If I asked you to name a tool, chances are you’d say something like “hammer” or “screwdriver.” That’s because we tend to associate the word “tool” with physical objects we can see and touch.
But when it comes to abstract concepts like executive function—which exists in the brain but isn’t something we can directly observe—understanding what a “tool” means can be a little trickier.
So let’s back up. A tool is defined as something that helps you do a particular activity. Tools exist in relation to goals.
Let’s say you’re trying to read a sign in the distance, but your vision is blurry.
Your goal is to read the sign, and here are a few tools that could help:
- Ask someone nearby to read it aloud
- Put on your prescription glasses
- Use binoculars
All of these are different tools—yes, even asking someone for help (that’s a social tool).
What Executive Function Tools Look Like
Now, let’s apply this to executive function. Think of executive function as your mental “vision”—your ability to plan, remember, start tasks, manage emotions, shift focus, and follow through with things.
When it comes to poor vision, glasses and contact lenses are common forms of support.
Because executive function involves such a broad and more abstract set of skills, and also since the concept is far less widely known about, the tools are innumerable and vary dramatically in terms of who’s heard of them and who has access to them.
These supports aren’t primarily there to ‘fix’ vision; instead, they help people compensate for when their sense of vision falls short. And executive function tools work in much the same way—by helping us work around our EF challenges, enhance our strengths, and improve our quality of life.
Executive function tools are strategies, objects, or systems that help your brain perform EF tasks more effectively. Just like glasses help you see, these tools help you plan, focus, regulate, and act.
Examples of executive function tools:
- Visual timers and Pomodoro charts
- Daily planners and checklists
- Brain dump pages
- Emotional regulation worksheets
- Routine builders
- Accountability systems
There’s no single tool that works for everyone. What matters is that it makes a positive difference for you—without causing more stress.
Finding the Right Executive Function Tools
To find the right tool, you first need to understand the challenge. That’s why I created the Executive Function Toolkit.
This site is as much about learning to identify your own needs as it is about offering solutions.
I know that people are going to land here hoping they’ve found a Brookstone—or some kind of magic hardware store—filled with high-tech gadgets that immediately solve problems and “fix” what they believe is “wrong” with them. But this isn’t that place. And honestly, if it were, people might just grab something flashy and leave—without knowing how it works or whether they’ll actually use it.
That’s because if you don’t know what problem you’re trying to solve, you’re just browsing. You’re looking for something that catches your eye—not something that truly meets your needs.
Conversely, once you take the time to appreciate what in your life isn’t working as well as you’d like—once you name the problem—you’re much more likely to recognize the right tool when you see it.
This means learning how to:
- Define your problem clearly
- Separate your identity from your struggle
- View the issue as something outside yourself that you can improve with supports
The Neurodivergent Experience
For neurodivergent folks—especially those with ADHD or autism—this process is complicated. Executive dysfunction has often been present since childhood, so it can feel deeply personal. People may have misinterpreted your challenges as laziness, stubbornness, or lack of intelligence. Over time, that misunderstanding can turn into internalized self-criticism or defensiveness.
That’s why developing an objective, compassionate view of yourself is one of the most important steps in improving executive functioning.
This site exists to normalize the struggles, offer practical support, and create a space where you can resonate with others’ stories. It’s not about perfection. It’s about progress.
Executive Function is for Everyone
Also, it’s important to note that EF challenges aren’t exclusive to neurodivergent people. Sleep deprivation, stress, illness, or burnout can impair executive function for anyone. We’ve all had days where we’re foggy, frazzled, and unfocused.
Improving your executive function doesn’t mean becoming a different person. It means learning what supports help you function at your best.
With the right tools, self-understanding, and supports, your executive function can absolutely be improved.
Executive function isn’t fixed. It’s flexible—and so are you. Change is always possible.