Ever wish you had a superpower to handle stress, stay organized, and crush your goals? Brain Hacks a colorful, high-energy graphic novel, shows how five teens discover that their brains already have the tools to thrive. With quirky brain-based CREW members, science-powered “mind magic,” and time-travel adventures, this story makes managing thoughts, feelings, and actions feel like the coolest superpower ever.

Here are 12 practical tips from this graphic novel to help you strengthen your executive functioning and feel more in control of your day.

1. Tune into your metacognition (aka brain chatter). Notice how you think and feel. This awareness helps you decide what to say, or what not to say, to others.
   
   
2. Think about daily expectations. Knowing this can help you organize your time and accomplish your goals.
   
   
3. Balance your inner coach and inner critic. Avoid getting stuck in negative thinking by listening to both voices without letting the critic take over.
   
   
4. Feelings shift throughout the day. Don’t label your whole day as “good” or “bad.” Use a Like-Dislike Scale to notice the range of experiences between “awesome” and “awful.”
   
   
5. Start with a plan. List your to-dos and decide the order. Planning is the first step toward achieving any goal.
   
   
6. Master the four steps of getting things done (executive functioning):
   1. Define your goal
   2. Create a plan
   3. Do your to-dos (manage time, feelings, and actions)
   4. Think flexibly because plans can change!
      
7. Estimate time realistically. Knowing how long tasks take helps you show up on time and reduce stress.
   
   
8. Figure out the “how.” When you know how to accomplish a goal, motivation follows.
   
   
9. Build motivation from within. Motivation helps you prioritize and avoid procrastination (which is just putting off what you know you need to do).
   
   
10. Know the difference between asking for help and asking for clarification:
    1. Help = You don’t know how to do something.
    2. Clarification = You have an idea but need confirmation.
       
11. Use your brain’s time travel. Reflect on past experiences and imagine future outcomes to guide your choices in the present.
    
    
12. Watch out for brain fog. When it takes over, planning feels impossible and procrastination creeps in, sometimes leading to the dreaded “Vortex of Misery.” Pause, reset, and start small.

Ready to Hack Your Brain? Try one or two of these tips today and check out Brain Hacks because managing your mind is the ultimate superpower!