function skills now in high school or sharpening them is key to building strong study habits and work habits in the future. For more information on executive function and its importance, click herehttps://sethperler.com/executive-function-holy-grail/
To get assistance, contact me at [email protected] or www.admissionsuntangled.com
