Executive Functioning Workbook for Adults: Exercises to Help You Get Organized, Stay Focused, and Achieve Your Goals

by Blythe Grossberg

Take charge of your future with sharper executive functioning skills



Executive functioning is the ability to get organized, plan ahead, and stay focused. If your executive functioning skills could use a boost, this workbook is the perfect place to start! No matter your job or lifestyle, the simple strategies inside will help you feel more in control so you can thrive.


Get the tools you need to feel more productive and achieve your goals with the Executive Functioning Workbook for Adults .

Genres: Self Help, Adhd, Nonfiction, Psychology

202 pages, Paperback

Published October 18, 2022

Reviews

[Emily · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought that this book was an incredible resource for those of us trying to better our lives when struggling with executive dysfunction. My only qualm… as someone who severely struggles with motivation and self-drive, it was a bit hard to get through. I had a few moments of “yes, I can see how this would be helpful… but I just don’t want to or have other things to do.” Otherwise, this book was filled with great examples of tasks for an individual with executive function issues to help create a determined schedule and find new ways to stay motivated, organized, and over all more together!

[Sylwia]

I'm a therapist reading this to inform my practice.

🔸 The section explaining the functions is one I refer to regularly.
🔸 I've read a few other books about this topic and coming back to this one, it has the most realistic, adult-friendly, and validating assignments.
🔸 It's helpful to clinicians and laymen.

[Rina · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars.

Take charge of your future with sharper executive functioning skills. Executive functioning is the ability to get organised, plan ahead, and stay focused. The simple strategies inside will help you feel more in control so you can thrive.

I’m kicking myself for waiting this long to read this book. This was actually a pretty comprehensive workbook that covered fundamental executive functions, and how to maximise them to be the best version of yourself. I surprising learned a lot from it!

The chapter breakdowns made so much sense, and the content was structured in a very organised way. It was easy to track my progress, and easy to flip to the sections I wanted to review certain things. Full of tips (some new to me, most of them weren’t but still good to refresh my own knowledge), this workbook was completely practical and I’d really recommend it to anyone wanting to keep improving themselves!

(Thanks to NetGalley and Callisto Media for a gifted review copy)

See my bookstagram review.

[Alisha Green · Rating 4 out of 5]

Filled with good examples on strengthening your brain’s executive functions, which can benefit everyone. Although if you struggle with task initiation like I do implementing the examples and exercises is gonna be a pain in the ass.

[Dustyloup · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.49* - Three stars for me because of one major bugbear - SMART* goals, especially presenting them so early in the book without breaking down each of the elements into doable chunks. When you're someone who has difficulty with executive functioning, it's at best laughable to suggest setting SMART goals and at worst, harmful and demoralizing!!!
So with that out of the way, there in fact are some very good exercises in here and some great questions that helped me look at various issues in a new/different way. I will definitely keep coming back to them!!

I think it's important to know which 9 facets/functions the book focuses on...
attention and focus, organization, task initiation, planning and prioritization, self-monitoring, working memory, flexible thinking, emotional control, and impulse control. I like that the focus is on executive functioning and not just ADD/ADHD, but I do wonder just how well this term is known outside coginitve science or the ADD community.

This would be a great tool to use in therapy or perhaps even with a trusted friend or family member, if you feel safe doing that.

I personally preferred The Mindfulness Workbook for ADHD: Effective Strategies to Increase Focus, Build Patience, and Find Balance over this one, but I think that depends on who you are, your "why"/what you are trying to get out of the workbook. If you are feeling anxious and frustrated, I would definitely recommend the Mindfulness one over this, especially if you're curious about meditation but have always thought you couldn't/wouldn't be able to do it. However, if you are starting to feel at peace with who you are, yet keep getting stuck or just feel unable to move forward, you might prefer this one!

Thanks to the publisher and netgalley for access to a digital ARC of this book. Now I'm off to burn that page about SMART goals - ;)
*Specific, Measurable, Attainable/Achievable, Realistic, Time Bound

[Kimberly Barnes · Rating 4 out of 5]

The executive functioning workbook for adults, is a valuable resource for adults that experience difficulties with executive functioning skills. The Executive Functioning Workbook for Adults is an evidence based, easy to implement workbook written to assist adults with improving these skills. Executive functioning skills are vital for success at home and in the workplace. The first part of this valuable resource explains the concepts underpinning executive functioning skills. Not only will it be revealed what exactly executive functioning skills include, but you will also understand the necessity of self-monitoring and how to set personal goals for improvement. The second part of the book describes the many components of executive functioning skills including: attention, focus, organization, task initiation, planning, self-monitoring, working memory, flexible thinking, impulse control, and emotional control. That is an individual chapter for each of the aforementioned skills. Each chapter focuses on a specific skill, with explanation of the skill, real-life vignettes, and practice exercises to allow understanding and skill implementation. I recommend this to anyone looking to improve any of these skills. Thank you the publisher and NetGalley for the advance review copy in exchange for my honest review.

[Ingrid · Rating 4 out of 5]

Executive Functioning Workbook for Adults is a well organized roadmap to help someone understand and take action to improve each of the nine core executive functions. I could see this workbook being extremely valuable to a teen or young adult struggling with executive function skills, in particular those with ADHD. The workbook includes information on each skill, a self assessment, strategies and a customized action plan that the reader put together with tue workbook. I read this on a color tablet which I would recommend if you’re not able to get the paperback version since the color coding organizes the book well. The book is not too dense and has the perfect level of detail for someone who already struggles with focus and planning. Thank you to the publisher and to NetGalley for giving me a chance to read the book in exchange for my honest opinion.

[Annie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is pretty much as the title would suggest. It doesn't have to be read straight through and you can skip around to work on different things as needed/desired. I preferred to read through as written and consider the different questions if applicable currently. Some of the suggestions were good ones for me personally, and I feel like I got some insight into my current functioning versus what I think would be ideal for me and possibly ways to work towards that. I didn't actually do any of the writing activities since I don't think the workbook format is ideal for me. 3.5 rounded to 4 stars.

[kar · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Executive Functioning Workbook for Adults focuses on nine areas: attention and focus, organization, task initiation, planning and prioritization, self-monitoring, working memory, flexible thinking, emotional control, and impulse control. Each section introduces the skill, explains how action can improve and address issues in this area, has reflective questions to assess one's skills/struggles in these areas, as well as suggested exercises and interventions to help continue to develop these skills. This provided a lot of strategies to help adult’s executive function! Thank you, NetGalley!

[wonderfullyweird88 · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book provides helpful strategies to get focused and motivated to complete the things you want. It can be difficult to actually follow through on tasks and this book helps break things down into more manageable sizes. This allows you to stay motivated and actually achieve the goals you set for yourself.

This was an informative read that I would recommend to those who struggle to achieve tasks.
I received an arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Morgan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I accessed a digital review copy of this book from the publisher.

[Bernice H · Rating 3 out of 5]

Proves little heels

Explains why I have or how ADD affects my life, but the solutions are more “idea” than “concrete”. “Just be different…”?