
#79 Your Bounce-Back Semester Starts Here: Executive Functioning 101 with Coach Krisler Bailey
College Is Fine, Everything's FineShow Notes
Did last semester not go the way you hoped? You’re not broken—and you’re definitely not alone. In this episode of College Is Fine, Everything’s Fine, we’re joined by college professor and executive-functioning expert Krisler Bailey to talk about how to actually bounce back after a tough semester. We cover why motivation fades (and what works instead), how unstructured time quietly wrecks your schedule, and why rereading notes and highlighting everything isn’t studying. This conversation is equal parts validating and practical. Whether you struggled academically, socially, or just felt overwhelmed, this episode will help you build a realistic reset plan—without perfectionism, shame, or all-or-nothing thinking. In this episode, we cover: Why everyone struggles in college (just in different ways) Why discipline beats motivation every time How unstructured time derails students—and how to fix it Time-blocking your day so you still have a life Why your phne feels like an emotional support device (and what to do about it) How to reduce distractions without going cold turkey What actually works for studying (hint: not rereading notes) How community—friends, classmates, professors—makes bouncing back possible Takeaway: Last semester doesn’t define you. College is a skill set—and skills can be learned. 🎧 Listen now and start your reset.
Krisler Bailey is a college professor, college success coach, and functional medicine certified health coach. With over 20 years of experience supporting students through the transition to college and adulthood, Krisler helps students and families navigate the hidden curriculum of college while building routines that support both academic success and well-being. You can read more about Krisler and her coaching services here: https://coachingwithkrisler.com/
Chapters: 00:00 Introduction and Guest Introduction 03:04 Understanding Student Struggles 05:45 The Role of New Year's Resolutions 08:58 Building a Supportive Community 12:00 Strategies for Academic Success 15:59 Time Management and Study Skills 23:57 Engaging with Course Material 29:00 Conclusion and Resources
Want to share your story, give us feedback or offer up an episode idea? Reach out! We'd love to hear from you. Insta: @collegeisfinepodcast Tik Tok: @collegeisfinepodcast Email: [email protected]
Music is Deadbeats by Rex Banner
More from College Is Fine, Everything's Fine
Many students head to college assuming the supports they had in high school will follow them. They often don’t. Sarah and Liz sit down with Elizabeth Hamlet, a learning disabilities consultant with more than 20 years in the field and author of Seven Steps to College Success: A Pathway for Students with Disabilities, to talk about how college accommodations actually work and what students can do to prepare. Elizabeth explains why IEPs and 504 plans don’t carry over to college. She covers which accommodations students are most surprised to lose and why documentation requirements can change. She also makes the case that skills and strategies matter just as much as accommodations. Resources mentioned: Seven Steps to College Success: A Pathway for Students with Disabilities by Elizabeth Hamlet Elizabeth’s free “Tools for College Students” resources, covering time management, the SQ3R reading strategy, highlighting, and goal setting
Dr. Alexis Redding — developmental psychologist at the Harvard Graduate School of Education and author of the new book on mental health in college — joins us to talk about what's actually changed for college students over the last 80 years, and what hasn't. Spoiler: not much has changed about the experience of feeling lost, lonely, and uncertain at 18-25. What's changed is the volume, thanks to social media turning private struggle into public comparison. We dig into: Why our brains are "terrible historians" and how the peak-end rule reshapes how we remember our own hard years "Friend sickness" — the specific loneliness of being disconnected from people who know you well Why the "constellation of mentors" model is wrong, and what "mirror mentors" are instead How to actually talk to your kids (or your parents) about career uncertainty without it turning into advice-giving Why "live it forward, connect the dots backward" might be the most useful reframe for anyone who feels behind
In our second TWO TAKES episode, a mom and her college freshman talk about tracking, texting, and how much parents really need to know.
Liz and Sarah are joined by Dr. Jill Grimes, family physician and author of The Ultimate College Student Health Handbook, to talk about what chronic academic stress actually does to your body — and why so many popular "quick fixes" for focus and sleep are making things worse. If you've ever reached for an energy drink at midnight, borrowed a friend's Adderall, or popped a melatonin gummy hoping to knock out before an exam, this one's for you.
If you've ever panicked staring at a blank resume, frozen at the word "networking," or wondered what your boss actually wants from you on day one of an internship — this episode is for you. We sat down with Jennifer Gershberg to get real, practical advice on everything from interview prep to building relationships that actually open doors. No fluff. Just the stuff they should have taught you in class.