Spoon Theory

A metaphor created by Christine Miserandino to explain the limited energy available to people living with chronic illness or disability. In this framework, each daily activity costs a certain number of "spoons" from a finite supply, and once spoons are depleted, the person cannot continue functioning without rest. Spoon theory has been widely adopted in disability communities to communicate fatigue and energy management to non-disabled people. It is particularly relevant to understanding fluctuating and episodic disabilities where energy availability varies unpredictably.