Why Executive Function Skills Don't Always Travel Well
One of the joys of teaching Mastering Executive Function is hearing how participants begin spotting executive functions in their daily lives. This week, someone shared a story that made me laugh—yet also highlighted an essential truth about EF.
She and her partner went on a weekend trip. At home, she has a place for everything and everything in its place. But when they opened her suitcase, her partner teased: “How is it that you’re so organized at home, but this looks like raccoons rummaged through your bag?”
EF Teaching Point:
This is a perfect reminder that executive function can be a situational strength.
At home, she has carefully built systems that support her EF challenges. Those systems make her look “naturally” organized. But in a new setting—like traveling—those supports aren’t there. Suddenly, the exact same skill feels harder to access.
And that’s exactly what participants in the Mastering Executive Function class are learning: it isn’t just about understanding the executive functions themselves or the brain science behind them. It’s about becoming more observant—learning to notice what’s happening in the moment, asking why it might look different in this environment, and then considering how to respond.
As coaches, it’s important to keep this in mind. A student (or adult) might demonstrate strong EF skills in one environment, then struggle in another. The skill hasn’t disappeared—it’s just that the supports and routines that make it possible aren’t present.
That’s why our role goes beyond noticing strengths and challenges in one space. We need to help individuals build systems they can adapt and carry with them—so their EF skills hold up no matter where they are.
When she realized how different her skills felt while traveling, she laughed—but also reflected on just how much she’d learned about herself through the course. Her partner handed her a set of packing cubes: one for shirts, one for shorts, one for pajamas. Suddenly, she had recreated the same kind of external structure she uses at home.
What I loved most about her story wasn’t just the humor—it was the self-awareness. She didn’t beat herself up for being “messy.” She didn’t label herself as disorganized. Instead, she noticed:
At home, she has built systems that work for her brain.
On the road, she doesn’t have those same systems—yet.
With a small adjustment (packing cubes), she could re-create the support she needs.
That’s executive function in action. It’s not about “fixing” ourselves or magically becoming a perfectly organized person. It’s about knowing where our EF skills are strong, where they’re shaky, and how to use strategies or tools to bridge the gap in different environments.
