How Reflection Supports Executive Functioning

As we step into 2026, many of us are thinking about what we want more of this year and what we might want to do differently, for ourselves and for our children. One Executive Functioning (EF) skill we often talk about for children is non-verbal working memory, which is the ability to look back using hindsight and look ahead using forethought. It helps kids learn from previous experiences and plan more effectively for what’s coming next. That same skill can be incredibly powerful for us as parents, especially as we move into this new year.

Taking time to reflect on the past year allows us to build a clearer picture of our strengths, challenges, and patterns. This kind of reflection isn’t about judgment or striving for perfection; it’s about noticing what’s working, understanding what’s not, and setting realistic, meaningful intentions for the year ahead.

When we pause to look back, we’re better able to identify what truly matters, recognize areas of growth, and align our choices with our values. Reflection strengthens many of the same EF skills we support in our children every day, like cognitive flexibility, planning, and prioritizing.

There’s no right or wrong way to reflect; it can be done at any point in the year and as often as necessary. One simple strategy that can be helpful is using a Satisfaction Wheel.

Here’s how it works:

1. For each slice of the wheel, rate your satisfaction on a scale of 1 (least satisfied) to 6 (most satisfied) by shading in the corresponding area.

2. Ones stay closer to the center, while sixes extend to the outer edge.

3. When you’re finished, connect the shaded areas between slices to create a new inner circle.

This creates a visual snapshot of your current life balance. Seeing satisfaction levels can make patterns clearer, often more clearly than words alone. If you’d like to go deeper, you can reflect on each category using guiding questions. For example:

• Career
  What brought me the most energy?
  Are there milestones I expected to reach but didn’t? Are they still important to me?

• Personal goals and passions
  What were the most meaningful ways I spent my time?
  What is one moment or memory I want to carry forward?

If you’re curious about what this kind of reflection might reveal for you, I invite you to try the Satisfaction Wheel. It’s designed to be quick, visual, and supportive. Many parents share that it helps them move from a general sense of “something feels off” to a clearer idea of where they want to focus next.

Reflection is a gift we give ourselves, and it often ripples out to our children in meaningful ways. Wishing you clarity, calm, and steadiness in the year ahead.