Out of Sight, Out of Mind: Why Visibility Matters for Executive Function
In my work as a teacher and Executive Function coach, I’ve learned countless lessons about students, brains, and how learning really works. Honestly, I’m still learning every day.
But, one idea keeps rising to the top:
We do what is in front of us.
The Power of Visual Reminders
This idea isn’t new. It reminds me of the old trick of tying a string around your finger so you don’t forget something. That visual cue can be surprisingly effective—as long as you remember what it’s reminding you to do.
Many of us have our own versions of this:
Writing something on your hand to remember an assignment or phone number
Placing an item directly in your path so you won’t forget to take it with you
Leaving an object by the door as a visual reminder
These strategies work because they make something visible.
Making the Invisible Visible
Research and experts in the Executive Function world consistently reinforce this idea.
Susan Kruger, co-founder of SOAR Learning, says it this way:
> The key to Executive Function success is to make the “invisible” visible.
Marydee Sklar, founder of Executive Functioning Success and author of Seeing My Time, puts it even more simply:
> Out of sight, out of mind.
Both statements point to the same truth: our brains respond to what we can see.
Why Visibility Supports Executive Function
Here’s the challenge: so many important things in life are invisible.
Time
Goals
Expectations
Plans
Chores
When these things live only in our heads, they’re easy to forget—especially for brains that struggle with working memory, planning, or sustained attention.
Making them visible is one of the simplest (and most effective) ways to support Executive Function skills.
Practical Ways to Make Tasks More Visible
Here are some easy, brain-friendly strategies to try:
Write a short to-do list and place it where it’s hard to ignore
Block out after-school time for each homework assignment
Create a board with magnets to move (or clothespins or sticky notes) to be sure you have everything you need before walking out the door.
Use an analog clock to make time more concrete
Plan the week ahead so upcoming commitments aren’t a surprise
Keep your planner in sight during class or meetings—and take it out again at home
The goal isn’t perfection. The goal is visibility.
The Other Side of the Coin: Visible Distractions
Of course, there’s a flip side.
If distractions are what’s in front of us—Instagram, YouTube, endless open tabs—that’s what our brains will choose instead.
This is why I often talk with clients about “tricking” the brain. It’s not about willpower. It’s about designing an environment that supports focus and follow-through.
If you truly want to do something, it needs to be in sight.
If you truly want to avoid something, it needs to be out of sight.
Start Small and Keep Going
This is just one small shift, but it can make a big difference.
As always: Little by little, change happens.
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Carrie Bonnett is a veteran teacher and Executive Function coach based in Bend, OR. Carrie works with students and families (and adults, too). Her coaching empowers students to thrive in life and in school, helps parents and teachers to better support their children, and guides adult to get on top of all that life requires. In addition to coaching, she is also an adjunct instructor for early-career teachers at University of Portland in Oregon. For more information, visit www.carriebonnett.com
