Executive Function in College: Build the Skills You Need to Work Independently and Effectively

College life is an exciting journey marked by newfound freedom and opportunities for personal and academic growth. As a college student, you’re not only pursuing knowledge in your chosen field but also gaining vital life skills that will serve you beyond the classroom. One such skill set that holds immense importance in college and beyond is executive function. 

Understanding Executive Function

Imagine your brain as the CEO of a company, and executive function as the set of skills that CEO uses to manage and direct the organization’s operations. Executive function refers to a group of cognitive abilities that enable you to plan, organize, manage time, set goals, initiate tasks, and make decisions. In essence, these skills allow you to effectively regulate your thoughts, actions, and emotions in a purposeful manner.

The Role of Executive Function in College

College is a transitional phase where you’re expected to take charge of your own learning and navigate a complex environment independently. Whether it’s managing assignments, juggling multiple classes, or finding a balance between academics and personal life, strong executive function skills can be a game-changer. Here are a few key areas:

• Time Management: College introduces a more flexible schedule compared to high school. Effective time management skills help you allocate sufficient time to study, attend classes, engage in extracurricular activities, and still have time for relaxation and socializing. Creating a well-structured study plan and adhering to deadlines becomes second nature when your executive function skills are honed.

• Goal Setting: Setting clear goals is essential for academic success. Whether it’s acing an exam, completing a research paper, or earning a specific GPA, executive function skills aid in breaking down large goals into manageable steps. This approach not only makes your objectives more achievable but also reduces the feeling of overwhelm.

• Task Initiation: Procrastination is a common challenge in college. Developing strong executive function skills can help you overcome the urge to delay tasks. The ability to initiate tasks promptly increases productivity and reduces stress in the long run.

• Organization: Juggling coursework, assignments, readings, and extracurricular activities requires solid organizational skills. With executive function skills, you can create efficient systems for keeping track of due dates, materials, and resources, ensuring you’re always prepared and in control.

• Problem Solving: College presents diverse challenges that require critical thinking and problem-solving abilities. Enhanced executive function skills enable you to approach problems systematically, analyze options, and make well-informed decisions.

Building Your Executive Function Skills

If any of these areas are a struggle for you, the good news is that executive function skills can be developed and refined over time. Here are some strategies to help you strengthen these skills:

Mindfulness and Self-Awareness:

Practice mindfulness techniques to enhance self-awareness and regulate emotions. Being in tune with your thoughts and feelings can prevent impulsivity and aid in decision-making. When stress overtakes your brain, the areas responsible for calm, rational decision-making go off line. Knowing how to regulate your stress and get your brain back into learning mode is a huge breakthrough that can happen in the college years!

Break Tasks Down:

When faced with a large project, break it down into smaller, manageable steps. This approach prevents feelings of being overwhelmed and provides a clear roadmap for completion with the time and capacity you have.

Use Tools and Technology:

Leverage planners, digital calendars, and task management apps to stay organized and on top of your commitments. What’s important is that you find a system that works for YOU (and that you’ll actually stick to), even if it’s different from what peers, teachers, parents, or counselors may recommend.

Practice Prioritization:

Learn to identify tasks that are urgent and important, and prioritize accordingly. This prevents last-minute rushes and allows for effective time allocation. If this feels hard or if everything seems important and you struggle to rank tasks in this way, here is a helpful tool to learn how to break things down.

Build Cognitive Skills:

Before you can learn to manage tasks, problem-solve efficiently, and steward your time well, you need to have strong thinking and learning skills like attention, memory, logic, and more. These skills are under everything you do in college, including these executive function tasks. If one or more of these areas feels like a struggle, it’s important to dig deeper and find out why.

College Help That Goes Beyond Tutoring

Many colleges have tutoring or student support services to help you through your classes, but the reality is that this is not what many college students need. If you feel like you can grasp the content of your classes but you struggle to just get it all done efficiently (and still have time for the fun stuff you’re going to do anyway), digging into executive function in your college years is critical.

When you think of life after college, due dates and task timelines will look different. They will likely require even more self-motivation than your classes do now, and it’s important to build these skills in the safety of college instead of waiting until you’re out in the workforce.

If you want to learn more about a brain-based approach to building these essential life (and studying) skills, click here to learn more about brain training in the college years >>