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🧩 Neurodivergent
How strong is your executive function?
Measure planning, impulse control and mental flexibility.
Rate how often each applies: 1 (never) to 5 (always).
1I have trouble planning ahead for tasks or events.
2I act on impulse without thinking about consequences.
3I have trouble holding information in mind while doing something else.
4I have difficulty switching between activities or ways of thinking.
5I struggle to organize my belongings, workspace, or schedule.
6I have trouble starting tasks, even when I want to do them.
7I lose track of time easily.
8I have difficulty monitoring my own behavior or performance.
9I forget things I was supposed to do, even important ones.
10I have emotional reactions that are too intense for the situation.
What is executive function?
Executive functions are the brain's management system — planning, focus, working memory, impulse control, and flexibility. The BRIEF-A (Gioia et al.) is the gold standard clinical assessment.
The 5 core executive functions
- Planning (items 1,5): Organizing steps to reach a goal
- Inhibition (items 2,10): Stopping impulses, controlling emotions
- Working Memory (items 3,9): Holding information while using it
- Flexibility (items 4,8): Adapting to new situations, shifting focus
- Initiation (items 6,7): Starting tasks and managing time
Key facts
- Executive function peaks in your late 20s and slowly declines
- Executive dysfunction is the core deficit in ADHD — not just "can't focus"
- Stress, sleep deprivation, and depression all impair executive function
- "It's not laziness" — executive dysfunction makes starting tasks physically difficult
Sources: BRIEF-A (Gioia et al. 2000), Barkley (2012, EF theory), Miyake et al. (2000), Neuropsychology Review.