Did you know your body has a budget, just like when you save up money for toys or snacks? Except this budget is not about moneyβit is about energy. β¨Scientists call it body budgeting.
Think of it like a video game character who has a little energy bar at the top of the screen. When the bar is full, you can run fast, jump high, and focus on your quests. But when the bar gets low, you get cranky, tired, or maybe even a little wobbly in your decisions.
How the Body Budget Works
β’ Food is fuel. When you eat, you are giving your body βcoinsβ for the budget. Healthy foods keep the bar steady, while too much sugar can make the bar go up and down really fast.
β’ Sleep is charging. If you do not sleep enough (or very well), it is like forgetting to plug in your game controller (or using the cable that your cat has chewed)βthe battery dies quicker.
β’ Stress is expensive. Big feelings (worry, anger, excitement) can spend a lot of your energy coins really fast.
β’ Movement helps. Playing outside, stretching, or dancing can actually help refill the bar.
Signs Your Budget Is Low
When your bodyβs budget is running out, you might notice:
β’ Feeling super tired
β’ Getting annoyed or upset easily
β’ Trouble focusing (like when reading, listening or studying feels impossible)
β’ Wanting to hide away or quit things you usually like
How to Boost Your Budget
β’ Snack smart: Try fruits, nuts, or other βsteady fuelβ instead of just candy.
β’ Take breaks: Rest helps refill your budget, especially if your brain feels tired.
β’ Move your body: Even 5 minutes of jumping jacks can help.
β’ Ask for help: Talking to a parent, teacher, or friend can lower stress so your body does not spend too many βcoins.β
Sample βHow Toβ Activity
Game: Body Budget Bank
β’ Draw a battery or piggy bank on a piece of paper.
β’ Use stickers, coins, or coloured markers to show how full it is.
β’ Each time your child (or you) eats a healthy snack, gets outside, or takes a rest, add a coin/fill in part of the battery.
β’ Each time they feel cranky, tired, or stressed, talk about how some βcoinsβ got spent.
β’ End the day by looking at what filled or drained the budget.
This helps us see what is happening inside our bodies and gives an easy way to explain why sleep, food, and feelings matter. So when kids ask βBut why though?β, adults have something better than βbecause I said so.β
B-Side: Your Bodyβs Secret Budget Bar
Imagine you are a video game character. At the top of the screen is your energy bar:
β’ π Eating good food = adding coins to your bar.
β’ π΄ Sleeping = plugging in your charger.
β’ π Moving your body = levelling up.
β’ π‘ Worry, stress, or fighting = spending a lot of coins fast.
When your bar is full, you feel like a superhero. You can think, play, and do your quests. When your bar is low, you might:
β’ Get cranky π€
β’ Want to hide under a blanket π
β’ Forget things or lose focus π
β’ Make silly choices you did not mean to π²
How to refill your bar:
β’ Eat a steady snack (no, not candy!)
β’ Rest your brain with a break
β’ Jump around, stretch, or dance
β’ Talk to someone you trust
Your body budget is like Pikachuβs electricity β use it wisely or ZAP β‘οΈ it runs out!
Body Budgeting, Simplified
What it is:
βBody budgetingβ means the brain manages limited resources (like glucose, oxygen, and chemicals such as dopamine and serotonin) to keep us functioning. Think of it as the bodyβs bank account: energy comes in through food, sleep, and rest, and gets spent on thinking, feeling, and moving.
Why it matters (especially for ADHD):
β’ People with ADHD can βspendβ energy coins faster β our brains work harder to focus.
β’ When the body budget runs low, we may get irritable, impulsive, withdrawn, or have trouble learning.
β’ Stress drains the budget just like tiredness or sugar spikes.
Signs the budget is low:
β’ Mood swings, meltdowns, or sudden withdrawal
β’ Trouble focusing or remembering
β’ More impulsivity or risk-taking
β’ Complaints of being βtoo tiredβ or random aches and phantom pains
How we can help refill the budget:
β’ Keep snacks steady and lower in sugar to avoid crashes
β’ Protect regular sleep routines
β’ Build in movement breaks (ADHD brains especially need this)
β’ Teach emotional check-ins: βHow full is your battery right now?β
β’ Model stress management (deep breaths, humour, quick resets)
Brief Explanation:
βYour body has a battery. Food, sleep, and rest charge it up. Stress and hard work use it up. When your battery gets low, your brain has less power for focus and keep our moods regulated.β
