Imagine that spoons represent your energy.

You only have a finite number of spoons/energy to use each day and every morning begins with more or less spoons/energy for various reasons, including doing too much the previous day and using up the next day’s spoons.

Each time you do anything, you lose at least one spoon, depending on how depleted the task makes you feel. Some tasks and experiences use up more spoons than others.

Christine Miserandino uses spoons to demonstrate how chronic autoimmune disease impacts her daily life and that some healthy people may take their spoons for granted and don’t have to consciously choose how they must invest their time and energy.

However, some people, including those with certain differences, disabilities and illnesses, must attempt to function on severely restricted energy levels.

Even getting out of bed, washing and eating can deplete all of one’s spoons for the day. But what if you also have family and a job to show up for? Spending time with others can also use up your spoons.

How many spoons remain by the end of the day, or is there a deficit?

Everyone could benefit from being more conscious of their energy expenditure and how one’s daily spoons are distributed : )

Notice whether you are often giving your spoons away to other people when they would best be used elsewhere. Do you have any spoons left to accomplish what you want to do?

Are you using your spoons as wisely as possible?

So, how do you choose to use your spoons today? xXx

Miserandino, C. (2017). The spoon theory. In Beginning with Disability (pp. 174-178). Routledge.