What Is a Spoonie? Living on Limited Energy Every Day
👋 Ever felt like your energy was running out before the day even started? For Spoonies, that’s everyday life.
I never expected to measure my life in spoons—but here I am, decades into living with fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS), and peripheral neuropathy, counting my energy like it’s loose change at the bottom of my purse.
If you’re new to the term Spoonie, let me explain. It’s not about eating utensils or a quirky nickname. It’s a lifeline—a way to describe the invisible struggles of chronic illness and disability.
What Is Spoon Theory?
💡 Spoon Theory is a metaphor used by the chronic illness community to explain limited energy levels. Imagine starting each day with a handful of spoons. Every task—getting dressed, making breakfast, commuting—costs a spoon. Spend too many, and you crash. Hard.
The hardest part? Healthy people don’t have to count their spoons. Spoonies do.
What Life as a Spoonie Really Feels Like
✅ Pain that never quits – Some days, even lifting a cup of tea feels like a workout.
✅ Brain fog – Ever walked into a room and forgotten why? Try that every hour.
✅ Unpredictability – You never know how many spoons you’ll have until you wake up.
✅ Guilt – For canceling plans. For needing to rest. For struggling in a world that wasn’t built for us.
💬 And the comments? Oh, the comments.
🗨️ “But you looked fine yesterday!”
🗨️ “Can’t you just push through?”
If only they understood that every single decision—washing my hair, answering a phone call—comes with a cost.
How to Support a Spoonie (Without Saying the Wrong Thing)
🚫 Don’t say: “Let me know if you need anything.”
✅ Instead, say: “I’m grabbing groceries—can I pick something up for you?”
🚫 Don’t say: “But you don’t look sick.”
✅ Instead, say: “I believe you.”
🚫 Don’t say: “You should exercise more.”
✅ Instead, say: “How can I support you today?”
Spoonies Deserve More Than Just Survival—We Deserve Joy
For years, I felt guilty spending my last spoons on things that weren’t "essential." But I’ve learned that joy is essential.
Some days, I’ll ration my spoons just to see a friend, watch a movie, or sit outside in the sun. I might pay for it later, but those moments remind me that I am more than my illness.
🎯 Want the full story? Read it here → What Is a Spoonie?
🛍️ Wear your Spoonie pride: Check out the Spoonie Tote Bag – because sometimes, we carry more than just spoons.
