Spoon theory

Spoon theory is a concept used to represent how individuals manage limited energy. It is a metaphor describing the amount of physical or mental energy that a person has available for daily activities and tasks, and how it can become limited. The term was coined in a 2003 essay by American writer Christine Miserandino. In the essay, Miserandino describes her experience with chronic illness, using a handful of spoons as a metaphor for units of energy available to perform everyday actions. The metaphor has since been used to describe a wide range of disabilities, mental health issues, forms of marginalization, and other factors that might place unseen burdens on individuals. In conjunction with spoon theory, members of the chronic illness community have developed several related theories to describe other aspects of energy management.