09/02/2025
What is the 'spoons theory'?
If you’re living with a chronic illness, chances are you’ve experienced limited and erratic energy. You may rise one morning feeling calm and capable. You can work, tend to your home, and maybe even socialize. But another morning? A pain flare, brain fog, and fatigue make even the mildest task demand extreme effort.
This kind of inconsistency can make planning to meet life’s daily demands seem hopeless. Explaining energy ebbs and flows to loved ones who may not have the same considerations can feel impossible, too. If you can relate, spoon theory may be helpful for you.
Spoon theory is a concept that illustrates the energy limitations of people with chronic illness, using spoons to represent energy levels for daily activities.