ADHD & Executive Function Blog

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The How Skills The How Skills

Avoiding Meltdowns: Preparing Your Kids for Transitioning Activities

Transitioning activities can require a lot of mental energy, executive function skills, and emotional regulation. For children, moving from a preferred activity to a non-preferred one can feel overwhelming and challenging. 

Fortunately, teaching the skill of transitioning doesn't have to be a daily battle. By implementing a few proactive routines, you can help your child navigate these daily shifts with much less stress. 

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The How Skills The How Skills

Slice of Life: Energy and Life Management Prioritization

To manage executive function barriers, some individuals prefer visual representations of their week using either a calendar, graph, or to-do list. For this framework, we’ll be using a pie chart represented by your life’s buckets. This pie chart represents 100% of your week: you do not get any extra time or energy, even if you want it. If one slice of your life gets bigger, another slice must get smaller. You cannot simply expand the pie. 

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The How Skills The How Skills

Take a Walk: The Science Behind the Simple Stress Reduction and Problem-Solving Strategy

We’ve all heard the advice when we’re feeling overwhelmed, stuck on a problem, or trapped in a midday slump: "Just go take a walk." It sounds deceptively simple, almost too simple, but it is incredibly effective. There is a reason walking is one of the most consistently recommended strategies for stress reduction, problem-solving, and beating boredom. It isn't just a distraction or a way to burn a few calories. Instead, it’s a powerful, science-backed hack for your brain. 

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The How Skills The How Skills

It’s Not Just "Mom Brain,” It’s a Breakdown in Executive Function  

In the professional world, we talk about executive function as the CEO of the brain. But at home, it’s more complex due to the nature of the tasks at hand. Parents are more like the air traffic control tower that is responsible for landing the planes, managing the fuel, and making sure everyone stays safe without crashes. For moms, this system is often running at 110% capacity, leading to a unique set of struggles that go far beyond simple forgetfulness, overstimulation and “mom brain.”

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Unlocking the Power of Body Doubling

Do you ever find yourself staring blankly at a screen, unable to start that big project, or getting perpetually distracted from household chores? You're not alone. Many people, especially those with ADHD or executive function challenges, struggle with task initiation and sustained focus. 

The secret weapon you might be missing? Body doubling. 

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The How Skills The How Skills

Task Initiation: 5 Strategies to Use When You're Feeling Stuck

We've all been there: staring at a to-do list, knowing exactly what needs to be done, yet feeling a strange, immovable resistance. That “wall of awful” feeling can be the biggest hurdle to productivity and task initiation. Task initiation is an executive function that involves the ability to start a task or activity promptly and without unnecessary delay

If you struggle to get going, you're not lazy: you just need the right tools to build momentum.

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The How Skills The How Skills

ADHD Support: Tips, Tricks, Tools, and Helpful Sites Curated by ADHDers for ADHDers

Living with ADHD can feel like navigating a world built for brains that operate differently than your own. But here's the secret: you're not alone, and there's a whole community of ADHDers who have figured out some brilliant ways to not just survive but thrive! This blog post is a collection of insights, tools, and resources, curated by ADHDers for ADHDers. 

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The How Skills The How Skills

What to Do When an Accommodation is Not Effective or When a Request is Denied 

Navigating the world with a disability often means relying on reasonable accommodations, which are changes or adjustments to the environment or job/school structure that enable equal opportunity. Whether in the workplace or an educational setting, the accommodation process is not always linear. 

So, what should you do if the accommodation you received isn't actually helping, or if your initial request was denied?  

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Navigating a Leave of Absence: Understanding Short-Term Disability and Long-Term Disability

Taking a leave of absence from work due to a medical condition can be overwhelming. Beyond managing your health, you face the overwhelming challenge of securing your financial future when navigating the unknown of logistics and paperwork associated with filing for long- or short-term disability. Short-Term Disability (STD) and Long-Term Disability (LTD) insurance can be incredibly beneficial, but it’s important to first understand the differences, qualifications, and application process for each to ensure that you have a smooth transition during a difficult time.

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Neurodiversity and Leadership: How to Lead Inclusively 

In today's dynamic world, effective leadership demands more than just strategic thinking and strong decision-making; it requires a deep understanding and appreciation for the diverse minds within your team. Neurodiversity, the idea that neurological differences are simply variations of the human brain rather than deficits, is a crucial aspect of this diversity. By embracing neurodiversity, leaders can unlock a wealth of talent, foster innovation, and build truly inclusive and high-performing teams. 

To lead inclusively, you can follow these four pillars:

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Student Strategies: Finishing the Semester Strong

The final weeks of a college semester can feel like a marathon with an ever-increasing load of papers, projects, and final exams. It's important to create an effective system for managing not only your workload, but also your stress: that's where executive function skills come in. 

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The How Skills The How Skills

The Role of Technology in Supporting Executive Function

New and innovative technology is stepping up as a powerful ally, offering several ways to support, manage and enhance your executive function skills. 

Let's explore how technology can support executive functions: from specific applications to broader assistive technology tools, and pinpoint which executive function areas benefit most. 

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The How Skills The How Skills

You're Not Lazy, You're Just Burnt Out: Understanding Neurodivergent Burnout Before It Happens 

In a world that often operates on neurotypical norms, neurodivergent individuals navigate unique challenges, especially in the workplace. From sensory overload to social masking, the executive function skills it takes for some neurodivergent individuals to endure a day of work can be profoundly draining. This constant exertion can lead to a specific and often misunderstood phenomenon: neurodivergent burnout. It's not laziness; it's a state of utter exhaustion that can impact every facet of life. Understanding how to identify and address it before it takes hold is crucial for well-being.

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Throwing A Holiday Party: How To Ensure Your Executive Function Skills Are Top Tier

For anyone hosting a holiday party, these skills are crucial to ensure that everything runs smoothly: no burnt turkeys, the perfect decor, and remembering to get everyone in your life a special gift. In this blog post, we will delve into what executive function skills are, how they impact your ability to host an event, and provide you with five essential tips to elevate your planning and execution, making your festive gathering a success. 

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Managing Screen Time: Tips for Avoiding Over Consumption of Screens for Adolescents 

For parents and guardians, managing screen time can feel like a constant balancing act, especially with the diverse needs of neurotypical and neurodivergent children, and the ever-present allure of screens for adolescents. Here are 5 actionable tips to help you manage screen time effectively, fostering mindful consumption and strong family connections.

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The How Skills The How Skills

Bored? Stuck? Lacking Motivation? Try the ICNU Framework!

Feeling bored, stuck, or unmotivated is a common experience many of us face. Did you know that nearly 40% of adults report lack of motivation at work (Gallup, 2025)? This blog post will introduce you to the ICNU Framework—an innovative approach to overcoming task initiation that stands for Interest, Challenge, Novelty, and Urgency. By incorporating these elements into your daily tasks, you can regain your motivation and break free from the monotony that may be holding you back.

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Client Success Story: Max, a Senior Level Financial Consultant with ADHD and Anxiety

Meet Max, a senior-level financial consultant who struggled to find his footing amidst the chaos of his busy office life. The fast-paced, high-stimulation, and project-based nature of his finance role was incredibly appealing to him as an individual with ADHD. His role provided him with the novelty and intense focus, or “hyperfocus" that individuals with ADHD often seek. However, with deadlines slipping through his fingers and tensions mounting with his manager, Max's job was becoming increasingly overwhelming.

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