Video 1 is about how to help YOUNGER kids who struggle with Executive Function.
Video 2 is about ADULTS who struggle with EF.
Video transcript Part 1
Hey, what’s up everybody? It’s Seth Perler. Hope you’re doing well.
I’ve got a little video here for students. If you’re in middle school, high school, or college, this is for you.
We’re at the end of the school year right now, and there’s a lot going on. I’m going to give you eight tips for how to finish this school year stronger.
Basically, I work with middle school, high school, and college students, helping them navigate school. These are the things I’ve been working on with my students lately.
1. Get Organized
If you’re not organized, if you’re not great at time management, if you’re not good at checking your email, emailing your teachers, or staying on top of things, ask for help.
Ask your parents. Ask a friend. Ask anyone you trust. There is absolutely nothing wrong with asking for help. In fact, the most successful people on Earth ask for help.
Ask for help with organization, checking your school portal, emailing your teachers, advocating for yourself, and getting clarity about what’s going on.
A lot of students I work with are confused. They say things like, “What is this teacher asking me to do? I don’t get it. I keep messing up in this class. I’m trying to do what the teacher wants, but I don’t understand.”
Get clarity. Have somebody help you understand exactly what’s expected.
2. Block or Chunk Your Time
A lot of students think they can do homework in 10-minute or 15-minute chunks. They work a little bit, take a break, and then try to come back to it.
But what usually happens when they take a break?
They get derailed. They start playing video games, scrolling social media, hanging out with friends, or doing something else. Then it’s very difficult to get back on track.
Instead, block off larger chunks of time. Sit down for 30 minutes, 45 minutes, or an hour. On weekends, you might work for two, three, or even four hours.
Now, I’m not talking about intense, nonstop focus the entire time. There are times for deep focus, but that’s not what I mean here. I’m just saying that larger blocks of time make it much easier to get meaningful work done.
Don’t expect to study from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m., then 3:00 to 4:00 p.m., and then 7:00 to 8:00 p.m. every day. That’s often not realistic.
Be realistic with your schedule.
3. Understand Emotional Regulation
You’re going to feel resistance.
You’ll resist using your planner. You’ll resist letting your parents help you. You’ll resist asking teachers for help. You’ll resist checking your grades. You’ll resist reading directions carefully.
That’s normal.
This is part of emotional regulation. Your emotions might say:
“No, I don’t feel like it.”
“I don’t want to.”
“This is stupid.”
“I don’t care.”
Learn to recognize that internal dialogue. Notice it without letting it control you.
Then take action anyway.
Start with tiny baby steps. Build momentum little by little.
4. Understand the “PEPPER” Pattern
At the end of the school year, four major things are happening at once:
Makeup work from earlier in the semester
Current assignments
End-of-year projects and assessments
The “PEPPER” items:
Papers
Exams
Projects
Extensive Reading assignments
Many students don’t realize this pattern exists. Then it sneaks up on them.
People wait until the last minute, throw everything together, and end up failing because they didn’t start early enough.
Be aware of this pattern and block out your time accordingly.
5. Strategize Consciously
Think carefully about everything you need to do before the end of the year.
Make a list.
Use a giant calendar if necessary.
I know you’ll resist doing this. My students resist it too. But once they do it, they feel much better because they can finally see what needs to get done.
Get it out of your head.
Don’t rely on your memory to keep track of everything. Use your brain for creativity, conversations, fun, daydreaming, and problem-solving—not for remembering every assignment.
Trust me. It doesn’t work.
6. Find Your Own Reason Why
You need your own personal buy-in.
Your parents telling you that school is important isn’t enough.
Your teachers telling you to care more isn’t enough.
You feeling guilty and calling yourself lazy isn’t enough.
Here’s the reality:
Education is a key.
Even if you think, “When am I ever going to use calculus?” the truth is that you are developing logical thinking, problem-solving skills, discipline, and the ability to learn.
Those skills matter.
Learning how to navigate education helps prepare you for adulthood. If you can’t figure out how to learn, adapt, and grow, life becomes much more difficult.
Yes, some assignments seem pointless.
Yes, some teachers are hard to connect with.
Yes, some homework feels meaningless.
But do your best anyway.
Not for your parents.
Not for your teachers.
For yourself.
Get as much value as you can from your education.
Of course, learning also happens outside school through books, experiences, research, and curiosity. But take advantage of every opportunity to learn, even when you don’t feel like it.
7. Plan Fun
This is important.
Plan enjoyable activities ahead of time.
Don’t just hope they’ll happen.
Think:
“Saturday night, I’m going to do this.”
“Sunday afternoon, I’m going to do that.”
Reward yourself.
You absolutely should not spend all your time studying. That’s not what life is about.
Take time for things that matter to you. Do things you’re passionate about, curious about, and interested in.
Those experiences enrich your life.
Schedule them intentionally.
8. Combine Everything
The final thing I want to tell you is this:
You do not have to do any of these things perfectly.
Just do a little bit of each.
That’s where success comes from.
Perfection is not required.
Try the strategies. Experiment. See what works for you.
You probably have about six weeks left in the school year before summer begins.
Give yourself one final push.
Follow the 1% Rule.
Keep moving forward.
Take care, and I’ll see you soon.
Video transcript Part 2
What is up, parents and teachers? That’s me, Seth from SethPerler.com.
If you haven’t checked out my blog, go ahead and check it out at SethPerler.com.
I got this email from someone. It says:
“Hey, I heard you on the Tilt Parenting Podcast and loved everything you had to say. My son is showing executive function challenges, but he’s only in third grade, so I think he’s still too young to benefit from your coaching. I was wondering if your blog has ever addressed what to do if a parent also suffers from executive functioning issues.
Going through my son’s journey with him made me realize that I also have ADHD, inattentive type, and a lot of executive functioning issues. I’m really struggling with being able to help my son get organized because I’m not organized. I end up feeling terrible about myself because I feel like I’m failing my son.”
Thank you, Jill.
In this video, I’m going to address that question. I’m just going to focus on the parent side of things. I made another video about younger students and how to help them with executive function, but I actually get this question from a lot of parents and teachers.
You know the saying: the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.
Sometimes I work with parents who are extremely organized. Their executive functioning is exceptional, and they really can’t understand why their child struggles so much. They’re baffled.
But I also work with parents and teachers who struggle with executive function themselves. They wonder, “How do I help my child when I’m struggling with the same things?”
So I’m going to share 10 quick ideas.
1. Downsize Your Life
Parents and teachers, if you want to help your child with executive function, one thing you can do is downsize your life. Minimize. Simplify.
I personally went through a process that lasted well over a year. I got my entire life down to ten boxes and moved to Hawaii with just two small bags.
Now, you don’t have to go to that extreme, but the point is to reduce the amount of stuff you have to manage.
I knew a guy named Lou many years ago. Lou lived in a mansion with four wings. He even had a separate house where someone lived just to help manage the property. He had a six-car garage and a tremendous amount of stuff.
One thing Lou said always stuck with me:
“The more stuff you have, the more stuff you have to manage.”
And it’s true.
Declutter. Get rid of things. Minimize.
Help your child do the same. Go through their clothes and donate what they don’t wear. Sort through books and toys they no longer use.
Keep only what truly matters.
You don’t want your child growing up into a cluttered adulthood. Model simplicity for them.
The less stuff you have, the easier it becomes to manage your life.
Ask yourself where your time and energy are going, and whether you want them going there.
2. Give Everything a Home
This tip is especially for parents and teachers who are not naturally organized.
If you’re naturally organized, you’re probably already bored by this video!
But if executive function is a challenge for you, give everything a designated home.
Label those homes clearly.
For example, have one box for electronics, chargers, batteries, and cables. Label it clearly on all sides.
Keep board games in one closet, one cabinet, or one shelf—not scattered throughout the house.
If you have cups spread across different cabinets, ask yourself what you actually use and keep them in one place.
The concept of “a home for everything” applies to the garage, basement, bedrooms, bathrooms—everywhere.
You want clear, labeled places where things belong.
3. Make Everything Visual
Visual. Visual. Visual.
If you struggle with executive function, use visual reminders everywhere.
Make them bright, obvious, and impossible to ignore.
Right now, as I sit at my computer, I have sticky notes attached directly to my monitor. They’re right in front of my face.
I have my top priorities for the day written down where I can see them.
Remember:
Out of sight, out of mind.
Make your life visual and colorful. Use reminders for responsibilities, systems, routines, and important tasks.
4. Use Timers
Use digital timers.
Timers help you start tasks, stay focused, and remember what you’re supposed to be doing.
Executive function challenges often make task initiation and task completion difficult.
Timers provide visual, auditory, and even physical cues that help you stay on track.
They also model good habits for your kids.
5. Overhaul Your Systems
If a system in your life isn’t working, overhaul it completely.
If your scheduling system isn’t working, redesign it.
If your garage is out of control, tackle the entire garage.
If your bathroom cabinets are a mess, reorganize all of them.
If your taxes are a disaster, create a new system.
If you have ten different to-do lists, consolidate them.
Simplify. Simplify. Simplify.
Don’t assume that making tiny changes here and there will solve a major problem.
Sometimes a complete overhaul is what you need.
6. Have Tech-Free Time
Give yourself technology-free days or periods of time.
Some people call it a digital Sabbath.
Take breaks from screens, notifications, and constant stimulation.
Give your nervous system a chance to rest and reset.
7. Practice Self-Care
Parents, you need to model self-care.
If your children never see you taking care of yourself, they’ll learn that self-care isn’t important.
Get enough sleep.
Exercise.
Eat healthy food.
Schedule activities that help you recharge.
Whether that’s fitness, hobbies, relaxation, or even a massage, take care of yourself.
Your children are watching.
8. Work on Emotional Regulation
If you struggle with executive function, you may also struggle with anxiety, depression, overwhelm, frustration, or emotional dysregulation.
Work on your emotional well-being.
Practice mindfulness.
Meditate.
Journal.
Talk to a therapist.
Use whatever tools help you keep your nervous system calm, balanced, and healthy.
9. Live on Purpose
Executive function difficulties can make it harder to pursue meaningful goals.
Ask yourself:
What gives my life meaning?
What gives me joy?
What is my purpose?
The better you become at executing daily tasks, the more energy you’ll have to spend on the things that matter most to you.
Make sure you’re intentionally creating a life that aligns with your values.
10. Don’t Take Yourself Too Seriously
This final tip is actually two parts.
First, don’t take yourself too seriously.
Don’t take every problem so seriously.
Learn to let go.
Ask yourself:
“How important is this, really?”
Sometimes it simply isn’t that important.
The second part is the most important lesson of all:
Remember that your relationship with your child comes first.
More important than grades.
More important than homework.
More important than school drama.
Your relationship matters most.
Spend quality time together.
Have conversations that aren’t about school.
Create memories.
Enjoy each other’s company.
You’re raising a human being, not managing a project.
The investment you make in your relationship with your child will provide the greatest return in the future.
That’s what creates lasting memories.
That’s what truly matters.
So those are just a few ideas. I hope they help.
Have a great day.
And if you found this helpful, please share it with someone right now. That really helps me.
Also, subscribe on YouTube or visit SethPerler.com and subscribe to my blog.
And feel free to leave a comment below.
Take care. Bye-bye.
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