Executive Functioning Is the Key to a Strong Start

Want to know the real secret to school success? It’s not just intelligence. It’s executive functioning — the behind-the-scenes brain skills that help students plan, prioritize, stay motivated, and bounce back when things get hard.

What Is Executive Functioning, Really?

Think of it like the brain’s traffic control system. It helps you:

• Shift gears when plans change

• Focus when your phone is blowing up

• Remember deadlines

• Start (and finish!) your work

Without executive functioning skills, even the smartest students can feel disorganized, anxious, and overwhelmed.

Why It Matters from Day One

The beginning of the school year sets the tone. If you start out with clear systems, routines, and strategies, you’ll:

• Stay ahead of your work

• Feel more in control

• Have more time for fun

Waiting until you're already overwhelmed to build those systems? That’s like trying to learn how to swim mid-ocean.

Simple Strategies to Build Executive Functioning Skills

Here are some things students (and families!) can do right now:

• Time-blocking: Break your day into chunks for schoolwork, breaks, and activities

• Visual reminders: Use sticky notes, whiteboards, or alarms to stay on track

• The 2-minute rule: If a task takes less than 2 minutes, do it now

• Daily check-ins: Spend 5 minutes each day reviewing what’s coming up

Remember: These skills aren’t about being perfect — they’re about being prepared.

At Just Start LA…

We help students develop executive functioning systems that actually work for their brains. Because no two students are the same — and that’s exactly the point.