written by Suzy Carbrey
In today’s fast-paced world, mastering executive functioning skills—such as planning, organization, time management, and effective communication—can feel like an uphill battle, especially for those with ADHD. Yet, the rise of AI presents a powerful opportunity to enhance these skills. While some may worry that relying on AI could diminish their abilities, the truth is that AI can serve as a valuable tool and collaborator, helping you navigate the areas where you struggle and empowering you to achieve your goals more effectively Empowering Executive Functioning with AI.
Rather than viewing AI as a crutch, consider it a strategic partner. By using AI to support the skills that are already challenging for you, you can free up mental space for the tasks where you truly excel. Whether you’re struggling with task initiation, motivation, or breaking down complex projects, AI is here to collaborate, not replace.
Collaborating with AI: Creative and Practical Uses Empowering Executive Functioning with AI
Task Initiation & Empowering Executive Functioning with AI
Getting started on a project can be one of the biggest hurdles, especially when faced with a blank page. AI can help jumpstart your process by providing an initial draft, outline, or even just a few ideas. You might not always like the first result, but even that can be valuable—it shows you what direction you don’t want to go in, helping you refine your approach more quickly.
Motivation and Overcoming Avoidance & Empowering Executive Functioning with AI
AI can act as your virtual cheerleader, providing encouragement or breaking down overwhelming tasks into smaller, more manageable steps. If you find yourself procrastinating, ask AI to help you identify the first small step you can take, making the task less daunting.
Follow Through & Empowering Executive Functioning with AI
Staying on track after starting a task can be challenging, but AI can assist in maintaining momentum. By setting reminders, checking progress, and offering strategies to overcome obstacles, AI can help ensure you see your projects through to completion.
Decision-Making & Empowering Executive Functioning with AI
When faced with a difficult decision, AI can help you weigh the pros and cons, consider different perspectives, and even role-play the decision-making process. By simulating various outcomes, AI helps you make more informed and confident choices.
Refining Communication & Empowering Executive Functioning with AI
Whether you’re drafting an email, preparing for a presentation, or writing a report, AI can help you refine your communication. It can suggest better ways to phrase things, ensure your message is clear, and even simulate how others might respond, giving you confidence in your communication.
Personalizing AI Use: Tailoring Strategies to Your Needs & Empowering Executive Functioning with AI
Identifying Your Meaningful Work—And Your Busywork
AI can help you distinguish between tasks that drive your goals and those that simply consume time. By asking AI to help you prioritize, you can focus more on what matters and automate or delegate the busy work.
Sample Prompt: “Help me prioritize my tasks for the week by sorting them into high-impact work and low-impact busywork.”
Creating Person-Specific Routines & Empowering Executive Functioning with AI
AI can help you develop routines that align with your personal needs and preferences. Whether it’s a morning routine that sets you up for a productive day or a wind-down routine that helps you relax, AI can suggest and refine routines that work for you.
Sample Prompt: “Can you create a morning routine for me that helps me start my day energized, considering I have the most energy mid-morning?”
Mapping Out Your Weekly Schedule
Balancing work and home life can be challenging, but AI can assist in creating a weekly schedule that aligns with your priorities. By mapping out your week, you can ensure that you’re dedicating time to both your work and personal life, leading to a more balanced and fulfilling routine.
Sample Prompt: “Help me create a weekly schedule that balances work responsibilities and time for family, exercise, and personal interests.”
Developing Strategies to Address Distractions
Distractions can derail even the best-laid plans. AI can help you identify common distractions and develop specific strategies to address them. By creating an action plan with deadlines and check-ins, you can stay on track and maintain focus on your goals.
Sample Prompt: “What are some strategies I can use to minimize distractions while working from home, and how can I implement them?”
Breaking Down Projects into Manageable Steps & Empowering Executive Functioning with AI
AI can assist in breaking down large projects into smaller, manageable tasks with clear timelines. By organizing your work into actionable steps, you can tackle complex tasks with confidence and maintain momentum.
Sample Prompt: “I need to prepare a presentation for next month. Can you help me break it down into weekly tasks?”
Enhancing Task Initiation and Overcoming Procrastination
Struggling to get started on tasks? AI can offer prompts, reminders, or structured plans to help initiate tasks more effectively. By using AI to combat procrastination, you can jumpstart your productivity.
Sample Prompt: “I tend to procrastinate on writing reports. Can you suggest a step-by-step plan to get started and stay on track?”
Refining Communication and Collaboration
AI can improve your communication by helping you articulate thoughts more clearly, suggest language improvements, or organize collaborative efforts. Whether drafting an email or planning a team project, AI can streamline the process.
Sample Prompt: “Can you help me draft an email to my team about our upcoming project goals and expectations?”
Personalizing Learning and Skill Development
AI can curate learning paths and recommend resources tailored to your goals and interests. Whether you want to learn a new skill or deepen your knowledge in a specific area, AI can guide your learning journey.
Sample Prompt: “I want to improve my leadership skills. Can you suggest a personalized learning plan with resources to get started?”
Setting and Tracking Goals
AI can assist in setting realistic goals and tracking your progress. By regularly reviewing your achievements and adjusting your goals as needed, you can stay motivated and focused on what matters most.
Sample Prompt: “Help me set and track personal and professional goals for the next quarter. How can I monitor my progress?”
Automating Routine Tasks
Save time by automating repetitive or mundane tasks using AI. From scheduling meetings to organizing digital files, AI can handle busy work, freeing up your mental energy for more meaningful activities.
Sample Prompt: “What routine tasks can I automate with AI to save time, and how do I set that up?”
Interacting with AI: Tips for Effective Collaboration and Empowering Executive Functioning with AI
Role-Playing and Reversing Roles for Empowering Executive Functioning with AI
Getting Started: When you’re stuck, ask AI to play a specific role—whether it’s a coach, mentor, or even a skeptic. For example, if you’re struggling with a work decision, ask AI to act as a coach: “Pretend you’re my coach. What advice would you give me to overcome my hesitation in making this decision?” Alternatively, reverse roles and have AI ask you questions, like: “What questions would a mentor ask me to clarify my goals?”
Example: You might say, “You’re a project manager, and I’m your team member. How would you guide me through breaking down a complex project into smaller tasks?” This interaction can help you see the project from a different angle, making it easier to plan your steps.
Why It Works: Role-playing with AI helps you tap into different perspectives and cognitive frameworks, which can lead to creative solutions and new insights. By reversing roles, you shift your thinking, often uncovering blind spots or alternative approaches that you might not have considered on your own.
Be Specific and Clear & Empowering Executive Functioning with AI
Getting Started: When interacting with AI, provide as much context as possible. Instead of asking, “How do I manage my time better?” specify the situation: “I’m juggling multiple projects at work and need strategies to prioritize tasks and stay on top of deadlines.”
Example: A clear prompt might be, “I’m preparing for a presentation next week on how to enhance productivity in remote teams. Can you suggest a structured outline, including key points on communication tools, time management, and team engagement?”
Why It Works: By being specific, you guide AI to give you more targeted advice, which saves time and increases the relevance of the responses.
Use Open-Ended Questions & Empowering Executive Functioning with AI
Getting Started: Instead of asking AI questions that lead to yes or no answers, frame your questions to encourage broader exploration. Ask questions like, “What are some creative ways to approach this problem?” or “How could I improve my morning routine for better focus?”
Example: Instead of saying, “Is this email effective?” try asking, “How can I make this email more persuasive and engaging?”
Why It Works: Open-ended questions invite AI to explore multiple possibilities, giving you a richer set of ideas to consider.
Experiment and Refine & Empowering Executive Functioning with AI
Getting Started: Don’t hesitate to tweak your prompts if the initial response isn’t what you need. Experiment by rephrasing your question, adding more details, or asking for a different perspective.
Example: If you ask, “What are some strategies for managing stress?” and the response feels too generic, you can refine it: “What are some quick, effective strategies for managing stress during a busy workday when I can’t take a long break?”
Why It Works: Iteration helps you discover the best ways to communicate with AI, ensuring you get more personalized and useful responses over time.
Conclusion: Embrace AI as a Partner, Not a Replacement with Empowering Executive Functioning with AI
AI isn’t here to replace your skills but to complement and enhance them. By embracing AI as a collaborative tool, you can unlock new levels of productivity, creativity, and efficiency. Dive in, start a conversation, and discover how AI can support your journey toward better executive functioning.
In this journey, AI emerges as a powerful ally, helping you overcome challenges, streamline tasks, and focus on what truly matters. The goal is not to replace your abilities but to amplify them, allowing you to thrive in areas where you might have struggled before.
As you integrate AI into your daily routine, you’ll find yourself empowered to take on tasks with renewed confidence and creativity. Whether you’re initiating projects, refining communication, or making critical decisions, AI is there to support and elevate your efforts. Step forward with a mindset of collaboration—together with AI, you can turn potential obstacles into stepping stones toward success. The possibilities are endless, and with AI by your side, you’re ready to achieve your goals with greater ease and efficiency.
Learn more about Energy Management with Online Coaching for Executive Functioning / ADHD
Ready to gain control and enhance your executive functioning? As an experienced and compassionate coach, I specialize in providing support for executive functioning and ADHD. To embark on your journey, please reach out to me at 708-264-2899 or email hello@suzycarbrey.com to schedule a FREE 20-minute discovery call consultation.
With a background as a speech-language pathologist, I have a strong foundation in executive functioning coaching. My graduate degree program in SLP placed a significant emphasis on cognition, including executive functions, and I have years of experience in medical rehabilitation, providing cognitive-communication therapy. Additionally, I have completed an ADHD Services Provider certification program, I am Solutions-Focused Brief Therapy Diamond Level 1 certified and I am trained in the Seeing My Time® executive functioning curriculum.
Experience the convenience and effectiveness of online coaching, backed by studies that demonstrate equal results to in-person services. Parents, professionals, and emerging adults love the convenience and privacy of receiving coaching from their own homes.
Whether you reside in Chicago, Milwaukee, Indianapolis, Kansas City, or anywhere else around the globe, I am here to assist you. Schedule your discovery call consultation today, and I eagerly anticipate the opportunity to work with you!
Please note that although I am a certified speech-language pathologist, all services Suzy Carbrey LLC provides are strictly coaching and do not involve clinical evaluation or treatment services. If you require a formal speech therapy evaluation and treatment, please inform me, and I can provide appropriate recommendations.