Happy Friday, Reader!

I’m excited to be continuing my current streak of weekly newsletters. Writing was part of one of the items on my personal vision board, and that brings us to the topic of this week’s tip of the week!

Tip of the Week: Build a Vision for Yourself

For years, I thought that building a vision board was a woo-woo arts and crafts project. But the more that I learn about ADHD and executive function challenges, the more I realize the importance of visualizing one’s future self and keeping that image accessible.

Students with ADHD often tend to live in the moment, disregarding the needs of their “future self” as they choose actions that fulfill some short-term desire. “I’ll work on that project later.” “Just a few more minutes playing video games/scrolling YouTube.” They focus on their needs at the moment, and as deadlines or natural consequences approach, they can feel overwhelmed by the circumstances they’ve created for themselves.

Vision boards take abstract concepts and turn them into something more concrete. Since many kids have a hard time visualizing their future selves or calling those images to mind when it could be helpful, a vision board can serve as a reminder of what they’re working toward and whether their current actions are looking out for their future selves.

While students could certainly make vision boards in an old-school way using magazines and cut-outs, digital tools like Canva may be an even better option for their ability to resize and stretch images into different formats. For example, I often encourage students to display their vision board as the home screen wallpaper on their digital devices, where they can see the image several times daily. This subtle reminder of what they are working toward can help guide them toward better decisions.

Executive Function Elsewhere in the World

Here are a few of my favorite articles and resources from this week:

• Penny Williams, host of the Beautifully Complex podcast, is offering the free Unlocking ADHD Summit online next week. There will be expert speakers Monday through Wednesday with a replay day on Thursday. I’ve previewed the topics, and Tuesday’s lineup is all about executive functioning. If you’re looking for ideas to support ADHD kiddos from a strengths-based perspective, then I highly recommend checking out this event.
• New research confirms that ADHD tends to be missed in children with higher social and cognitive abilities, and there’s often a bias toward diagnosing boys and not girls. While some groups (like the president’s new commission) tend to suggest that ADHD is getting overdiagnosed, the reality is that there’s still a lot that we’re learning about ADHD.
• As a spicy food lover, I was intrigued by new research exploring spicy peppers as a possible treatment for ADHD symptoms. While the research is still in its early stages, I say bring on the hot sauce!

Upcoming Workshop: Get AP Test Ready!

Do you have a high school student who is preparing for Advanced Placement tests this spring? If so, they should join Coach Maria on March 29, 2025, for a 90-minute in-person workshop on Building Savvy Study Plans to Be AP Test Ready. This workshop will cover key ideas about finding and using effective study materials, creating a long-term study plan you can stick with, and maintaining the motivation to follow through with the plan. Visit our website to learn more and register now, as space is limited.

Interested in executive function coaching?

Whether you’re looking for something this spring or hoping to start in the summer or fall, now is the time to book a discovery call and get on our list! Discovery calls are typically 30-minute conversations about what EF coaching entails and what’s happening that has you considering coaching as an option. You will not be pressured to make any decisions or commitments. But we’re already making decisions about scheduling and capacity for the fall, so if you’re interested in exploring this option, resist the urge to procrastinate. You can learn more at our website.

Have a great weekend!