2024-04-01 12:20
The sixth in our series highlighting specific executive functioning skills will focus on one not typically highlighted: flexibility.
I’m not talking about yoga flexibility; I am referr… Read More
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Executive Functioning Success helps people deal with and overcome executive functioning issues, a brain process that helps people take purposeful action to get tasks done. As a time management educator, Marydee Sklar has helped families and individuals ov
2024-03-01 17:09
Over the last couple of months of this 12-part Executive Function Spotlight Series, I’ve focused on planning and prioritization, key executive functions underlying the capacity for fut… Read More
2024-02-01 17:12
In January, many of you sat down and wrote personal goals for 2024, which is the first activity in your Seeing My Time® planner system.
Identifying your goals and evaluating their achiev… Read More
2024-01-08 13:31
Happy New Year! It’s the perfect time to explore the next in our series of highlighted executive functioning skills: planning.
The natural ability to plan requires having a brain that… Read More
2023-11-28 11:44
The holidays are fully upon us with all the joys, expectations, and yes, demands upon our limited time and resources.
There is so much to plan for.
So much to do.
Sigh. December is hard on f… Read More
2023-11-05 15:21
Years ago, I had a client who was very committed to understanding his brain and its connection to his behavior.
Before we ever met, he told me that he had bought the Seeing My Time Instructo… Read More
2023-10-03 08:48
Way back in 2009, a local neuropsychologist referred to me as an expert in teaching executive functioning skills. I paused and thought, “I am? What are executive functions?” I&rs&hell…Read More
2023-09-01 13:25
Last month we announced a new service for college students, helping them with their Set Up Success college planners. In response to that announcement, a dear woman I know emailed me and aske… Read More
2023-08-03 09:30
Often people are divided into two categories when it comes to executive function skills: You either have them or you don’t.
From my perspective that is an oversimplification because th… Read More
2023-07-04 08:44
Ahh, summer…Time to loosen up on executive functions and enjoy life, right?
The problem is, when we loosen up TOO much, we let our time slip away. The end result is that we feel out o… Read More
2023-06-03 15:53
Activating the executive functioning system of the brain requires constant effort and energy. Why?
Because we have to actively make choices throughout the day to prioritize tasks, sustain at… Read More
2023-05-03 11:15
For people with executive function challenges and/or ADHD, cooking a meal from scratch can feel like scaling a cliff. That’s because there are many executive functions required to make… Read More
2023-03-31 18:00
Challenges with the executive function skills of planning and prioritizing – otherwise known as future thinking – cause so much pain. This is one of the primary motivators for pe… Read More
2023-03-01 17:00
Humans are social creatures. Research has shown that solid relationships with others help us to be happier and even live longer. Apparently, it even supports our immune systems!
However, mak… Read More
2023-01-31 13:15
I have probably said this before, but I will say it again: Your choice of words, both spoken and written, have a powerful effect on your executive functioning.
This is especially true when i… Read More
2022-12-23 10:58
Oh, how we all love to start fresh with a new year. We can let go of our past executive functioning challenges and imagine a new beginning, proclaiming: “This is the year I will master… Read More
2022-11-24 09:20
‘Tis the season! Winter is upon us and as usual, the hectic holiday season can easily overwhelm our executive functioning.
Unless you are someone who sighs with relief when the rain re… Read More
2022-10-26 13:16
Our clients, who struggle with executive functioning, come in a wide range of ages and stages in life: students, wage-earners and retirees with very diverse cultural and economic backgrounds… Read More
2022-09-28 09:59
At the core of my soul, I am a creative being. As my very first team member, Madeline, once wisely observed, “Marydee, you are not happy unless you are making something.”
But pri… Read More
2022-08-31 01:55
(Tip #5 of the series 15 Tips to Support Your Brain for Good Time Management), updated August 30, 2022
Today it’s hard to imagine that waaaaaaay back, around 1982, the digital clock wa… Read More
2022-08-30 15:40
Fall is a time of new beginnings. So many opportunities present themselves in this season! This can feel very exciting and stimulating. After a lovely vacation and time off, we’re temp… Read More
2022-08-15 12:36
Bringing up the “end of summer” topic can feel pretty unwelcome. Who wants to leave behind days of summer adventures and chilling out? Not me! But we all know that the transition… Read More
2022-06-29 09:03
Ahh… summer! ‘Tis the season to power down some of that intense executive functioning required for work and school.
The other day one of my hardworking, driven professionals, wh… Read More
2022-06-06 14:18
When I got into this world of teaching executive functioning skills (way back before the term even existed), I thought I would spend my time helping bright 6th graders who were struggling wi… Read More
2022-05-04 08:37
A key aspect of executive functioning is the ability to think of the future and take action to make plans happen.
I’ve been struggling (for more years than I care to admit) with a crit… Read More
2022-04-05 16:01
My personal definition for executive functioning is “purposeful action.” I’ll explain.
We need our brain’s executive function skills in order to accomplish anything… Read More
2022-03-05 00:18
During a recent Seeing My Time Family Group Course session, it was pretty cool to hear a ninth grader say that he found it “inspirational” when students and parents shared their… Read More
2022-03-03 09:13
I recently watched a Learning and the Brain webinar, taught by the team of Jack Naglieri and Kathleen Kryza. The topic was, unsurprisingly, executive functioning.
I confess, it took some eff… Read More
2022-02-01 08:15
If January is a month when many of us resolve to be better at using our brain’s executive functions, February is often a reality check.
Any time we start something new, like a new year… Read More
2021-12-23 07:43
I have an annual ritual every year by January 1st. To support the planning and prioritizing aspect of my executive functioning, I sit down with a piece of paper, some colored pencils, and my… Read More
2021-11-19 09:53
Wow! How is it already December??
The end of the year is time to double down on supporting your brain’s executive functioning skills. The holiday season puts a lot of stress on folks… Read More
2021-10-28 09:52
As I work with clients on time management, many are overwhelmed by the demands on their lives. They feel stuck – like they are in a downward spiral. Their brains and bodies are crackin… Read More
2021-10-01 14:12
One of the key executive functions necessary to achieve behavior change is the development of metacognition, which I define as “thinking about MY thinking.” It is a complex and r… Read More
2021-09-01 13:53
I have been thinking lately about the wisdom of my mother’s frequently used saying: Too much of good thing can be bad for you. This is especially true when it comes to our executive fu… Read More
2021-07-30 15:42
I don’t know about you, but if 2020 was one of the slowest, longest years ever, the summer of 2021 has been one of the fastest, shortest summers ever! Even though there has been vacati… Read More
2021-07-02 16:39
Oh summer! I just returned from an EFS retreat at the beautiful Oregon Coast with my administrative team, Kathleen and Veronica. This was our first reunion since we were all fully vaccinated… Read More
2021-06-04 17:40
I have been thinking a lot lately about the executive functions required for the management of a home, especially related to home projects.
When parents join their students for a Seeing My T… Read More
2021-04-27 23:25
As part of my online training course for professionals, the Teaching the Seeing My Time Program, I offer two live Q&A sessions. I love this opportunity to address participants’ que… Read More
2021-04-05 17:00
At 67, I tell my new Seeing My Time clients that the reason I keep working is that I’m having too much fun teaching the course to stop! It is such a joy to guide people to build their… Read More
2021-02-23 19:19
As I look out my window at a gray Portland sky, it seems to mirror how many people are feeling in general these days. After an exhausting 2020, people are still struggling with their executi… Read More
2021-01-27 18:10
Many of my clients, especially those with ADHD, have such a hard time getting started in the mornings. Their internal voice is giving them a huge list of To-Dos, and whatever comes into sigh… Read More
2021-01-04 18:54
I have always loved the beginning of a new year. And like many of you, this year I am especially ready to begin afresh! I have my new Seeing My Time planner to support my executive-function… Read More
2020-11-30 21:59
The holiday season always challenges our brain’s executive functioning. And the stress and uncertainty that 2020 has brought into our lives has only increased the demands pushing many… Read More
2020-10-29 20:46
The other day, I realized that I’ve been writing about executive functions for over ten years! What amazes me is that I keep coming up with new topics. For inspiration, I look to my cl… Read More
2020-10-02 22:59
The multiple stressors of 2020 have been challenging everyone’s executive functioning. So much negative news coupled with personal challenges have overwhelmed our brains. My poor brain… Read More
2020-09-01 17:17
Do you feel out of sync returning home after a recent vacation? Or perhaps dreading the end of summer as you face heading back to school and work? Transition times like these are hard on our… Read More
2020-07-22 22:07
Have you turned off or toned down your executive functioning this summer as you searched for “normal?”
After COVID-19 spring, I certainly have. My brain has needed to chill as mu… Read More
2020-07-02 22:40
If there was ever a time to use a paper planner to support executive functioning, this is it.
I am specifically referring to the executive functions of planning and prioritization, which I o… Read More
2020-06-13 03:27
These have been excruciatingly painful times as we face the racial injustices in our country. Our nation is in serious need of healing on so many levels, and yet I have hope for a better tom… Read More
2020-05-07 20:10
Are you feeling more demands on your executive functions these days? You are not alone.
Adjusting to sheltering in place for over a month has stretched us all thin. We try to stay sane and r… Read More
2020-03-27 21:10
A little over a week ago, I had an experience that clearly indicated that my brain’s executive functions were stressed and maybe even completely offline.
I was walking into my bedroom… Read More
2020-03-02 18:47
When I first created the Seeing My Time program, I was essentially teaching executive function skills, though that term didn’t really exist in the general world at the time.
At first… Read More
2020-02-06 17:40
I have noticed that many of my clients struggle with the executive function skill of prioritization.
As they move through the day, they get stuck deciding what is the most important thing to… Read More
2020-01-06 23:32
I love the beginning of a New Year. It’s a marker to pause and spend some quality time developing that fundamental executive function skill of planning and prioritizing, what I refer t… Read More
2019-12-06 00:46
Here’s a known yet under recognized fact: the holiday season puts a major strain on the brain’s executive functioning.
Our schedules get packed with holiday events. There may be… Read More
2019-11-05 22:35
Are you getting enough sleep? How about your family members? If the answer is “no,” then this message is for you.
The length and quality of a person’s sleep has a direct im… Read More
2019-11-05 22:35
Are you getting enough sleep? How about your family members? If the answer is “no,” then this post is for you.
The length and quality of a person’s sleep has a direct impac… Read More
2019-10-01 19:47
When you suffer with executive function challenges, it can be very difficult to maintain a positive mindset.
Years of being late, living with piles everywhere and not meeting commitments or… Read More
2019-09-07 18:52
When we focus on executive functions as they relate to time management and getting things done, it is easy to forget the elephant in the room – our emotional brain.
We want to believe… Read More
2019-07-29 08:52
I have been focusing a lot lately on the executive function skill of “future thinking” or planning and prioritization, which is required for meeting multi-step goals. A year ago… Read More
2019-07-05 11:33
The longer I work in the arena of executive functions, the more I value one specific skill: planning and prioritization or “future thinking.”
While some executive function skills… Read More
2019-06-06 20:12
When I first published my Seeing My Time® books back in 2010, it was exceedingly rare to ever read or hear a reference to executive functions in the popular press. These days, the term … Read More
2019-05-09 16:59
Have you ever longed to hold your arms over your head and plead: “Stop world! I want to get off?”
Those who suffer with executive function challenges often feel like a hamster ru… Read More
2019-04-08 19:32
An interesting question was recently posed to me: Should executive function skills be explicitly taught as a distinct part of a school curriculum?
This question was raised recently by an edu… Read More
2019-03-01 23:04
I recently returned from the Learning Disabilities of America national conference, which has focused my thoughts on the executive function skill of metacognition or “thinking about you… Read More
2019-01-30 01:05
For those of us who grapple with weak executive function skills, especially in the realm of time management, planning, and organization, it can sometimes be hard to feel…“happy… Read More
2018-12-20 02:21
I LOVE starting a new year. It’s a clean slate to make my life more purposeful, as I use my executive functions to maximize time management. I am excited about the possibilities for ch… Read More
2018-12-01 17:00
My staff and I took the week off for Thanksgiving, which I think will become a tradition at EFS. We all experienced some wonderful and rewarding family time.
With all of that Thanksgiving fe… Read More
2018-10-30 18:07
Many people struggle with planning, the “thinking-ahead” executive function skill. Caught up in the demands of their daily lives, they start to feel like life is just endles… Read More
2018-10-17 21:21
It is very typical for one parent in a family to be the Family Calendar Keeper, what I call the Executive Functioning Machine for the whole family.
By the time that family gets to my table f… Read More
2018-10-02 21:54
I see a lot of parents who seek help for their children’s executive function challenges. To be perfectly honest, sometimes I am more concerned about the parents than I am about the chi… Read More
2018-09-05 18:16
Typically people reach out to me because of specific executive function challenges connected to time management and planning. Those skills are just two pieces in a constellation of executive… Read More
2018-08-23 22:52
Fall is just around the corner! We are now accepting registration for our upcoming courses. Our professional courses are hosted online, and are available for optional credit from Seattle Pac… Read More
2018-08-01 22:06
Oh August! It is still summer BUT school looms in the not-too-distant horizon. For students with executive function challenges (and their parents!) there can be an underlying anxiety about f… Read More
2018-07-02 07:56
Those who struggle to create and execute planning, or future thinking, often have executive function deficits.
This weakness can be very painful because so many people have dreams, but witho… Read More
2018-06-02 17:44
Executive Functioning Success in its 8th year, and if I have learned anything, it is that running a business requires a LOT of strong executive function skills! Last week during our staff me… Read More
2018-05-01 19:06
I will be 65 this summer, and I want to grow up to be my mother-in-law, Selma.
I have just returned from a family gathering to honor her 90th birthday. Just about the whole Sklar clan came t… Read More
2018-04-11 19:40
I’d like to ask a quick question. Can you name some nagging thing that you want or need to get done but you just can’t start it?
I think the real question is who can’t name… Read More
2018-04-11 19:40
I’d like to ask a quick question. Can you name some nagging thing that you want or need to get done but you just can’t start it?
I think the real question is who can’t name… Read More
2018-03-09 17:58
I just returned from presenting at the LDA national conference. Dr. Jerome Schultz, a clinical neuropsychologist at Harvard, gave a keynote with the title: Conquering the Fear Factor: Helpin… Read More
2018-02-08 19:04
People often find me and my work because of a label they have been given. Typically it is “executive function deficits.” Testing or evaluations were sought out to explain “… Read More
2018-01-02 03:38
Ready for my toast to 2018? Raise a glass, or a cup of tea, and say with me: To planning!
The ability to plan for the future, and then take the actions required to accomplish those plans, re… Read More
2017-12-07 20:27
Have you been interested in taking a course from us in the past? Winter is a great time to do this. Our professional courses are hosted online, and our family group course is held in Portlan… Read More
2017-12-07 18:47
Have you been feeling stressed with the holiday season approaching? I have just returned from Texas and the conference for the Association of Educational Service Agencies. The keynote speake… Read More
2017-10-31 19:27
One of my newest clients seeking help for executive function deficits is a delightful gentleman somewhere in his 60’s. He specifically wanted help with planning. He shared that his wif… Read More
2017-09-28 17:57
I got into this whole world of executive functions because of my own brain’s challenges.
The origins of Seeing My Time started with developing a different way to think about the relati… Read More
2017-09-01 02:23
At first glance, you might not realize that an exercise habit is directly linked to your brain’s executive functioning. I was considering this fact last week as I did my three-mile Sun… Read More
2017-08-23 20:08
Every year, my month of August is all about coaching my clients through the Seeing My Time program – intensely. I usually teach the curriculum to each individual or family once a… Read More
2017-08-21 20:55
Learn from Marydee Sklar, the creator of the Seeing My Time program, as she teaches practical tips and strategies for supporting students with their executive functions. In this presentation… Read More
2017-08-15 20:19
I had never thought about the link between executive functions and perfectionism until I watched a client – a medical professional, circle around and around and around her desire to cr… Read More
2017-08-04 17:06
Of all the executive functions, planning can be the most challenging for kids. That’s because their brains have often not yet developed the ability to manage future thinking. Teachers… Read More
2017-08-04 17:06
Of all the executive functions, planning can be the most challenging for kids. That’s because their brains have often not yet developed the ability to manage future thinking. Teachers… Read More
2017-07-11 21:50
Ahh, summer…a time to let go of executive functions, let your hair down, and be spontaneous – right? Well, not necessarily. Summer might end before you get around to having fun… Read More
2017-07-11 00:54
There are lots of fun (and cheesy) jokes about time. Here’s a great one:
Customer: I’d like a watch that tells time.
Clerk: Don’t you have a watch that tells time?
Customer… Read More
2017-06-14 02:59
Though it’s the end of the school year, social media and screen time still have a major effect on students’ ability to get things done. Chores, family time and even dinnertime ca… Read More
2017-05-24 20:29
I’m thrilled to be participating in a virtual interview series called Creating Unstoppable Teens. The event will be held online, June 14 – 24, 2017.
This is a FREE event for pare… Read More
2017-05-24 20:23
While my brain has executive functioning challenges, I have never let that stop me from being an avid learner. I am ALWAYS learning things!
In a recent conversation with my daughter, who was… Read More
2017-05-18 16:00
In my book, 50 Tips to Help Students Succeed, I devote a chapter to chores. Not only are chores important for teaching adult skills like cooking, cleaning and managing money, but they also s… Read More
2017-05-03 16:00
At the recent LDA conference a keynote speaker was Dr. Philip Zelazo, a researcher who focuses on executive functions. In my notes I wrote: “It takes effort to activate your executive… Read More
2017-04-04 16:00
All of us have too much to do and too little time to do it! Our brain’s executive function system is overloaded with things to accomplish. We complain that we just don’t have the… Read More
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