Executive Functioning One Step at a Time: Organization
We often focus on the end result of what we want, to get a good grade in a class for example, and forget to start with the basics. It can be helpful to think backwards from that goal and identify the steps it will take to get there so you can set up the right foundation. When it comes to academic success, organization is often the foundation that makes that success possible. After all, you can’t get a good grade on a paper if you weren’t organized enough to remember the due date and turn it in on time.
Although we all can feel disorganized at times, for students with Executive Functioning deficits the disorganization is more pervasive and can be hard to break. After all, if you try to fix disorganization with nothing but the same brain that led you to disorganization the odds are against you. You must instead externalize the organization, outsource it so you have support for your relative weaknesses.
Here are three tips that can help, think of them as the three P’s- print, plan and practice.
#1 Print
In this day and age your student’s class assignments or college class syllabi are likely posted on some kind of portal online. In my experience, students will often say “I can just look it up online” when asked how they are tracking due dates. However, while this is technically true, this online format is not the most efficient choice for all students. For those with EF weaknesses, I highly recommend printing out their syllabus or list of assignments. This is because many such individuals fall prey to an out of sight out of mind type of focus and attention, and those website due dates are too invisible. If printing a college syllabus, highlight important due dates so you can easily scan the document for them later.
A printed list of due dates can be hung up on a bulletin board near their homework area, posted to the refrigerator or otherwise made readily visible as a cue or reminder. You can also create separate folders for each class and add the syllabus to each folder. If you use a three-prong folder you can place the syllabus in the center and use the pockets for organizing homework and handouts. Clear file trays or upright file organizers can help you keep these folders visible and accessible and make it easy to check each day to ensure items for each subject have been reviewed and placed in the appropriate location. If you have lots of assignments to turn in online it can be helpful to create file folders on your computer desktop for each class at the beginning of the semester. If it turns out you don’t need these, they are easily deleted but having them set up early on gives you an organizational system for tracking items from the very beginning.
#2 Plan
Ironically, those of us with EF weaknesses tend to hate one of the most accessible tools to help with your organization woes: planners. Some of us struggle with planners because we enjoy being spontaneous; if that’s you or your child try thinking about a planner this way; it can help you ensure you get your obligations done so you have lots of free time left to do whatever you want. Maybe you feel defeated because you know your student will not remember to look at that fancy new planner you bought. Or you as the parent fear you won’t remember to prompt them to check their planner or to double check that they’ve recorded everything in them. Well, chances are they certainly will forget sometimes, and so will you. But it won’t be forgotten all the time, and the benefits of remembering due dates will far outweigh the perceived hassle of building this new habit. In fact, it is the frustration of continually misplaced items or missing dates that can sometimes serve as motivation to get organized. Help get yourself in the mood to organize by setting aside a set time on your schedule for organizing, reminding yourself that you are doing this to avoid future frustration and protect your time, and maybe put on some music while you work.
#3 Practice
Notice I said you are building a new habit. Building something is a gradual practice. EF skills can be practiced and learned. It’s important not to expect that one planner will solve all your organizational problems. I am guilty of getting caught up in having a planner with lots of bells and whistles- a beautiful cover, pages for goal setting and cute stickers to decorate the pages with. I found that these added features were actually distractions for me and took me away from what I really needed to focus on- learning and practicing how to plan. So, expect to try several planners and layouts before finding the one that works for you.
Also expect to try several different times to build the habit of daily use of your planner. If you go in expecting this to be a process, reminding yourself it is something you are practicing, then you are more likely to be able to avoid becoming overly frustrated if and when you forget. Berating yourself won’t help so when you forget try to just tell yourself, “Well, I knew that would happen” and remember you don’t have to use the planner 100% of the time for it to be helpful. You may be more successful if you use the out of sight out of mind reminder and place your planner where you are most likely to see it. Perhaps in the spot where you and your child have breakfast so you can consult it before starting the day. Maybe at your child’s bedside so you see it when tucking them in at night. A college student may find it helpful to place their planner near their coffee maker for morning planning sessions. Carve out time to spend with your planner each day, or perhaps even twice a day. You can link checking your planner with an activity you already do daily, for example taking vitamins. Put your planner near the vitamins and right after you take your vitamins sit with your planner for a few minutes to review what is coming up that day, that week, and later that month. You can also set a timer in your phone to remind you to work on your planner each day.
At the beginning of the school year take those printed out syllabi or assignment lists and write all the important dates like due dates and days off in your planner, then add things like birthdays or other celebrations. Write in pencil, so when your plans change your planner can be easily adjusted. Writing them down helps commit them to memory, as does reviewing the planner daily, especially if you can get in the habit of saying the tasks out loud or in your mind as you read over them. I know that there are many calendar apps available, like google calendar, but if you would like to use these, I recommend they be used in addition to rather than instead of, a paper planner.
The planner industry generated over $342 million in sales in 2016 so there are lots of products out there for you to practice on. Here are just a few suggestions (I am not compensated in any way for these links)
Or, 3 of these to view 3 months at a time:
Organization is the foundation for working on other Executive Functioning skills and will set you up for success. Those feelings of success will help sustain and encourage you to work on the next thing and the next thing. Perfection is not the goal, improvement is and if you remember the three P’s- print, plan and practice you will find systems and tools that work for you.
