Nurtured Words

Hello my lovelies,

Welcome! Today I want to talk spoons and batteries, and to many people, they will have no clue what I am talking about but for those of us with chronic conditions, we probably do. Lately, I have found my energy levels and fatigue all over the place. Some days I am running around completing so many activities before it is even lunch and other days I am couch bound. I have been trying to get better by using the long-held knowledge of Spoon Theory. Recently in the Happiful magazine I came across a piece related to this but offering instead the analogy of broken batteries. I wanted to talk more about these today.

What is Spoon Theory? Christine Miserandino explained the analogy of one spoon equating to an action. They state that for someone without chronic illness, spoons are likely less impacted as they are able to complete a full day of activity. However for people like myself, a spoon disappears with each activity. We only have so many spoons a day before we are really struggling. People can find it oversimplifies the way those of us with chronic illness experience running on empty. Others also believe it does not accurately denote the fluctuating energy levels and symptoms.

What are broken batteries? This is an alternative to Spoon Theory. The easiest way to understand it is this: when a battery is ‘functioning optimally’, it will recharge quickly and work as it should with a long timespan no matter the activity. But when it is faulty or a bit…broken…it takes forever to charge and doesn’t last as long. People can prefer this because it suggests that even with sleep they may not be fully replenished.

Personally, whilst I love the analogy of energy levels being frazzled like a battery, I don’t see it as a way of me being broken, the term feels quite stigmatising. It feels like I need to be fixed somehow. I understand spoons seeming like we only have so many a day, but it is possible to ‘top up’, they just needed polishing, and who is to say we washed up the night before? Spoon Theory has existed since I was young, each activity can cost one or more spoons, I get to determine that, I know if some in waiting have been polished and can be used. I feel like I am a Spoonie at heart. Having a very simple way of looking at my energy, what I am capable of, what activities I can do are easily visible for myself in my mind. Maybe a mid-day clean or not washing up at night impacts me, but I feel okay if it doesn’t.

Kindly, Leanne x