Spoonie Activities

[Megaroni]

Hello, in case you don't know the term spoonie, it has to do with the spoonie theory. It's basically the idea that disabled/mentally ill people have a limited amount of "spoons" (basically seen as energy units ig??) to use each day and you gotta conserve your spoons so you don't burn out. There are better descriptions of it on Google so I recommend looking there for more info.

I wanna know what low spoon activities you guys have. Or medium spoon activities. Literally anything you can do when you have some sort of energy but not enough to do something big with it.

I've been having a ton of very low spoon days recently and I find myself either super bored cause idk what to do with my limited energy or super overstimulated cause I did too much with my limited energy. It's so hard for me to find a balance. This is probably cause most of my activities had to do with social media which leaves me emotionally burnt out, so I've been trying to use it less unless it's tame and calm like Pinterest.

My current low spoon activities rn include drawing with crayons, making cards for friends (which is usually a little too many spoons), mobile games, scrolling through this forum, and calling friends. The things I do the most are in my mid spoon range, like sewing, playing computer/switch games, repsonding to neglected emails, decluttering the area around my bed, listening to high energy music, and watching shows/movies. So yeah my mid spoon activities are a lot more interesting than my low spoon ones lol. I hope to change that with this thread

Edit: I'm glad I've gotten to introduce the spoon theory to so many people. I assumed it was a lot more well known than it was, which is why I gave a vague description. At some point (when I have the spoons, lol) I'd love to make some sort of collection of all my favorite spoon theory resources to bring more awareness to it. Hope that everyone who's been struggling starts having an easier time.

 

[nightglow]

When I don't have energy for anything, I find that having a handheld console that's portable to be helpful. As long as I'm not so drained that I fall asleep, reading on my phone or book, or playing a portable game, or watching a show works on my low spoon days.
As someone with fibromyalgia, I greatly appreciate the spoon theory as an attempt to explain the energy crisis. It isn't a motivation thing, but literal ability or inability to handle x today. Today effects tomorrow and yesterday can also effect tomorrow.

 

[Millysaurusrexjr]

Reminds me of the idea that introverts have a battery that drains when they have to go out and be social.

I guess my low spoon activity would simply be casually browsing the internet, be it youtube, reddit, twitter, instagram, or this website. Also, watching shows/movies on Netflix, etc. Low to medium would be playing a game I've played before (Animal Crossing). Medium would be trying a new game.

 

[xSuperMario64x]

my mom has been disabled for years and she spends most of her time playing PS4 video games online with other people (she likes to play Division 2 the most), so she can have friends and people to interact with besides us in the house. she also plays lots of single player games like the Mafia series and some Lego games, and ofc she watches tv too.

 

[daringred_]

i have no to few spoons these days, sadly, so i don't do very much. the extent of what i have the energy for is brushing my teeth, listening to music, playing games, watching videos, browsing the forums, and filling in my journal once a day, since i can autopilot pretty much all of that. (although sometimes i struggle with that last task.) middle spoon activities for me would probably be preparing my journal for the following week/month or cooking some packet pasta. high spoon is pretty much everything else although taking a bath and going out for an appointment or shopping are usually the ones i have to deal with most. like, it's stuff that seems completely normal and easy for most people, but damn do i just not have the energy.

 

[Megaroni]

i have no to few spoons these days, sadly, so i don't do very much. the extent of what i have the energy for is brushing my teeth, listening to music, playing games, watching videos, browsing the forums, and filling in my journal once a day, since i can autopilot pretty much all of that. (although sometimes i struggle with that last task.) middle spoon activities for me would probably be preparing my journal for the following week/month or cooking some packet pasta. high spoon is pretty much everything else although taking a bath and going out for an appointment or shopping are usually the ones i have to deal with most. like, it's stuff that seems completely normal and easy for most people, but damn do i just not have the energy.

Yeah I can relate. I should be able to shower often, apply lotion once a day, make my bed, cook meals for my self, etc but whenever I try I get huge flare ups

 

[daringred_]

Yeah I can relate. I should be able to shower often, apply lotion once a day, make my bed, cook meals for my self, etc but whenever I try I get huge flare ups

yeah, i get that. it took me ages to get to the point of just brushing my teeth daily, though it's still only once a day because i definitely don't have spoons by bedtime, and it's mostly only because i have a fear of needles so going to the dentist for cavities is a no-no. i should be able to have a bath at least once a week, but i definitely don't. once a fortnight is lucky, and it's usually only because i'll have an appointment or something the next day. obviously i know that sounds gross and unhygienic, but that's the side of mental health (depression specifically in my case) they don't tell you about. when i have to have a bath, or do fortunately have the spoons, it's easier to break it down into steps (i.e. run the water, get towels/clothes, get in bath, wash hair, get out bath, get dry, get changed, brush hair) and tackle them one at a time, but it's still a lot lol. it's even worse if you don't have the spoons. i don't think a lot of people realize it's not a case of laziness and not wanting to, it's just that we physically/mentally can't. it's like asking the average person to singlehandedly lift a tractor tire.

 

[nightglow]

Yeah I can relate. I should be able to shower often, apply lotion once a day, make my bed, cook meals for my self, etc but whenever I try I get huge flare ups

I had a bad flare for a while when I was working a job that had horrible co-workers and management. I had long hair at the time and just trying to brush it during a flare was difficult. I had to keep pausing because my arms were just so weak and tired the muscles were shaking and failing to do what I needed them to do. I cut my hair because it just got to be too much to keep up with especially after showering.
Flares suck regardless of their manifestation. During this period, I think actually the entire time I was employed there, I didn't even play video games during my down time. I just slept.

 

[Megaroni]

I had a bad flare for a while when I was working a job that had horrible co-workers and management. I had long hair at the time and just trying to brush it during a flare was difficult. I had to keep pausing because my arms were just so weak and tired the muscles were shaking and failing to do what I needed them to do. I cut my hair because it just got to be too much to keep up with especially after showering.
Flares suck regardless of their manifestation. During this period, I think actually the entire time I was employed there, I didn't even play video games during my down time. I just slept.

Oh god I've had times like that too. Hope you're able to have more peace and rest now

 

[Autumn247]

I have schizoaffective disorder bipolar type, which is schizophrenic symptoms in addition to manic and depressive episodes. When I'm feeling depressed/unmotivated some low spoon activities I have are:
Browsing online
Taking a nap
Watching a show, movie, or YouTube videos
Listening to music
Meditating
Bible study

Medium spoon activities for me would be:
Writing in my journal
Playing a videogame
Brushing my teeth (I sometimes struggle with things like this when extremely depressed)
Reading
Playing ukulele
Doing the dishes

High spoon activities for me:
Showering
Taking a walk
Cleaning
Going grocery shopping
Cooking
Doing laundry
Going to appointments
Spending time with people

 

[Xara]

I've been having a ton of very low spoon days recently and I find myself either super bored cause idk what to do with my limited energy

thank you for putting this into words for me. this is something i typically always experience when a depressive episode that’s lasted weeks (or even months) is finally starting to come to an end, but i’ve never been able to explain it or verbalize it as i honestly think that i have permanent brain fog at this point lol. thank you for bringing the spoonie theory to my attention as well — i’ve never heard of it before, so i’ll definitely be doing some research!

i suffer from persistent depression, so 99% of my days are low spoon ones, and its been even worse over the past few months as i’ve been dealing with grief as well. so much has suffered because of it, especially my hygiene, my schooling, my cleanliness and my sociability.

on days where i have no spoons whatsoever, there really isn’t much that i’m able to do. however, i’m usually able to do these activities at least:

• read
• browse the internet/social media (usually tbt, reddit, instagram, youtube or tiktok)
• listen to music
• lay down/nap
• watch a comfort tv show/movie
• brush my teeth

on days where i still don’t have many spoons, but i have at least a couple to work with, i can add a few more activities to what i have the energy for:

• tidying up my room a bit (getting rid of any empty bottles/cans, picking garbage up off the floor, readjusting my bedsheet so that it’s on my bed properly, etc)
• washing my face
• talking to my friends
• going through any emails i’ve received and deleting them
• collecting my nintendo switch online app nook points
• liking posts on instagram (i follow a lot of people, so liking posts can take a while lol)

on medium/high spoon days, i’m able to do all of the above activities, as well as:

• showering and shaving
• spending time with my family
• taking garbage down to the garbage chute
• going outside
• doing ‘bigger’ chores (vacuuming my room, helping with doing the dishes, doing my laundry, etc)
• playing video games
• writing in my journal
• creating art
• any other small/easy tasks that i hadn’t done in a while or that i want to do

 

[Croconaw]

What an interesting thread. I’ve been reading through it and found the concept of spoons very intriguing. I definitely have activities that are easier than others on certain days.

The low spoon activities for me are:
• Washing dishes. This is actually my job. We actually have a dishwasher, so it’s basically effortless for me. I just spray and send them through.
• Doing laundry. This is second nature for me. I love doing laundry.
• Scrolling through forum posts here or on other forums I’m apart of.
• Replying to my close friends on Snapchat. The only people I have added on Snapchat are people that I trust because it has my real name among other things, haha.
• Listening to music or watching my favorite show.

The medium spoon activities for me are:
• Playing video games. I play mostly sports games, so they require a good bit of concentration and energy for me.
• Running the vacuum. I actually don’t mind cleaning tasks, but this requires a bit of effort from me. Also, tidying my room is included here.
• Bathing and doing my hair. I strongly dislike showers, so bathing usually consists of me sitting down in reasonably hot bath water.
• Going through YouTubers that I follow. I don’t watch too many, but the ones I do, I need energy to sit and catch up on videos. And totally not to discredit the creators or the person, I just need to be in the mood to sit and watch.
• Brushing my teeth / cleaning my teeth.

The high spoon activities for me are:
• Creating art. I like doing digital art but it’s very tedious. It requires patience and I find I don’t have a whole lot of that when it comes to art.

 

[amemome]

I love spoon theory... I think it perfectly describes how much total energy is available to do anything in a day. Especially appreciate the notion that to do certain high-spoon activities when you've only got a couple of spoons left, you have to borrow spoons from tomorrow's spoon count. That really speaks to my energy levels the day after a really strenuous day.

For me, good low-spoon activities are:

• Listening to music and/or watching music videos
• Watching a favorite anime (one I know will avoid stressful topics or situations)
• Laying in my bed under a weighted blanket
• Applying a hand cream with a soothing scent and then smelling my hands