It’s time for a new blog already! I have been thinking a lot about which topics to cover. Today I wanted to write something about energy levels and things that give you energy too.
The Spoon Theory
My favourite way to discuss energy levels is with the spoon theory. This theory says to translate your energy levels into something visible. Like spoons. When you have a supply of spoons, you can simply run out of spoons. There is also no easy way to get more spoons. People without a limited energy supply could have up to, say, 100 spoons. Everything you do in a day costs you some spoons. Brushing your teeth: 3 spoons. Showering: 5 spoons. Getting ready to leave your house (not forgetting stuff): 5 spoons. Work: maybe up to 20 spoons.
Now, when you have limited energy you might have 60 spoons a day instead of 100. Or you could have 40 spoons a day. However you put it, you have less spoons to give in a day. So 20 spoons for work could be really exhausting for you. Maybe you slept terrible last night and have even less spoons to give.
How to preserve spoons
There are ways to save yourself some spoons. Maybe working from home can be an option if your commute makes you very tired? Maybe you can meal prep on the weekends, so you don’t have to cook dinner during the week. There are many ways in which you can save spoons. Ask for help in time if you think you will be too tired!
Things that give you additional spoons
Not everything just costs you spoons, there might also be activities that give you more spoons. Or at least, they drain your spoon supply but also give some back. Think about fun things like birthdays, holidays, concerts. I am visiting 3 concerts in the next two months. Will I feel totally exhausted after? Yes. But will it be so much fun? Also yes! Those are activities that also fill the supply of spoons, at least a little.
Think of your spoon count
How many spoons you have is different for everyone. My way of organizing this is by making a list of things to do in a day, and write how many spoons I think it will cost me. It is also recommended to keep some spare spoons, so you don’t make your day too full of plans. This way, if something doesn’t go how you thought it will, you will not be exhausted because you kept some spares.
I hope this way people can understand the term “enery levels” a little better. It is a vague term so it can really help to make it into something like this. It really helped me, that’s for sure!