Out of Sight, Out of Mind

In my work as a teacher and an Executive Function coach, I have encountered so many valuable lessons. Too many to name. In fact, I still learn something new every day about students, brains and Executive Functions.

Here’s one thing that is on my mind at the beginning of this new year: we do what is in front of us. It reminds me of the old method of tying a string around your finger to remember something. That visual reminder can indeed be helpful (as long as you remember exactly what you’re reminding yourself to do). Perhaps you have actually used this technique yourself. Or this one? As a student, I definitely wrote on my hand to remember an important assignment or a friend’s phone number. Or what about this? To this day, I physically place an item in my path out the door so that I won’t forget to take it with me.

These strategies are supported by research. Susan Kruger, co-founder of SOAR Learning, puts it this way: The key to Executive Function success is to make the “invisible” visible.

Marydee Sklar, founder of Executive Functioning Success and author of the Seeing My Time curriculum, says it like this: Out of sight, out of mind.

We do what is in front of us.

And, think about it: there are so many important things in life that are invisible. Time is invisible. Goals are invisible. Expectations, planning and chores are all invisible. Making these more visible is just one way to support your brain:

·      Write a short list – and put it in sight where it’s hard to ignore.

·      Plan after-school time, blocking out time for each homework assignment.

·      Create a board with magnets to move (or clothespins or sticky notes) to be sure you have everything you need before walking out the door.

·      Use an analog clock to track time.

·      Plan the week, so that you know what’s ahead.

·      Keep your planner in sight during classes or meetings – and take it out again when you get home.

On the flip side (and there’s always a flip side), if we allow distractions to be in front of us - Instagram, YouTube, all the open tabs on our computers - unfortunately that is what we will do.

I talk to clients all the time about “tricking” our brains. This is just one way to trick our brains to be more productive, so we can get on with our lives. If we truly want to get something done, it must be in sight.

Good luck!

Little by little, change happens.