As a grueling year comes to a close, Chinyere Oparah reflects on grief, ambiguous loss, and the particular resilience required of neurodivergent leaders who keep showing up, even as the ground beneath them has shifted.

Neurodivergent leaders often skip meals, rely on caffeine, or eat in cycles of stress and depletion. This isn’t a personal failing; it’s the intersection of ADHD and autistic neurobiology, sensory needs, medication effects, time-blindness, and leadership pressure. This piece explores how ND leaders can reconnect to hunger cues, regulate energy, and build nourishing practices that strengthen resilience and sustainable leadership.