EF Group Topics

EF Group Topics

Independent Living Skills Part 1

Planning, Prioritizing & Organizing Part 1

Cognitive Flexibilty & Grit

Communication & Social Executive Functioning Part 1

Neurodivergent Burnout Prevention

Task Initiation & Motivation

Planning, Prioritizing & Organizing Part 2

Communication & Social Executive Functioning Part 2

Independent Living Skills Part 2

Task Initiation & Motivation

Activation Energy: The effort required to complete a task

• Neurodivergent brains need more of it.
• It's why tasks can feel so hard.

Body‑doubling or paired-start routines can create new habits

• Working alongside, but not with a partner to get tasks completed

Time‑boxing and micro‑tasking can help to break through the “starting wall”Set a fixed amount of time, not a task goal.Demand Avoidance: nervous system response to any task- good or bad

• Avoiding even enjoyable tasks
• Feeling trapped or pressured by deadlines
• Procrastinating until panic sets in

Planning, Prioritizing & Organizing: Part 1

Breaking down big tasksThe “Too Big = Brain Freeze” RuleTime blindness

• Difficulty feeling the passage of time
• Trouble knowing how long something will take

Estimating vs. underestimating task duration Most people with time blindness underestimate time, not because they’re wrong—but because their brain doesn’t give accurate time signals. Using timers, alarms, and external time aids Examples: Timers (visual or phone), Alarms, Calendars, Checklists, Class Bells Routines and anchor habits An anchor habit = Something you already do + attach a new habit to it.

Planning, Prioritizing & Organizing: Part 2

Practice decluttering in neurodivergent‑friendly ways Reduce friction, reduce overwhelm, and make your environment support your brain. Understand the “visibility” problem (out of sight = out of mind) If something is put away, it may as well not exist. Learn systems that work without relying on memory

• Externalize Everything
• Create Default Homes for Items
• Use Automation
• Build If/Then Routines

Communication & Social Executive Functioning: Part 1

Conversation initiation, turn-taking, and repair strategies

• Different situations need different tools
• Look → Listen → Wait → Respond
• “Let me try that again.” “That came out wrong.” “What I meant was…” “Can you explain what you meant?”

Setting boundaries

• Physical, Emotional and Verbal Boundaries

Conflict resolution

• STOP – SHARE – SOLVE – CHECK

Understanding indirect cues, when/if needed

• Examples: Expressions,Short Answers, Looking Away, Sighing, Stepping Back, Tone Change

Communication & Social Executive Functioning: Part 2

Employment Soft Skills

• Communication
• Responsibility & Work Habits
• Teamwork
• Self-Regulation
• Flexibility
• Professional Behavior

Clarifying Questions

• Show responsibility

Workplace professional Communication

• Calm, Respectful
• Polite Response to Feedback

PAUSE-PLAN-ASK

• Stop talking, Listen fully, Take a breath
• Do I understand what is being asked?
• Ask clarifying questions

Independent Living Skills: Part 1

Basic Financial Management

Medical and Medication Responsibilities

• Needs, Wants, Future
• Automate
• Weekly Money Check In
• System for Paying Bills on Time
• Spending Awareness

• Schedule > Prepare > Attend > Follow Up
• Visual Organization, External Reminders
• Create a Health Dashboard

Meal Planning and Grocery Routines

• Start With Foods You Like
• Create a Food Budget
• Reuse Ingredients/Batch Cook

Independent Living Skills: Part 2

Transportation

Sustainable Routines

• Compare Transportation Costs
• Map Out Routes
• Prepare a Transportation Schedule

• Create a Life Dashboard
• Automate and Simplify

Apartment and Roommate Responsibilities

Healthy Hygiene Habits

• Health
• Comfort
• Social Confidence

• Draft a Roommate Agreement
• Create a Chore Chart
• Communicate to Prevent Conflict

Neurodivergent Burnout Prevention

Preventing burnout is about understanding your needs, respecting your limits, and building supportive routines—not pushing through exhaustion.

Personal Burnout Prevention Plan Warning signs- Energy Bank Concept Daily energy strategies Recovery activities Social boundaries

Social Energy Budgeting

Signs Social Energy is Low:-Difficulty following conversations -Increased irritability or shutdown -Needing more alone time than usual

Chunk tasks: Break work into smaller steps with breaks in betweenUse energy mapping: Identify when you feel most and least energized during the day Alternate task types: Switch between high-effort and low-effort tasks Plan recovery time: Schedule breaks before exhaustion hits

Building a Recovery Routine: 1. Identify what drains your energy 2. Match a recovery activity to that type of drain 3. Schedule it regularly (not just when overwhelmed) 4. Keep it predictable and easy to access

Cognitive Flexibility & Grit