It’s a way chronically ill people talk about energy.
Our bodies tend not to be as resilient as healthy people. So if we do too much (ie. use too many spoons), instead of recovering after a day or two like healthy people would if they did too much, we tend to have our health worsen for long periods.
So the analogy is you have a limited number of “spoons” (energy) each day, and you have to use it wisely.
Obviously, this doesn’t impact every disability and is mostly used by chronically ill people and people with energy limiting conditions.
While I love spoon theory I think it’s a poor metaphor to use for general audiences as it requires a lot of context. I guess this tweet is not really targeted at everyone, but just a rant to their circle.
Neither of those terms are quite interchangeable though. Everybody has low energy days, that’s relatively normal. But the word spoons is a shorthand for explaining a precious, and much more finite resource, as a way to distinguish the experience for disabled people.
I’m sorry, are you trying to argue that spoons aren’t a vital, nor precious, resource for disabled people? Because I disagree vehemently. Please go and read Christine Miserandino’s original post:
I never heard of it before and while I did not immediately fully understand it, I did understand and empathize with its point. I guess what I am saying is this is an anecdotal story that supports your argument.
If the original tweet was for the general audience, just replace with “energy”. That’s it. The term is more understood in our bubble only. You are suffering from bias.
Jargon is usually used to make oneself feel “in”, but it by design excludes everyone else from the conversation.
I come from a mental health background and spoons is excellent for anyone. It needs explaining, sure, but neurodivergent people can use spoons to explain the cost of their executive dysfunction, people with depression can use spoons… hell, people free from illness can use this expression, too!
I get being bitter about jargon but it’s an extremely versatile and easy-to-understand metaphor. I think the aim here should be to share it more, rather than try to label it as improper to include.
I get that spoons are a tangable and limited resource, and that part provides for a better example. But the part that doesn’t work well is that spoons have a specific value and use case. Like, you could still operate pretty normally without a spoon.
A bucket full of a liquid. That bucket has a faucet over top of it that fills it at x rate constantly. For disabled people it fills more slowly than normal abled people so pouring energy out is more costly timewise and must be calculated carefully.
While I do like this metaphor, I think it’s not useful as a shorthand. Once you explain spoons to people in your life, and they understand, it’s a useful tool to catch their attention and help them realise that energy isn’t an abundant resource for you.
“spoons”? This might be a term I’m not familiar with…
You’ve already gotten some other good answers, but here’s the original post by Christine Miserandino who coined the term: https://butyoudontlooksick.com/articles/written-by-christine/the-spoon-theory/
I’m very familiar with the concept but I had never seen the origin of spoon theory. Holy shit is that powerful
Thank you for sharing.
It’s a way chronically ill people talk about energy.
Our bodies tend not to be as resilient as healthy people. So if we do too much (ie. use too many spoons), instead of recovering after a day or two like healthy people would if they did too much, we tend to have our health worsen for long periods.
So the analogy is you have a limited number of “spoons” (energy) each day, and you have to use it wisely.
Obviously, this doesn’t impact every disability and is mostly used by chronically ill people and people with energy limiting conditions.
While I love spoon theory I think it’s a poor metaphor to use for general audiences as it requires a lot of context. I guess this tweet is not really targeted at everyone, but just a rant to their circle.
What metaphor would you suggest instead? At least in my experience, the term is becoming understood more and more by the mainstream.
First I’ve heard of it
Could’ve just said effort or energy and i would’ve understood the intent of this post, I am now clued into spoon theory now though
Neither of those terms are quite interchangeable though. Everybody has low energy days, that’s relatively normal. But the word spoons is a shorthand for explaining a precious, and much more finite resource, as a way to distinguish the experience for disabled people.
But it’s not a vital nor precious resource. It’s just tangable and limited. I think that’s the disconnect.
I’m sorry, are you trying to argue that spoons aren’t a vital, nor precious, resource for disabled people? Because I disagree vehemently. Please go and read Christine Miserandino’s original post:
https://butyoudontlooksick.com/articles/written-by-christine/the-spoon-theory/
I did, and the point was about general translation.
I never heard of it before and while I did not immediately fully understand it, I did understand and empathize with its point. I guess what I am saying is this is an anecdotal story that supports your argument.
If the original tweet was for the general audience, just replace with “energy”. That’s it. The term is more understood in our bubble only. You are suffering from bias.
Jargon is usually used to make oneself feel “in”, but it by design excludes everyone else from the conversation.
I come from a mental health background and spoons is excellent for anyone. It needs explaining, sure, but neurodivergent people can use spoons to explain the cost of their executive dysfunction, people with depression can use spoons… hell, people free from illness can use this expression, too!
I get being bitter about jargon but it’s an extremely versatile and easy-to-understand metaphor. I think the aim here should be to share it more, rather than try to label it as improper to include.
Yes, if you have the chance to explain. If you can’t, talking about spoons just confuses people.
I get that spoons are a tangable and limited resource, and that part provides for a better example. But the part that doesn’t work well is that spoons have a specific value and use case. Like, you could still operate pretty normally without a spoon.
Go read the origin post I commented elsewhere in this thread. I think it helps explain why “energy” doesn’t work as well.
A bucket full of a liquid. That bucket has a faucet over top of it that fills it at x rate constantly. For disabled people it fills more slowly than normal abled people so pouring energy out is more costly timewise and must be calculated carefully.
While I do like this metaphor, I think it’s not useful as a shorthand. Once you explain spoons to people in your life, and they understand, it’s a useful tool to catch their attention and help them realise that energy isn’t an abundant resource for you.
Spoons are a common metaphor for effort or energy.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spoon_theory