Planning

Executive Function and Planning: Why Big Projects Feel Overwhelming (And How to Plan Them)

Planning is a complex executive function skill. It requires working memory, cognitive flexibility, prioritization, estimating time, task initiation, and sustained attention. That’s why planning can feel overwhelming for many neurodivergent adults, especially those with ADHD or autism.

Eric Kaufmann

Jul 109 min read

A person looking at her phone, completing the mid-year rest. A reflection for neurodivergent brains.

Mid-Year Reflection for Neurodivergent Adults: A Simple Reset for Your Goals

A mid-year reflection matters because when we pause to look back, we find out what’s working, what isn’t, and uncover the small wins we overlooked while moving from one task to the next.

Eric Kaufmann

Jul 34 min read

Nutrition and Executive Function: Why Neurodivergent Adults Struggle to Eat Healthy

Nutrition plays a huge role in brain health. And because executive function skills rely heavily on the prefrontal cortex, what we eat can impact our ability to think clearly, make decisions, and follow through.

Eric Kaufmann

Jun 128 min read

A Simple Strategy to Improve Your Follow-Through as a Neurodivergent Adult

Many adults with ADHD, who are autistic or otherwise neurodivergent, struggle with executive function skills like task initiation, planning, and cognitive flexibility. These executive function gaps amount to a common frustration: follow-through.

Eric Kaufmann

Feb 276 min read

How to Stop Overplanning

Many neurodivergent adults, like those of us with ADHD or who are autistic, find themselves planning instead of doing. At its core, this is a safety behavior.

Eric Kaufmann

Feb 136 min read

Why You Always Underestimate Time (And How to Fix It)

It’s nearly impossible to estimate how long something will take for two reasons. First, we fall victim to the planning fallacy–our tendency to underestimate time, cost, and effort, even when past experiences prove otherwise. Then, we forget to consider unpredictable obstacles like

Eric Kaufmann

Oct 16, 20255 min read

Why Task Batching Works for ADHD Brains (And How to Start in 4 Steps)

Task batching means grouping similar tasks together and completing them in a dedicated block of time. Instead of replying to one email, starting a project, then bouncing back to Slack, you batch tasks into categories and handle them all at once.

Eric Kaufmann

Sep 18, 20255 min read

What I’ve Learned From Writing 100 Blogs On Executive Function Skills

And after publishing my 100th post, I hit 1,000 subscribers (woohoo!). But honestly, the real win isn’t the number. It’s what I’ve learned about executive function, consistency, and follow-through.

Eric Kaufmann

Jul 11, 20255 min read

The ‘Good Enough’ Method: A Perfectionism Solution for Neurodivergent Adults

Perfectionism looks like a high standard, but it often masks deep fears.

Eric Kaufmann

Apr 17, 20254 min read

Overwhelmed by Planning? AI Can Make It Easier for Neurodiverse Brains

Many neurodivergent adults, especially those with ADHD, struggle with the executive function skill of planning.

Eric Kaufmann

Mar 18, 20255 min read

About 👋

Upskill Specialists was founded when two former special education teachers turned executive function coaches decided that adults need tools and coaching to improve their workplace skills and feel confident and empowered. Our mission is to ensure every adult with EF challenges has access to high-quality coaching services.