PREVIOUS : Self-regulation & the BRAIN 

SITE : “Executive Function Deficits Tied to ADHD”

EXECUTIVE FUNCTIONING (E-F) (Adult Ego State) expresses
the True Self’s active, intentional aspects (free will). It’s the ability to focus attention, remember instructions, manage emotional reactions & actions, & organize our thinking.
AND
Self-regulation is using these skills to control our behavior.  It’s one the Self’s major executive functions – to rationally change responses or inner states.

E-F basics are several aspects of thinking :  inhibitory control, working memory, & mental flexibility – which make intentional S-R possible. It’s a combination of :
(1) behavioral regulation  = inhibiting impulsive reaction, shifting or adjusting to changes in routine or task demands, & regulating emotional responses
(2) meta-cognition = organizing problem-solving approaches, initiating activities, & keeping information in memory.

Weak levels of these 2 skills are related to greater depression symptoms, interpersonal & work problems

Executive function is judged by the strength of these skills, & when used effectively, can improve our life. We’re not born with these 7 important skills, but are born with the capacity to develop them through the right experiences & practice.

SKILLS – Like a talented conductor, the brain combines Executive Functions into a harmonious symphony.  It can also be seen as our air-traffic control system, that assigns tasks to each skill. At best, these work together to ensure we function efficiently & effectively when completing daily activities.

In a neuro-typical person, they develop in chronological order :
Self-awareness (#1) starts around age 2, and by age 30 > Planning & Problem Solving (#7) will be fully developed.

❣️ Self-awareness : regular inner-directed attention – controlling who & what you’re paying attention to, staying on topic, filtering out un-needed thoughts, & moving from one activity to another as required

❣️Adaptability
It’s the ability to modify our responses & emotions according to what fits the situation we’re in – which means we can cope with change. It makes us more flexible when confronting views or opinions different from our own, so we can see issues from many different perspectives

❣️Attention
This allows us to focus on a person or task for some period of time, ignore distractions, & re-focus quickly when side-tracked. It helps us hear & understand instructions, focus well during conversations, & concentrate on longer tasks

❣️Emotional Self-Regulation : The ability to understand & accept emotional experiences, & act appropriately in response to them. Use the first 4 functions to handle our own emotional states in order to process & modify or alter how we ‘feel’

❣️Flexibility
This allows us to be open-minded, testing out new approaches, going-with-the-flow when things don’t go as planned. It also means seeing situations in more than one way, critical for perspective-taking, problem-solving & effectively cope with unexpected change

❣️ Inhibition : (self-restraint) the capacity to think before you act (scroll to: The Need for Inhibition)

❣️Metacognition
It’s thinking about our thinking – considering what we know & what we don’t know about a topic as we’re in the process of learning. It can be identifying a critical skill when studying, able to complete challenging tasks, & understanding new material

❣️ Optimism
This is having a positive attitude toward experiences, knowing we have options & possibilities. Also appreciating the ability to can calm ourself when feeling stressed, anxious or down. It allows us to keep our eyes on what’s in our control while bypassing situations that are not. Strong self-regulators consider ‘problems’ as opportunities to learn from & improve future efforts.

❣️Organization
This skill is about keeping material & objects neat & orderly. It includes creating a place for everything, having designated spaced / containers to store things, & cleaning up we go thru the day. It insures being able to find what we need when we need it
(More in Part 2)

❣️Persistence
This is the ability to keep moving toward our goals regardless of external or internal struggles, working through delays & roadblocks whenever they come up. It includes trying new strategies, continuing to work when a task is hard, & asking for help when needed – giving 100% effort to keep on track (More in Part 2)