Welcome to the Executive Functioning at Home Series, where we will be taking a closer look at how the principles of executive functioning apply at home to keep up with the tasks we require for day-to-day living. 

While the term “executive functioning” might evoke visions of completing school assignments or work projects on time, it is also an essential component of the little things we do each day to meet our basic needs and work toward our goals. 

That includes all we do at home, from chores to hygiene to deciding what time we want to spend on what hobbies. The purpose of this series is to establish a framework for ways that executive functioning might apply at home, how to establish a supportive environment for practicing executive functioning skills, and managing or troubleshooting issues related to executive functioning across the day.

To start, let’s take a closer look at some categories that fit under the skill of executive functioning and consider ways that they might apply at home. A quick note about our executive functioning categories before we begin: when going through them, you might notice some conceptual overlap between the categories. 

Alternately, you may have seen the broad umbrella of executive functioning broken down differently in a different context. While we have created our own framework for executive functioning , it is by no means the only one or the singular best option for every person. 

The most important part of any executive functioning is finding a system that works for you, and if combining certain categories or inserting your own framework feels more helpful for what you are doing then we encourage you to do so! With that out of the way, let’s dive into our nine categories.

Organizational executive functioning skills most often revolve around making sure we have all we need to complete the tasks we need to complete and know how to access those things when we need them. 

Where do we keep the cleaning supplies for when there is a mess? What cabinets and drawers have the kitchen equipment for making spaghetti and meatballs? The way we organize ourselves to manage our tasks makes a big difference in how we complete them. 

On top of the components we need for tasks, organizational skills can help with setting up systems for managing the information we require to keep up with all we do each day!

Planning and organization skills often go hand in hand, and if organization covers the logistics then planning focuses more on the big picture. 

What kind of diet do we want to eat week to week? When should we start thinking about spring cleaning? If we can’t complete all the at home projects we want to complete this month, which should we prioritize first? Planning helps us understand our direction and adjust as needed.

Task initiation skills can be stressful ones to practice, and task initiation at home is no different. It can be especially challenging when the tasks in question are associated with a daily routine that might not include a lot of buffer time. 

Home tasks requiring task initiation skills might include breaking down a daily routine into manageable tasks, trying out methods for easing the transition between different tasks, or setting time limits.

If planning is big picture, then metacognition is the big, big picture. Metacognition is how we connect various executive functioning skills to one another and identify what is and isn’t working. 

Is my daily schedule making it hard to cook dinner the way I would like to? Am I struggling with completing each of my daily tasks because they take longer than I expected? Do I struggle to adapt to an unexpected change when I am frustrated or upset? Metacognition helps us think about how all those different moving pieces fit together.

As crucial as it is to work essential chores and daily living tasks into our routine, first we have to learn how to actually complete those tasks! That’s where working memory comes in. Working memory helps us remember how we complete various essential tasks, and is a skill to work on like any other. 

Crucially, while we call it working memory there is more to it than just trying to store the information in our brains! Working memory also includes the tools we use to aid our memory when we are still learning or need reminders.

Change can happen at any time despite our best laid plans, and the way we adjust can often be the key difference maker between whether we can continue to meet our needs or work toward our goals. 

What do we do if we have more guests for dinner than anticipated? How do we adjust our schedule if there is a sudden unexpected mess? How do we manage our dental hygiene routine when we are experiencing a sudden toothache? 

Planning and organizing can help with some of these scenarios, but sometimes we need to work on the skills that help us adjust in the moment or come up with new strategies on the fly!

Self-regulation is all about identifying our needs and emotions as they arise and taking steps to ensure we are able to navigate those needs. 

In the context of executive functioning, self-regulation helps us identify when we might be feeling overwhelmed and need a break, ensure bodily needs like eating are reasonably met, and to use coping strategies when we make a mistake or face a setback. 

One great example of self-regulation at home might be processing frustration over a meal that didn’t turn out as planned by trying to learn from it and applying those lessons to the next meal. 

Another example might be processing frustration over a meal that didn’t run out as planned by deciding to take the night off and order takeout. 

A third example might be to make sure we complete our daily hygiene routine before doing any chores because feeling fresh and clean helps us meet the tasks of the day. The crucial thing is finding out what works for you and going from there!

Time management is fairly self-explanatory and comes up in lots of different circumstances at home. Perhaps the most classic example of time management at home is morning routines, which often must happen on a specific timeline so that the rest of the day’s schedule goes smoothly. Determining how long it takes to do each morning routine task, and how much time to allot for it, is one of the most helpful time management skills a person can learn.

If meta-cognition is about considering the big picture, self-monitoring is about finding more concrete systems for measuring our progress. In what ways is the work we are doing tangibly helping meet our needs or working toward our goals. A great example at home might be a morning routine - you might notice you complete all of our tasks but that it often takes far more time than you want. Self-monitoring can also entail an awareness of one’s own strengths, preferences, and challenges. Self-monitoring might entail recognizing one’s own aversion to a particular task and the need for additional tools or support.

Every facet of executive functioning plays a role across every facet of our lives, and at home is no exception. We hope this post has offered a basic framework for places that the different categories of executive functioning can apply at home. If you have your own experiences with executive functioning at home that you’d like to share or there’s another topic you’d like to hear about from us just drop us a line at hello@autismgrownup.com . In the meantime in Part 2 we will be taking a closer look at how to create a supportive environment for practicing executive functioning across those categories.