AI Tools for Executive Functioning: What I’ve Discovered and How It’s Evolving
One of the most-read posts on my site has been AI Tools to Support Executive Functioning. When I wrote that article, I had no idea what was coming. This field has exploded since then, faster and farther than I could have imagined, and it has completely changed how I think about coaching for executive dysfunction.
Back then, I was focused on how AI was being integrated into calendars, productivity apps, and digital planners. I hadn’t yet discovered how profoundly tools like ChatGPT, Claude, Copilot, and Gemini could support my clients’ executive functioning challenges. Well, that time has come, and this follow-up article is the next level on this exciting journey.
I’m sharing some of the new ways these AI tools can help, along with a few ideas from the original piece, to show how they’re now being used directly in coaching sessions and in my clients’ daily lives.
After every intake session, I identify which executive functions need more support. Together with my client, we look at strategies, tools, and systems that could help. Here’s how some of the newer AI tools are becoming instrumental in this process.
1. Overcome Procrastination by Getting Started with AI (Task Initiation)
Getting started can be the hardest part. ChatGPT can write the first sentence, help brainstorm ideas, or map out the very first step in a larger project. When clients tell me they’re stuck, I often say, “Try prompting ChatGPT to act as your project manager and give you the first small task.” That first small step can melt away the fear and get someone moving on their goals.
2. Organizing Ideas When Everything Feels Jumbled (Organization)
When your thoughts feel tangled or you have too many plans floating around, AI can bring structure to the chaos. Asking a chatbot to organize your ideas into a logical, sequential, or chronological plan can turn confusion into clarity. This is a huge help for anyone with disorganization challenges. Sometimes just seeing everything laid out clearly helps with next steps. Knowing there’s a beginning, middle, and end can also be very reassuring.
3. Boost Working Memory with Digital AI Tools (Working Memory Supports)
For clients who struggle with working memory, AI-driven task platforms like Notion, Asana, or Evernote are invaluable. They hold onto details, track progress, and even show project timelines in a visual way (like a Gantt chart). When everything lives in one reliable place, it’s easier to pick up where you left off, and that helps prevent those “Wait, what was I just doing?” moments. I have found that often clients take things off their to do lists (like sending out an email) without keeping track of when the reply comes in). These platforms can be invaluable at tracking these details that can fall through the cracks.
4. Supporting the Pause When Emotions Run High (Emotional Regulation)
In moments of stress or overwhelm, the brain can easily slip into fight, flight, or freeze. That’s when the pause matters most. AI can actually support that pause by providing space to reflect, calm down, and plan next steps before reacting.
For example, a quick prompt to ChatGPT can sound like, “Help me calm down and think this through before I respond.” Having language reflected back helps validate the feeling while gently steering the person toward problem-solving. Responding to difficult emails is one area where these tools can be especially helpful, providing guidance and emotional distance before you hit send.
Of course, this is not a substitute for talking to a clinician, but it can be a helpful tool for building awareness and emotional self-regulation in real time.
5. Time Management Made Simpler with AI Scheduling (Building Time Awareness and Goal Completion)
AI scheduling tools like Google Calendar’s Gemini Assistant or Motion are revolutionizing how people plan their time. They can automatically find available time blocks, fit in tasks, and even suggest when to work on certain projects.
Too often, people intend to begin or complete a task but never schedule it, and that’s where things fall apart. These AI tools make sure your intentions actually make it onto your calendar. Whether you want something assertive or more gentle, you can choose how aggressively the system books time for you.
Looking Ahead
The combination of AI and executive functioning coaching is still new, but it’s already helping people achieve their goals and improve their lives. When used thoughtfully, tools like ChatGPT, Claude, Copilot, and Gemini can help people support their memory, organize their thinking, and build systems that make daily life smoother.
The key is to use these tools intentionally, in order to support the areas of executive functioning that you struggle with. In developing your plan, coaching is the human piece that makes everything come together. A coach can help you identify your areas of challenge, create a plan, and keep the routines that are supported by these tools. With AI tools, the path toward productivity, achievement, and self-awareness has never been more achievable.
