How do you plan your day and conserve energy? Are you a Spoonie?

Posted by Becky, Volunteer Mentor @becsbuddy, Feb 2, 2021

Are you like me, and run out of energy after doing only a few things? You shower and are then worn out and have to rest? Or maybe you walk the dog and it’s just too much! And you find yourself turning down invitation to lunch (pre-COVID-19) because of no energy. I do. I hate having to say no to friends, going home early, or taking shorter walks. I feel like I lost so much and myself!
Then I heard about The Spoon Theory, developed by Christine Miserandino. It’s a way of describing, planning, and conserving energy units that you use during the day. On her web page, Christine how she explained her illness (lupus, an autoimmune disease) and energy levels to a friend. You are able to explain to others the details of your life as someone with an invisible disease or chronic illness.
For example, I start my day with a list of things I need to do (shower, make the bed, do some laundry) and then I add my list of things I want to do
(go for a nice walk, sew, bake something). When I put the lists together, I realize that I won’t have enough spoons (units of energy) to get through the day. So, I’ve learned , using The Spoon Theory, to divide up the have to’s and the want to’s and add in some rest periods. I probably won’t get everything done—there’s always tomorrow—but I also won’t get exhausted, achey, and cranky half way through the day! The Spoon Theory has made so much sense to me!
Have you thought up a way to use and conserve your energy throughout the day?

https://butyoudontlooksick.com/articles/written-by-christine/the-spoon-theory/https://www.brainsupportnetwork.org/explaining-fatigue-the-spoon-theory/

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Autoimmune Diseases Support Group.

Becky, Volunteer Mentor | @becsbuddy | Feb 11, 2021

Well, I certainly see how spoons can help explain units of energy and getting through the day, but I have yet to figure out how many units(spoons) go with different activities. And then sudden, unforeseen events show up! I’ll see if there is a chart on the internet that will help. Need something! Becky

John, Volunteer Mentor | @johnbishop | Feb 11, 2021

In reply to @becsbuddy "Well, I certainly see how spoons can help explain units of energy and getting through the..." + (show)

Spoonie chart and more 😊 https://thediscerningyou.com/what-is-a-spoonie/

Ginger, Volunteer Mentor | @gingerw | Feb 11, 2021

In reply to @johnbishop "Spoonie chart and more 😊 https://thediscerningyou.com/what-is-a-spoonie/" + (show)

@johnbishop Great link! Some days I feel like someone left me a gift of [extra] spoons during the night. Other days, like someone stole in during the night and ripped all the spoons away!
Ginger

Becky, Volunteer Mentor | @becsbuddy | Feb 13, 2021

In reply to @gingerw "@johnbishop Great link! Some days I feel like someone left me a gift of [extra] spoons..." + (show)

Thank you @johnbishop ! Great article! Are you a Spoonie?

John, Volunteer Mentor | @johnbishop | Feb 13, 2021

In reply to @becsbuddy "Thank you @johnbishop ! Great article! Are you a Spoonie?" + (show)

@becsbuddy - I think I'm a Spoonie wannabe 😊 I do pace myself during the day as I know I have only so much energy inside me but I do have my days when I use it up way to fast. A lot of my problems stem from trying to do to many things at the same time and what normally happens is nothing gets done. I'm going to have to read the article a few more times and hopefully retain some of the good info.

artist01 | @artist01 | Feb 14, 2021

In reply to @johnbishop "@becsbuddy - I think I'm a Spoonie wannabe 😊 I do pace myself during the day..." + (show)

S,cuse me, but what's a spoonie? I must have missed that post.

John, Volunteer Mentor | @johnbishop | Feb 14, 2021

In reply to @artist01 "S,cuse me, but what's a spoonie? I must have missed that post." + (show)

@artist01 See the link in my post here - https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/how-do-you-plan-your-day-and-conserve-energy-are-you-a-spoonie/?pg=1#comment-461932

artist01 | @artist01 | Feb 14, 2021

In reply to @johnbishop "@artist01 See the link in my post here - https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/how-do-you-plan-your-day-and-conserve-energy-are-you-a-spoonie/?pg=1#comment-461932" + (show)

Thanks so much for the link on spoonies, John. After I posted my query, I searched our site and found the article on spoonies. I read the entire article, including all the links.
Guess what? I'm a spoonie!! One thing missing on the Guilt section was guilt at your doctor's appointment, as you go through your long list of things that are wrong with you that week/month. This is my latest issue. I feel I'm wearing my doc out. Most of the issues don't have a Fix. She recently told me I'm very gracious about acknowledging that she can't fix it, but I still feel guilt and even shame over this. Anyone else using too many spoons ruminating over this?

marye2 | @marye2 | Feb 19, 2021

In reply to @becsbuddy "Well, I certainly see how spoons can help explain units of energy and getting through the..." + (show)

I haven't so much as assigned spoons to activities, but I know heading back on a trail when first fatigued is the best. If I have a busy day coming up, I keep fewer activities the day before and after. For housecleaning, a couple hours, two hours rest and then, maybe, another two hours. Just avoid overdoing, break tasks into smaller units and you will endure.

Becky, Volunteer Mentor | @becsbuddy | Apr 12, 2021

Hello Spoonies! Well, I used up all my spoons too early today, and the day wasn’t even half over! I walked the dog and we did Meals on Wheels. Then I decided that I could go to the grocery all by myself. I even planned to let the employees bag the groceries for me (by leaving my own bags at home). Well, the store was short staffed and I had to bag my own groceries! I almost called my husband to come and rescue me. I didn’t but when I got home, he told me to take a nap while he put away the groceries and made dinner. Think I learned my lesson!
Have you ever had a day where you used up your spoons?