Executive Functions... With a Little Help From Our Friends

What Executive Functions Really Look Like (When You've Got Seven Coaches To Help You Explore Them)

Hello, curious minds!

I hope you’re all doing well. While we've been so enjoying our series on Executive Functions, this week’s episode of Conscious Curiosity is a special one. We did something a little different: we asked a group of seven brilliant  coaches and peers in the neurodiversity space what executive functions mean to them.

What followed was a warm, wise, often funny collection of metaphors, analogies, and insights into how executive functions show up in everyday life - from overwhelm to orchestration, burnout to hyperfocus.

Below, I’ve pulled out some key takeaways and reflections from the episode, and if you haven’t listened yet, you’re in for a treat. First, a link to listen for those that haben't already:

🎙️ Listen to the Discussion on the Podcast

🎧 Apple Podcast
🎧 Spotify

🧠 Executive Functions, Commonality and Differences

Across the episode, one thing became clear: executive functions aren’t just clinical concepts - they’re lived experiences. They’re what help us start things, persist with things, regulate our emotions, and manage time (or not!).

Here’s what we learned:

🎻 The Orchestral Analogy Is Alive and Well
Nearly everyone reached for musical metaphors: executive functions are the conductor, the composer, or the band itself - trying to get all the instruments (focus, memory, emotional regulation) playing in harmony.

📦 Clutter & Complexity
From 1000-piece puzzles to digital hoards, several guests described the mental load of executive function as overwhelming when unsupported. But with structure, support, or just a bit more time? Everything clicks into place.

💸 The Energy Budget
One standout analogy: treat executive functions like money. If a task requires a lot of energy, is it worth the investment? Could you bundle tasks, outsource, or automate to save your mental budget?

⏳ Now and Not Now
The ADHD relationship with time was a recurring theme - time isn’t linear when your brain’s not wired that way. Instead of past/future, many of us experience just now and not now.

🔁 Power of the Pause
Whether it’s delaying an email or taking a breath before reacting, adding a pause was cited again and again as a small, powerful intervention that changes everything.

✋ Franck’s Five

Before we go, here are five questions to enable us all to curiously explore this week's theme of thinking about executive function:

1️⃣ What “instrument” in your mental orchestra needs the most tuning right now? 

2️⃣ How does your energy budget influence the way you plan your week?

3️⃣ What task feels like a 1,000-piece puzzle right now — and what would help you find the corners?

4️⃣ Where in your life would a simple pause change everything?

5️⃣ How would your day look different if you had permission to design it around your real energy patterns?

This episode was a joy to put together. Huge thanks to Alex, Anita, Becca, Kanan, Sarah, Tara, and Tash for their generosity, warmth, and creativity. Their contributions reminded us that executive functions are deeply human, often hilarious, and absolutely essential - whether you're a coach, a client, a clinician, or simply curious.

Until next time - stay kind, keep exploring, and stay curious.

~ Franck