The Conductor of the Orchestra
Hey, Curious Minds!
Hope you’re all doing well and enjoying the lighter evenings. This week, we’re diving into Executive Function (EF) - the brain’s way of helping us plan, focus, and juggle life’s daily chaos.
Inspired by Sabine Doebel’s TED Talk, we’re stripping away the myths and getting into what EF really is (hint: it’s not just about willpower). I break down the video below, and you can also find it here:
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What is Executive Function? 🚦
EF is your brain’s control centre - the set of skills that help you:
✅ Focus on what matters
✅ Resist distractions (most of the time 😅)
✅ Switch between tasks without melting down
✅ Follow through on goals instead of just making them
As discussed on the Podcast (link below), I consider Executive Functions to be the conductor of our brain's orchestra - there are different sections, all able to play different instruments and in different styles, but it all comes together thanks to the conductor managing the orchestra in full.
Without EF, we’d be constantly forgetting our keys, missing deadlines, and abandoning every New Year’s resolution by February.
But Here’s the Twist… 🔄
EF isn’t just a fixed skill you’re born with - it’s shaped by experience, habits, and environment. Sabine argues that instead of seeing EF as something we “have” or “don’t have,” we should see it as something we do in different situations.
🤔 Why do some kids pass the famous marshmallow test (waiting for a better reward) while others don’t? It’s not just self-control - it’s about what they’ve learned from their environment.
🔄 Why do we struggle with focus in some settings but thrive in others? EF is context-dependent, meaning the right support, motivation, and social influences can change how well we use it.
So… Can You Improve Executive Function? 💡
Yes! But not with gimmicky brain-training apps. Instead, try:
📌 Structuring your environment – Reduce distractions and create routines.
📌 Practising flexibility – Challenge yourself to switch perspectives and try new problem-solving methods.
📌 Building motivation – If a task feels pointless, EF struggles. Find ways to make it personally meaningful.
📌 Learning through social influence – Surround yourself with people who model good EF strategies.
Listen to the Discussion on the Podcast
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 aspects of your daily context consistently support or hinder your executive functioning (e.g. routines, people, environments, stressors)?
2️⃣When you're struggling to follow through on a task, is it really about motivation... or might something else in your context be misaligned?
3️⃣ What are your personal "ladders" – the reliable habits or actions that help you return to a regulated, productive state?
4️⃣ How has your understanding of executive function changed after thinking about it framed as a contextual issue rather than a personal failing?
5️⃣ If you viewed executive function as something dynamic and shaped by your surroundings, what would you feel empowered to change this week?
Next Week: A Deeper Dive 🔬
This was just the intro to EF - next week, we’ll break down Sabine Doebel’s research paper and explore what it really means for learning, work, and productivity. Stay tuned!
What do you think? Have you found that changes to your environment or mood have helped you function better? Hit reply and let me know!
Until next time, keep curious, keep exploring.
~ Franck
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