Neurodivergent Energy Management: Finding Balance at Work

Just because you can do something, doesn't mean you can always do it.

That's the case for all of us, really.

You don't get a full night's worth of rest, or you skip a meal or work late... your personal 'battery' drains a little faster... right?

Some days are BIG drain days. Maybe you used up way too much data while the internet was out. Your phone is barely 5% when you get home and you're relieved to make it back to the charging station.

Now. Imagine your battery STARTS at 60% instead. All of the time.

You can do the same activities as the other person, but it's not equivalent, is it?

Maybe those activities take up more battery power for you than someone else. There could be a million reasons why.

In this case, there are apps (or other software) in the background that also drain your battery. You can't get rid of them.

The person with the phone at 100% doesn't see any of that.

When they find out your phone drains so quickly, they offer you their charge cord or suggest you "turn it off and turn it back on again. That'll fix it."

(You probably see where I'm going here.)

The other person doesn't realize that their 60% charge is the highest YOUR phone can go.

You politely turn down their offer for the charge cord and let them know you have to use a different one.

They keep offering theirs... or maybe they suggest looking at other chargers together.

A lot of them don't work. But maybe you find "the right one."

Your battery still won't go above 60%. But at least you can use the charger earlier in the day if you need it.

(If you don't lose it first like me.)

Life goes on and the person forgets you still have this issue because you have a charger that works now.

They don't see your charger every day. Or your phone's battery life or the apps that are constantly in the background.

And you try not to talk about it because you know it's not going to change. When you do, you immediately regret it.

The person goes back to "helping" by offering you their charger. And you get tired of reminding them that it doesn't work, and that's why you have your own.

The cycle repeats. Everyone is frustrated. Your phone is still stuck at 60%.

And, no, you can't get a new phone. You only have this one, now "take good care of it." (I'm rolling my eyes as I'm typing that part.)

This is the reality of being neurodivergent or disabled, whether visible or not.

And honestly this metaphor applies for many other underrepresented groups too.

Things can be equal but not equitable.

So let others use whatever charger they need to get through the day. You don’t need to “fix” yourself, you just need systems that work for your battery.

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