Executive function describes a set of cognitive processes and mental skills that help an individual plan, monitor, and successfully execute their goals. The “executive functions,” as they’re known, ...

Executive function is the mechanism by which our brains manage and prioritize our thoughts, working memory, emotions and actions; Harvard researchers call it our brain’s air traffic control system.

Imagine a movie character’s day going exactly as she planned: her organization systems make her space pristine, she’s on time or early for everything, her focus rivals an Olympian’s, and she adheres ...