spoons
n. plural-onlyn. the amount of energy you have to get through the day. People with chronic illnesses use this to explain how much effort simple tasks take.
n. a metaphorical unit of measurement representing the finite amount of mental or physical energy available for daily activities. Often used within the chronic illness and neurodivergent communities to describe energy management.
I don't have enough spoons to go out tonight.
After a long day of meetings, I used up all my spoons and just needed to sit in a quiet room.
The theory suggests that while healthy individuals have an effectively unlimited supply of energy, those with chronic conditions must carefully budget their spoons to avoid total physical exhaustion.
Usually used in the plural; frequently appears in the phrase 'to have enough spoons' or 'to run out of spoons'.