It’s Not Laziness, It’s Executive Functioning (part 2)
Quick facts
Executive functioning is about managing the work, not intelligence. Bright students who understand the content and score well on tests can still have a hard time turning in assignments, organizing materials, planning long-term projects, and managing time.
The part of the brain responsible for executive functioning is still developing throughout adolescence and into the mid-twenties.
Sleep deprivation, stress, being under-fueled, dehydration, and late-night screens all reduce a teen’s executive functioning, which is why a teen can look capable one day and overwhelmed the next.
Executive functioning is not fixed. The skills improve when the focus shifts from punishment to skill-building.
The biggest help is an adult who consistently models the systems: breaking large tasks into smaller steps, using calendars and planning tools, simple organization systems, realistic time estimates, and ways to start when motivation is low.
My teen is smart but won’t do homework. Why?
Executive functioning is about managing the work, not intelligence. A smart teen can understand the material and still lack the skills to plan, start, and follow through.
In part one of this series, I shared that I often hear from parents that they feel their teen is lazy.
Some common reasons why include:
They forget assignments.
They start homework late.
They rush through work.
They say they’ll do something and then… don’t.
From the outside, forgetting assignments and rushing work can look like a motivation problem.
But very often, it’s not laziness at all.
The real issue is often executive functioning.
And understanding the difference can completely change how parents support their teens.
Why do smart kids have executive functioning gaps?
One of the reasons executive functioning challenges are so confusing is that they often affect bright, capable students.
Bright, capable students may:
understand the content easily
participate in discussions
score well on tests
demonstrate strong reasoning skills
But those same students still struggle with:
turning in assignments
organizing materials
planning long-term projects
managing time independently
That’s because executive functioning isn’t about intelligence.
Executive functioning is about managing the work.
A student can fully understand the material and still struggle to manage the systems required to succeed.
How does the teenage brain affect executive functioning?
Another important piece of the puzzle is brain development.
The part of the brain responsible for executive functioning is still developing throughout adolescence and into the mid-twenties.
Because the executive functioning part of the brain is still developing, teens are still learning how to:
plan ahead
manage competing priorities
regulate emotions
pause before reacting
make thoughtful decisions
In other words, many of the skills we expect teens to use consistently have not yet developed.
A still-developing brain doesn’t mean expectations should disappear.
But it does mean teens benefit from support, modeling, and practice, not just pressure.
How do sleep, food, and screens affect a teen’s executive functioning?
Executive functioning is also heavily influenced by basic biological factors.
When teens are:
sleep-deprived
stressed
under-fueled
dehydrated
glued to screens late at night
their executive functioning skills naturally take a hit.
Sleep, food, water, and screens are one reason a student may appear capable one day and completely overwhelmed the next. Sleep deprived from the phone dinging all night? Waking up late and skipping breakfast, only to grab an energy drink and some Takis on the way to school?
A phone dinging all night, a skipped breakfast, and an energy drink impact every brain in a negative way. However, developing teen brains are that much more delicate when it comes to keeping things in balance.
The Good News: Executive Functioning Skills Can Improve
Executive functioning isn’t fixed.
Executive functioning skills can absolutely improve over time.
The key is shifting the focus from punishment to skill-building.
There are lots of strategies that benefit teens. The biggest strategy is having an adult around who consistently models executive functioning systems and provides guidance along the way.
breaking large tasks into smaller steps
using calendars and planning tools
creating simple organization systems
estimating time realistically
practicing ways to start tasks when motivation is low
Intelligence is not a predictor of executive functioning ability and kids of all backgrounds can benefit from activities and strategies that strengthen executive functioning skills.
Colleen Yanez is an executive functioning coaching and works with teens of all backgrounds. If you have questions about your teen and what might help, give her a call or send an email! 720-334-8125, colleen@thekeycoach.org
