Executive Functioning to Survive the Long Haul to Spring Break
The stretch between winter break and spring break can feel unbearably long for students. The novelty of the new year has worn off. The weather is often gray and cold. Academic expectations ramp up. For many kids, especially those with executive functioning (EF) challenges, this time of year can be one of the most difficult to navigate. Considering that students with EF deficits expend up to 30% more mental energy when compared to their peers, it’s no wonder that our children and students are tired! They’re authentically exhausted, which means their parents, families, and caregivers probably are too!
To make life a little bit easier for everyone, try one or more of these three strategies to support your young person of any age during this demanding part of the school year:
1. Work together, but separately.
The Attention Deficit Disorder Association (ADDA) defines body doubling as a “productivity technique where another person is physically or virtually present while you work, designed to increase focus, motivation, and accountability, particularly for those with ADHD.” If you have work to do and your child has work to do, why not work at the same time? Research shows that you’ll coregulate, be more productive, and stay on task longer than if you were working alone. You can also arrange times for your child to work with friends, but don’t forget to be clear about expectations so they stay on track.
2. Protect physical and mental energy.
Between winter and spring break, kids, especially our athletes, start running on fumes. Productive executive functioning relies heavily on effective sleep, exercise, and emotional regulation. When these foundations are weak, other academic skills and routines can suffer.
In order to prevent skill regressions, support your child by:
● Guarding sleep. Keep bedtime consistent and be sure to turn off ALL devices 30-60 minutes before bed.
● Building in or encouraging short movement breaks during homework. Set a timer for a five-minute dance break to favorite songs or set a goal for a number of push-ups.
● Avoiding overscheduling, if possible. Look at the calendar critically to determine if your student is stretched too thin, prioritizing sustainability and balance.
● Helping them start homework before frustration and emotional dysregulation set in.
Try asking yourself, “When is my child’s brain most available?” Some kids need a short break to decompress (and a snack!) after school. Others do better starting work before they sit down in a comfortable chair and lose momentum. Observe patterns and, of course, ask your child for input! The more we can involve students in these processes, the more invested they will be.
3. Emphasize initiation instead of completion.
Falling behind on work during this time of year can trigger all-or-nothing thinking, a common, though discouraging, thought distortion. “I’ll never catch up” or “It doesn’t even matter” are common presentations of this negative thought pattern, impacting confidence and persistence.
Instead of focusing on the entire mountain of school work, help your child focus on the first step, which is simply initiation.
To foster this executive function, try:
● Setting a 10-minute “Just Do” timer. Within that time frame, students have the autonomy to begin work before more structured support is offered.
● Avoiding the prompt to “get started” on homework. Instead, encourage students to bring their materials to their desk or open their laptop as a first step.
● Asking reflective questions like, “What helped you get started today?”
The stretch between winter and spring breaks is demanding. Executive functioning skills are still developing, even for our college students, and growing fatigue during this time exposes areas for growth more explicitly. When parents work alongside their children, protect energy, and prioritize progress over perfection, they model powerful tools like co-regulation and scaffolding. Spring break will come, but a little extra support helps students through a really challenging time period. Of course, the weeks after spring break bring even more challenges: final projects and exams!