Turbocharge Your Executive Functioning

When I was growing up, nobody talked about executive functioning. They may have known what it was, but it certainly didn’t have a name. Today, the term “executive functioning” is everywhere. It’s taught at every age – from elementary school through college, at work and through professional coaching. It even includes exercises for your brain that help you focus, process information, and multitask.

Sound important? You bet it is!

Gene is a father of four, a doctor, and a husband. He sees over 20 patients a day and more than 100 per week. He charts medical records, pays bills, and must consistently learn about new medications and what they do. His brain processes more information daily than most people process in a week. Most importantly, Gene has no downtime. He runs to the hospital to deliver babies in the middle of the night and sleeps very little.

One day, when Gene decided he was falling behind with his family, he decided to get an executive functioning coach. After just two months of working with Paul, his coach, he saw remarkable changes in himself and in his relationships. The result: both Gene and his family found a happiness they never knew existed.

How did Gene get to such a great place? He worked hard, evaluated his challenges, and took charge of his own self-care. His coach worked with him in several areas.

  • His coach encouraged Gene to schedule time for himself.  It seems simple, but with Gene’s busy schedule it was a difficult task for him and one he truly craved.  With some creative juggling, he made it work.
  • Gene decided to use his self-care time for something he always wanted to do, so it felt more rewarding.  Learning to play the guitar became one of Gene’s self-care exercises.
  • His coach also recommended that Gene work on some puzzles like a Rubick’s Cube.  This took his mind off his everyday responsibilities and forced Gene to take a “mind break”.
  • Finally, Gene learned visualization techniques.  Even if he had five minutes, with these techniques, Gene learned to go on a mini brain break.  Think power nap for the brain.

Soon, Gene realized his executive functioning bootcamp (as he like to call it to motivate himself) was working, so he decided to take it up a notch. His coach recommended that he add regular aerobic exercise, mindful breathing, meditation, and even positive affirmations into the mix. By doing this, his coach pointed out, Gene could not only further improve his executive functioning but also embrace an enhanced wellness journey that would make a lifelong difference for him.

“I am so much more productive now,” says Gene. “I don’t have those moments where I’m stuck deciding on something any longer, where I feel guilty one way or the other. I feel sharper, remember more, and am now far more present for everyone I care about. I wish I had worked on this years ago. It has truly made me a happier person, both inside and out.”