Overcoming Weak Executive Functioning

Overcoming Weak Executive Functioning Skills in High School: A Guide to Getting Back on Track

High school can feel overwhelming. Assignments pile up, tests appear unexpectedly, and just keeping track of what’s due can feel like a full-time job. For students who struggle with executive functioning skills, these challenges are even more intense. Executive functioning can be learned and improved, just like any other skill.

At StudySpot, we believe that building strong executive functioning skills such as time management, organization, planning, and self-monitoring is essential for academic success. These skills form the foundation of everything from completing homework on time to preparing for exams and writing essays. Just like in sports or music, having a coach or mentor to guide the process can make all the difference.

Here’s how high school students can take charge and start improving weak executive functioning skills with the right tools, mindset, and support.

1. Understand What Executive Functioning Really Means

Executive functioning is the brain’s “management system.” It includes a set of skills that help students plan ahead, stay organized, manage time, start and finish tasks, focus attention, and remember what needs to be done.

When students struggle in school, it’s often not because they don’t care or aren’t capable, but because these process skills haven’t been fully developed yet. Recognizing this is the first step toward real improvement.

2. Start With One Skill at a Time

Trying to become fully organized overnight usually doesn’t work. It’s more effective to focus on improving one executive functioning skill at a time. Here are a few great places to start:

Time Management

Use a weekly planner to map out class times, after-school activities, and dedicated homework blocks. Set timers during study sessions to maintain focus and include breaks. One helpful method is the Pomodoro Technique, which involves 25 minutes of focused work followed by a 5-minute break.

Task Management

Use a Task List, as described in the StudySpot resource Task List vs. To-Do List, to keep track of everything that needs to be done over the week. Then, create smaller daily To-Do Lists based on the larger task list to stay on track each day.

Organization

Take time once a week to organize your backpack, folders, and digital files. Use color-coding or folders in Google Drive to keep materials sorted by subject and easy to find.

Start small by spending five minutes each day checking your planner and organizing your materials.

3. Develop Core Academic Skills Alongside Executive Skills

Executive functioning and academic performance are closely linked. For example, if a student struggles to write an essay or study for a test, the root issue may be planning, time management, or working memory. These are executive skills that directly impact how well academic tasks are completed.

Here’s how to build both sets of skills together:

• Note-taking: Learn structured systems like Cornell Notes to keep class content organized and review-ready.

• Studying: Use active strategies such as self-quizzing or spaced repetition, and plan study sessions in advance.

• Writing: Break writing assignments into smaller steps such as brainstorming, outlining, drafting, and revising, and include each step in your planner.

When executive functioning and academic strategies are developed together, school becomes less overwhelming and more manageable.

4. Build Routines That Support Focus and Follow-Through

Routines help reduce stress and decision fatigue by creating consistency. They allow students to focus more on learning and less on trying to figure out what to do next.

Try starting each day by checking your planner and daily task list. End each school day with a 10-minute review session, including organizing your backpack, checking what’s due tomorrow, and setting up any materials you’ll need. Choose one consistent time each day for homework to build a dependable habit.

Over time, these small actions become automatic and support academic success without added stress.

5. Don’t Go It Alone: The Power of a Mentor or Coach

Many students have never been taught how to manage school tasks, and that’s exactly where a mentor or academic coach can help.

At StudySpot, we view coaching as a form of guided independence. A coach doesn’t do the work for you, they teach you how to manage your time, tasks, and learning on your own. This kind of support helps students:

• Create realistic study and homework plans

• Set goals and stay focused

• Reflect on habits and make adjustments

• Stay accountable in a positive, encouraging way

Think of it like having a personal trainer for your executive skills, helping you build the habits that will make school more manageable and successful.

6. Reflect and Adjust Weekly

Growth doesn’t happen overnight. It takes time, effort, and the willingness to reflect. Each week, take a few minutes to ask:

• What went well this week?

• What didn’t go as planned?

• What can I try differently next week?

This process of reflection and self-monitoring is one of the most powerful executive functioning skills a student can develop. It leads to long-term independence and confidence in academic decision-making.

Final Thoughts: You’re Not “Bad at School”—You Just Need a System

If you’ve ever said things like “I forgot I had homework,” “I didn’t know when it was due,” or “I didn’t know how to start,” you are not lazy or unmotivated, these are signs of underdeveloped executive functioning skills, and they can absolutely be improved with the right strategies and support.

By working step-by-step to strengthen your core academic skills and weak executive functioning, you can take control of your education. When you use routines, systems, and the guidance of a mentor or coach, you’ll not only get through high school, you’ll thrive in it.

*AI was used in the writing of this blog