Executive Function Basics - Planning, Scheduling and Following Through - 067
Nov 27, 2019Hey ADDers! So glad you could join me for today’s episode about Executive Function Basics - Planning, Scheduling and Following Through. I decided to change up the format for a couple of weeks and provide you with some important tools that I’ve taught students before.
Without the skills to plan, schedule and follow through there is a lot that you won’t be able to do very efficiently. I trust the information in this episode will give you a start at developing these critically important skills and lessen your stressors, especially during this holiday season.
One of my goals with this episode is for you to realize that you didn’t have this level of skills years ago, and if you did, you’d have had more options. And since that’s the truth, let’s set blame aside, and focus on getting you the skills you can start developing today, that will make a significant difference in the quality of your life.
In this episode Dr B talks about:
- What it's like getting started with executive function skill development
- Planning and lots of examples
- Scheduling and lots of examples
- Following through and lots of examples
- The importance of celebrating your wins
- Free 75-Minute Live Masterclass, either January 3, 5 or 6 - your choice! "The #1 Way to Move Beyond the Years of Damage from Undiagnosed ADHD and Executive Function Dysfunction." Event is over.
- Learn about Masterclasses on Decision-Making, Time Management and Procrastination!
The driving force behind this show, the ADDventures programs: AIA Foundational Skills and AIA Next Level, and all my social media is to end the needless pain and suffering of those with ADHD and/or under-developed Executive Function Skills.
Developing your Executive Function Skills and shifting your limiting beliefs is the fastest and most effective way to overcome ADHD limitations, find focus, gain confidence, and newfound freedom in your life!
My mission is to put an end to the worldwide needless suffering of adults with ADHD and those with under-developed Executive Function Skills - whether from ADHD, chronic depression or anxiety, trauma, addictions, or chronic illnesses. And, you don't need a formal diagnosis to know you need help developing these executive function skills in order to greatly reduce your suffering.
Full Episode Transcript
Today is Episode 67 with Dr B
Hey ADDers! So glad you could join me for today’s episode about Executive Function Basics - Planning, Scheduling and Following Through. I decided to change up the format for a couple of weeks and provide you with some important tools that I’ve taught students before.
Without the skills to plan, schedule and follow through there is a lot that you won’t be able to do very efficiently. I trust the information in this episode will give you a start at developing these critically important skills and lessen your stressors, especially during this holiday season.
One of my goals with this episode is for you to realize that you didn’t have this level of skills years ago, and if you did, you’d have had more options. And since that’s the truth, let’s set blame aside, and focus on getting you the skills you can start developing today, that will make a significant difference in the quality of your life.
When I welcome new students into my program, I am acutely aware of how much relief they feel by finally being aware of the underlying cause of many of the challenges they’ve been experiencing. What often follows is the emotional wave of overwhelm; all that lies ahead in terms of skill development. STOP! I encourage you to pause and take a step back for perspective. All that needs developing is the same, before and after your executive function awarenesses. So, what’s causing overwhelm? Meanings you give things causes overwhelm.
The years behind us are gone. The years ahead are hopefully many. And time is going to pass whether we learn these skills or not. It’s a matter of priorities and deciding how ready we are to move beyond our current limitations and help ourselves to become better equipped to live more fully and with less stress.
So remember that you are NOT what you do or don’t do; that you are more than that, whether it’s your time to develop these skills or not. You are not the story you make up about yourself. YOU are NOT defective or less than as a person – as a human being because of being disorganized or socially awkward or immature. Remind yourself that your mind just works differently (not better or worse) and that the difference is actually pretty cool once you have a different perspective and the tools you need for your own success.
After awareness comes taking action on what you know to start getting new results, better results, and fine-tune your process as you go along. It is a process, so please don’t let yourself off the hook here with taking action once, not getting the results you hoped for, and stopping there. Seriously!! You’re “learning” to do things, which takes practice; not just doing them, like you’ve known how all your life.
It’s almost time for some new content - but first, let’s celebrate a few WINS. Perhaps you’ve committed to practice your skill acquisition for 30 minutes a day; awesome! Or maybe you’ve decided to accept yourself just as you are and not do anything to add to your plate or to improve on anything; fantastic! Or maybe you made a decision to spending more time with yourself; awesome. Celebrating a WIN today, even if it’s been a really tough day, let’s you acknowledge that at least something is good about today and that’s important, even in the worst of times. You are a precious child of the universe; and are called a “human being” not a “human doing” for good reason. You don’t have to earn your value by what you do; you were born with it. You’re value comes from “who” you are; not what you do. Got it? I hope so because you’re going to keep hearing me say it, because it’s so important to your self-esteem and quality of life.
So let’s transition to the content for today’s episode on Executive Function Basics: Planning, Scheduling and Following Through, and what you can start doing today to turn your life around.
How much time do we have? Not much. So let’s get to it.
Today’s 3 great topics are:
1. Planning
2. Scheduling
3. Following through
Now back to being an adult with ADHD in today’s world and learning the Executive Function Basics.
Content from a previous workshop I presented to students on this topic is shared.
I trust you can hear yourself in my examples about planning, scheduling and following through. Don’t let it stop there! Commit to yourself to take action and use some of what I’ve shared with you in this episode to improve the quality of your life. You can do it!
A Favorite Quote:
T.S. Eliot said, "Every moment is a fresh beginning.” A question I have for you at this point in our journey together is, do you believe T.S. Eliot, and do you see every moment for what it truly is? I hope you do.
Whether you’re learning from my podcast episodes or live videos or working with me directly, you are in my world and I’m here to serve your needs. So be sure to reach out and get your needs met. It’s up to you to take action here so things can change for you.
In case this is your first listen to my show, my website is being redesigned and will be providing you with a more stream-lined experience as well as many resources you may not have known I share with my community for free. So, be sure to make your way over to my site at drbarbaracohen.com and check out the resources over these next few weeks in case there’s something there that can serve a need you have. New things keep showing up.
My next live webinar will be the first week in January 2020, with multiple dates and times for you to show up and learn and play with me on essential skill building. I’ll be announcing the actual dates and times very soon. In the meantime, if you want to make sure to get notified when the dates and times are released, be sure to hop on my January webinar waitlist and be the first to be notified when the actual date is released.
If you’ve been a listener for some time, I trust you know by now that I get you and have lived through most of the same things as you all have, the only difference might be that I’ve learned what I was missing and gotten to the other side and would love to help you do the same. I remember how scattered and disorganized and stressed I felt all the time.
I appreciate you showing up to listen today and in the future. I’m making my way back to producing regular episodes and it feels really good. Be sure to subscribe so the newest episode will automatically be in your feed.
If you enjoyed today’s episode, please share it with your friends and family, as well as rate the show. If you’d like to do a little more, write a thoughtful review on iTunes so I know I’m meeting your needs. I’d love to know if today’s episode was valuable for you and how. I love hearing from you, so feel free to email me. It means a lot to me to know your life is getting a little bit better every time we get together. Be sure to check out the show notes for all the resources I have referred to today. I hope to see you in the Facebook group, Living Beyond ADHD, as well as in the Webinar this January - that is…if that’s of interest to you. Thanks for listening… Until the next time… Bye for now…
Episode Resources:
- Put yourself on the informational list for the ADDventures In Achievement Foundational Skills Program, so that you receive all the amazing emails we’ve written to both educate you about Executive Function skills as well as the details of the program; there is absolutely no obligation by being on the list. You’ll thank yourself for getting informed.
- Learn more about our newest program, Living Beyond ADHD 2.0 Training and Coaching Mini-Series.
- Free Video and e-Book - Many Mental Health Providers & ADHD
- 13 EF Skills
- Join the amazing Living Beyond ADHD Facebook Group & hang out with your peeps
- Follow me on Dr B Facebook Page and enjoy live videos and more
- Follow me on Instagram and enjoy relevant resources
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Let's put an end to the worldwide needless suffering together! We can do this!
