Executive Functions: The CEO of Your Brain
Why Executive Functions Matter
Executive functions are often called the “CEO of the brain.” They’re the set of mental skills that help you plan, organize, make decisions, and switch between tasks. Without them, daily life would be chaotic—from managing your calendar to following a recipe to navigating social interactions.
Executive function tends to decline with age, making it harder to plan ahead, juggle multiple tasks, or adapt when routines change. In younger populations, distractions and constant multitasking can weaken these skills, reducing overall cognitive performance【1】. The good news: executive function is highly trainable, especially through dual-task activities that challenge the brain to adapt and problem-solve under pressure.
How Exercise Supports Executive Functions
When you exercise, you engage the prefrontal cortex, the area of the brain responsible for executive functions. Pairing physical activity with decision-making challenges forces this “control center” to activate in real time. Research shows that combining physical exertion with strategic tasks can improve planning, cognitive flexibility, and impulse control.
Training Executive Functions Through Play
With Brain Skills Time Tracking, riders can now measure how much of their workout strengthens these high-level mental skills.
Examples:
Strategy-based games where you plan routes or resources.
Multitasking challenges that force you to handle steering, pedaling, and button inputs simultaneously.
Decision-making moments that require quick choices under time pressure.
Every game session becomes practice for the skills you rely on to organize, adapt, and lead in everyday life.
Why It Matters for Different Ages
Students: Strong executive functions support academic performance, study habits, and test readiness.
Working Adults: Better planning and decision-making translate into workplace productivity and leadership.
Older Adults: Maintaining executive function supports independence, from managing finances to handling healthcare decisions
Putting It Into Practice
Tips for strengthening executive functions with Brain Skills Time Tracking:
Play Games That Involve Choices: Pick ones that require frequent decisions and trade-offs.
Track Your Executive Minutes: See how much of your session engaged this skill.
Pair with Memory & Processing: These three skills together form the backbone of strong everyday cognition.
The Takeaway
Executive functions are what keep life running smoothly. With Brain Skills Time Tracking, every ride can now double as a strategy session for your brain—helping you sharpen decision-making, planning, and adaptability.
📚 References
Uncapher, MR, Wagner, AD. Multitasking and Memory: Cognitive Consequences of Media Multitasking. Trends Cogn Sci. 2018. PMC8547206
