Introducing GPS: A Tool For When You’re Lost

One of the things I love most about executive function coaching is finding routines that work across many different situations, and discovering ways to scaffold someone’s thinking to enable more effective action. I noticed that many of my clients seemed to get stuck when trying to organize and sequence complex details, such as the steps of a morning routine, or ideas in an essay. To help them find their way out of the overwhelm & scaffold the problem solving process, I came up with a new thinking routine called GPS. It stands for:

Generate → Pattern → Sequence.

It’s exactly what it sounds like. First, you generate a list of ideas, tasks, or items. Then, you look for a pattern: what belongs together, or what categories naturally emerge? Finally, you sequence, or decide the order that makes the most sense.

It’s simple, but surprisingly powerful. And it’s easy to remember: if you’re lost, just use GPS.

👉 You can download the GPS resource here (PDF).

How clients have been using GPS

• School supplies: I taught GPS to a 13-year-old who needed help organizing his school supplies. He quickly caught on and started categorizing everything. Later, he told his mom about it, and now they’re planning to use GPS for their next grocery trip!

• College essay: I introduced GPS to a high school senior who’s working on his college essay. He’s going to try it out as a way to generate ideas, look for themes, and build a sequence into an outline.

• Morning routine: A 10-year-old client used GPS to re-design her mornings. She realized all her “upstairs tasks” could happen first, before heading downstairs -- see the screenshot below. She also shifted getting dressed to take place after doing her hair, so it wouldn't mess up her 'do! These insights helped her feel more confident about getting ready for school independently.

  

  When she slowed down and looked at patterns, it was easier for my 10 year old client to carefully sequence her morning tasks.

Why I’m sharing this

I’m always experimenting with ways to make thinking visible and accessible. Thinking better is a skill that can be taught, practiced, and improved. GPS is simple enough for a child, but broad enough for teens and adults to use with real-life projects.

If it might be helpful to you or someone you know, I invite you to road-test GPS and share your feedback.

• Does GPS feel clear, useful, and broadly applicable?

• What limitations do you encounter?

• Any ideas to extend or enhance GPS?

No pressure to try it, of course—but if you do, I’d love to hear what you discover.

This post was created in collaboration with AI.