Executive functioning is being able to complete a task or job that has been asked of me. I have a routine to do a task or job and I complete it with ease as I am used to the way I work over a period. When I am asked to do a task or job at short notice I struggle considerably as I do not know where to begin as I try to put things in order. Without plenty of notice I cannot function correctly, but with notes this helps but can be time consuming.
Many people have the capacity to complete these tasks in less than half the time. I need information broken down into bite size pieces which sometimes holds me back as I feel that people are sometimes not patient enough in expecting a response. If I am asked to do tasks or jobs and given all the information needed with time to process, I cope quite well.
What other People Say
Trouble with executive function is not a diagnosis or a learning disability. It is common in people who learn and think differently. Lots of people with learning challenges struggle with executive function too.
People struggling with executive functioning may: have trouble starting and completing a task, difficulty prioritising tasks, forget what they just heard or read, have trouble following directions or a sequence of steps, panic when rules or routines change, have trouble switching focus from one task to another, get overly emotional and fixate on things, have trouble organising their thoughts, have trouble keeping track of their belongings and have trouble managing their time.
These difficulties can cause trouble with learning, but they do not mean that people with executive functioning issues are lazy and not intelligent. They are just as smart and work just as hard as other people. The Understood Team
When children have the opportunities to develop executive function, and self regulation skills, individuals and society experience lifelong benefits. These skills are crucial for learning and development. They also enable positive behaviour and allow for healthy choices.
Executive function and self regulatory skills depend on three types of brain function: working memory, mental flexibility and self control. These actions are highly interrelated, and the successful application of executive function skills requires them to operate in coordination with each other.
Working memory governs the ability to retain and manipulate distinct pieces of information over a short period of time. Mental flexibility helps to sustain or shift attention in response to different demands or apply different rules in different settings. Self control enables us to set priorities and resist impulsive actions or responses. Center on the Developing Child, Harvard University
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