Too Much Advice, Not Enough Action: How to Improve Your Executive Function Skills 2026 (a guide for adults)
- Eric Kaufmann
- Dec 19, 2025
- 6 min read
TL;DR: We are constantly inundated with information, tips, and ideas to improve our executive function skills and overall well-being. But turning learning into action is hard.
To combat this, I summarized my top three most popular articles of 2025 so you can easily pick one executive function skill to improve in 2026.
Table of Contents
Hi Friend,
We are constantly inundated with information, tips, and ideas to improve our executive function skills and overall well-being. Turning that learning into action is where most of us get stuck.
Personally, I love podcasts. I listen to them daily. I learn a lot. Yet I rarely put what I learn into practice.
By the time I finish my morning walk, I jump straight into work or go surfing. I know re-listening would help, but that doesn’t work for my novelty-seeking ADHD brain.
So the next morning, it’s on to a new episode of Modern Wisdom, Rich Roll, or Solved.
And if you’ve been following my work this year, or longer, I have a feeling you relate.
A subscriber recently said, “Eric, I read your newsletter every week, but I don’t know where to begin.” (Side note: I recommended they book a no-cost strategy session with me.)
I get it.
We are great at collecting information. But for many adults with ADHD, who are autistic, or have other executive function challenges, implementation is the hardest part.
This week, instead of overwhelming you with more ideas, I did the opposite.
I gathered the three most popular articles from The Weekly UpSkill this year, plus one personal favorite. I wrote a short summary of each and linked the full post so you can go deeper if one truly resonates.
My hope is this: you pick one article, try one strategy, and focus on action over consumption as you improve your executive function skills in 2026.
Let’s dive in.
How to Organize Your Google Drive (Without Overthinking It)
If you’re anything like me, your Google Drive is more disorganized than your fridge. Mine used to be full of untitled docs, random screenshots, and files I swore I’d organize later.
That never happened…
My Google Drive was such a shit show that reorganizing everything would've taken hours. But when our digital spaces are chaotic, our brains often feel the same way.
So I started using Google Drive differently. The core ideas I developed are:
Name every single document
Forget folders
Use the search bar
You can learn the full method here.
Read time: 4 minutes
How to Stick With a Hobby When You Have ADHD
When I cleaned out my closet this year, I found my old camera bag. Instead of fond memories, I felt guilt.
A while ago, I was convinced I’d become a part-time photographer.
By month two, the camera was collecting dust.
Not broken.
Not returned.
Just abandoned.
Many adults with executive function challenges know this cycle well. A new hobby sparks interest. Money and energy are invested. Then interest fades, followed by shame.
This is heavily tied to how ADHD and autistic brains process novelty and interest.
In this article, I share the H.O.B.B.Y. framework: a way to choose hobbies intentionally, stick with them when it makes sense, and gently let go when they no longer fit.
You can learn the H.O.B.B.Y. framework here.
Read time: 4 minutes
How to Stop the ADHD Task Avalanche Before Leaving the House
In July, I packed up to live in my van for a month. I had lists. Categories. Three full days of prep.
I felt on top of things. The goal was to leave by 2:00 p.m.
At 1:00 p.m., I did one last sweep. That’s when the task avalanche hit.
Unplug appliances.
Clean the coffee machine.
Turn off the water heater.
Ask my neighbor about the trash cans.
The list of last-minute to-dos seemed endless.
For many neurodivergent adults, that last-minute panic doesn’t just happen before trips. It shows up before meetings, appointments, and everyday errands.
So I created a simple framework to help adults with ADHD and executive function challenges plan differently. I turned it into an acronym to make it easy to remember.
S.A.L.T.
→ Set a reminder
→ Activate a timer
→ Look around
→ Take action
You can learn how to use it here.
Read time: 4 minutes
Bonus: What I’ve Learned From Writing 100 Blogs on Executive Function Skills
I started The Weekly UpSkill with two goals:
Help neurodivergent adults improve executive function skills
Find out if I could stick with writing weekly.
As someone with ADHD and plenty of self-doubt, consistency felt unlikely.
Then, in July, the newsletter crossed 1,000 subscribers as I wrote my 100th post. That milestone called for reflection.
Here are a few lessons that surprised me:
Consistency isn’t about willpower
Traditional routines often don’t work for neurodivergent brains
Frameworks reduce overwhelm
Progress requires letting go of perfection
Imposter syndrome often means you’re on the right track
You can read more about these lessons here.
Read time: 5 minutes
Summary: How to Improve Executive Function Skills as an Adult
My three most popular articles this year were:
Plus my personal favorite: What I’ve Learned From Writing 100 Blogs on Executive Function Skills.
If you want to improve executive function but feel overwhelmed by information, let one of these articles be your starting point. Just one.
Read it. Try the strategy. See what happens.
And if you want help turning insight into action, you can book a no-cost strategy session with me here.
Let’s get after it this week!
In service,
Eric
FAQs
What are executive function skills?
Executive functions are a set of cognitive skills that allow us to get stuff done. While there is much debate on the number and names of these skills, professionals agree that executive functions act as the control center of our brains.
They help us plan, prioritize, manage distractions, set and achieve goals, and regulate our emotions.
For some, these skills are developed during school. However, for many neurodivergent adults, executive function skills were never honed, thus leaving them without the skills to handle the demands of daily life or reach their fullest potential.
What is adult executive function coaching?
Imagine having a personal guide who not only understands the complexities of your daily struggles but also possesses the expertise to help you conquer them.
That's exactly what adult executive function coaching offers. At its core, this type of coaching is focused on enhancing the cognitive processes known as executive functions, which are responsible for skills like planning, organizing, managing time, and controlling impulses.
Engaging in adult executive function coaching is a personalized journey tailored to your unique needs and goals.
Coaches collaborate with you to identify your strengths, challenges, and aspirations. From there, they develop a customized plan that includes strategies, tools, and techniques to enhance your executive function skills.
Related articles:
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About the Author
Eric Kaufmann is an Educational Therapist, Certified Executive Function Coach, and speaker. He is the Co-founder of UpSkill Specialists, an executive function coaching company that helps adults and workplace teams overcome disorganization, procrastination, and productivity roadblocks. Eric is also the founder of Elevate Learning Solutions, an Educational Therapy practice that supports neurodivergent students in becoming independent and confident. Book Eric to speak or lead a workshop.
