Hero’s Checklist #002: Did You Eat? 🍎⚔️
How many times have you wondered why you couldn’t focus…
…only to realize you hadn’t eaten in hours?
For many people (especially those of us with executive functioning challenges), eating isn’t always about hunger.
Sometimes we:
🧠 Hyperfocus.
📅 Lose track of time.
😅 Get overwhelmed deciding what to eat.
🚶 Keep saying “I’ll eat after this one thing.”
Then suddenly we’re exhausted, irritable, and wondering why our brain has stopped cooperating.
That’s exactly why I started making these Hero’s Checklists.
Not because we don’t know we should eat…
But because our brains sometimes need a gentle reminder.
This checklist helps you pause, check in with your body, and make the next step feel a little easier.
✨ You don’t have to be perfect.
✨ You don’t have to eat the “ideal” meal.
✨ Something is almost always better than nothing.
Your brain deserves fuel.
Your body deserves kindness.
And taking care of yourself isn’t a side quest—it’s part of the adventure. 💙⚔️
📌 Save this checklist for the next time you forget to feed the hero.
From my personal experience, managing executive functioning challenges often means battling unintentional neglect of basic needs like eating. I've found that creating a simple checklist — much like the Hero’s Checklist #002 — really helps me pause and check in with my body, especially during busy or overwhelming days. One key insight is recognizing that hunger can be masked by feelings of tiredness, boredom, or stress. Rather than expecting myself to follow strict meal plans, I focus on having balanced options available: a mix of proteins, carbohydrates, and colorful fruits or veggies. This combination helps provide sustained energy and keeps my mood steady. Hydration also plays a crucial role. When I feel sluggish, drinking water and sometimes adding electrolytes if I’ve been active helps reset my energy levels. Preparing snacks in advance or keeping quick options nearby — like nuts, yogurt, or cut-up veggies — reduces the mental load of decision-making when I’m hungry. I use small reminders on my phone to check in with myself during busy periods. Lastly, being compassionate toward myself when I miss a meal or eat something imperfect shifted my mindset positively. Accepting that “something is better than nothing” and that taking care of myself is not a side quest, but part of the journey, makes a huge difference in managing my focus and well-being.
