#29: Executive Functioning Offers Tools to Access Your Best Self

Executive Function Brain Trainer Podcast

In this episode, Erica and Darius discuss how executive functioning training can provide the tools for us to drop into our best selves.

What is the best self?

• Proud of who you are and your accomplishments.
• Sense of inner peace
• Able to walk through life with a sense of intention and grace.

Becoming your best self involves

• taking care of oneself and optimizing all areas of your life
• regulating emotions
• embracing growth
• limiting distractions
• embracing intentions and goals

Tools of Working Memory:

1. Inner voice:

• Negative to positive
• Anxious to calm
• Critical to kind

2. Visualization:

• Focus attention
• Manifest what we want by consciously programming the reticular activating system. (sleep-wake cycles, cardiovascular control, pain modulation, consciousness, and habituation)

Tools of Inhibitory Control:

1. Develop attentional or focusing skills

• Maintain external order (organization)
• Maintain internal order

2. Blocking distractions

3. Emotional regulation

4. Metacognition

Tools of Cognitive flexibility:

1. Diverse perspectives

• Compassion
• Creativity - out-of-the-box thinking

2. Shifting from one task to another

Links:

• Working Memory: https://tinyurl.com/working-memory
• Inhibitory Control: https://tinyurl.com/inhibitory-control
• Visualization: https://tinyurl.com/use-visualization
• Inner Voice: https://tinyurl.com/inner-voices
• Cognitive Flexibility: https://tinyurl.com/cognitive-flexibility
• Vision boards: https://tinyurl.com/3nunvru8
• Phonological loop: https://tinyurl.com/3x2e4dy6
• Permaculture: https://tinyurl.com/y4rthmmr
• Canva: https://www.canva.com/
• Procreate: https://procreate.com/
• Executive functions and Study Skills Course: https://www.learningspecialistcourses.com/courses/teaching-EF-and-study-strategies
• Good Sensory Learning: https://goodsensorylearning.com/
• Dyslexia at Work: www.dyslexiawork.com