4 examples of context-based strategies to improve brain’s executive functions

“Have you ever start scrolling on Facebook and suddenly realise you’ve missed a meeting? Or

Have you ever planned to stop at the store on the way home from work and then drive all the way home instead? That’s because your brain was on autopilot!

These things happen to everyone. "But what's really happening is we're experiencing a lapse in executive function.”

You use your brain's executive function every day – it's how you do things like pay attention, plan ahead and control impulses. Can you improve it to change for the better?

What is it?

Executive function refers to brain functions that activate, organize, integrate and manage other functions. It enables individuals to:

• account for short- and long-term consequences of their actions;
• plan for those results; and
• make real-time evaluations of their actions and make necessary adjustments if those actions are not achieving the desired result.

Sabine Doebel – How to break away from habit and follow through on your goals | TEDxMileHigh

With highlights from her research on child development, cognitive scientist Sabine Doebel explores the factors that affect executive function and how you can use it to break bad habits and achieve your goals.

 “People think you can improve it through brain-training phone apps, computer games or by playing chess.

Well, I'm here to tell you that this way of thinking about executive function is all wrong.

Success in real-world situations depends on:

• things like how motivated you are;
• what your peers are doing; and
• strategies that you execute when you're using executive function in a particular situation.

Context really matters, don't look for quick fixes.”

So, what does this mean for you? Well, let's say that you want to learn Spanish.

You could try changing your context and surrounding yourself with other people who also want to learn.

And even better, if these are people that you really like, that way you will be more motivated to use executive function.

Here are 4 examples (there are many more) of context-based strategies to improve executive functions:

Work Context

Employ time-blocking techniques to allocate specific time periods for focused work and avoid distractions, thus improving attention and cognitive control.

Academic Context

Engage in teaching the material to someone else or discussing it with peers, to strengthen understanding and critical thinking.

Social Context

Engage in social games or activities that require teamwork and cooperation to enhance emotional regulation and decision-making in social situations.

Training Context

Align the training activities with the specific challenges faced by the participants. Training that addresses the context of their roles fosters a deeper understanding of how executive functions impact performance.

Take aways

Think about the context in how you can:

• make your goals matter more to you; and
• use strategies to help yourself in that particular situation.

I think the ancient Greeks said it best when they said,

"Know thyself."

A key part of this is knowing how:

• context shapes your behaviour; and
• you can use that knowledge to change for the better.