Back-to-school season brings a variety of emotions. For those parents with executive function challenges or ADHD, it can feel overwhelming, exhausting, and emotionally draining. With all the paperwork, scheduling, email, shopping and more, it feels impossible to accomplish all the back to school tasks. As a Certified Professional Organizer, I work with many parents who quietly struggle during back-to-school season. These are smart, caring parents who deeply love their families. But executive functioning demands during the transition back to school can make everyday responsibilities feel harder.

The invisible workload of back to school

Back to school time is not only about buying supplies and setting alarms. It requires time management, proactive planning, organization, task initiation, prioritizing and emotional regulation. All of these are elements of executive function, which is a set of cognitive skills that allow you to manage focus, regulate emotions, and coordinate everyday actions to achieve long-term goals.  Parenting with ADHD is not easier during the Summer either; however, summertime usually has more flexibility and less accountability.

Getting started with task initiation.

One of the biggest struggles is simply getting started. You may know what to do, but starting is difficult. With so many tasks, your brain freezes before you begin.

Pro tip: Get started by creating micro-steps. Break all the steps into manageable baby steps. Small steps create momentum and increase capability.

Managing emotional regulation challenges.

Many parents carry shame around this time of year as you think you are not capable.  It seems like everyone else is getting things done easily.

Pro tip: Remind yourself that you are a solutions-minded problem solver. Think back about solutions you have used previously to build your confidence. Every opportunity is a learning opportunity, not a failure.

 

Keep your planning tools in front of you.

Because time management is a challenge, you don’t know when to start preparing for back to school or how much time it will take to be ready for the first day.

Pro tip:  Executive functioning improves when information is externalized. Work with visual tools such as a family calendar, checklist, whiteboard or stick notes. Work backwards in scheduling tasks and allow twice the time needed for completion.

 

Build systems that are “good enough”

Systems are not in place, which leads to re-inventing the wheel. Finding the perfect system paralyzes you.

Pro tip: You do not need to overthink your systems to succeed. You need routines that are realistic and repeatable for your family. Write out your routines and post these where everyone can see them. Host a family meeting to get buy-in from your family and create a fresh start for fall.

 

Back to school can be hard for parents with executive function challenges because the season over taxes your executive function. Your back to school goal is to create a smooth transition from one season’s activities to another. Your brain needs different tools and support during this busy season.