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Key Highlights
- The Spoon Theory changes how we view daily energy and effort
- Traditional productivity overlooks hidden emotional and mental costs
- Measuring energy, not just output, helps prevent burnout.
Something I stumbled upon late last night changed everything: what if we’re measuring productivity all wrong?
It wasn’t some flashy viral trend that caught my attention, but a quiet, simple idea that turned my understanding of getting things done on its head.
What if our entire approach to work is misguided? What if the way we gauge our productivity and self-worth in this frenetic world is inherently flawed—at least for many of us?
This wasn’t some detached philosophical musing; it hit close to home. It felt like someone had finally articulated a struggle I’ve faced in silence, and maybe you have too.
Understanding The Spoon Theory Simply
So, what exactly is this whispered secret, this “Spoon Theory” I stumbled upon? The Spoon Theory was created by Christine Miserandino, a woman living with lupus.
To explain to her friend what living with chronic illness felt like, she used spoons as a symbol of energy.
Here’s how it works:
- Imagine starting your day with 12 spoons. These spoons represent your total energy for the day. Everything you do, from brushing your teeth to commuting to work, costs one or more spoons.
- If you have a health condition, or if your mental state is already stretched thin, even basic tasks cost more spoons than they would for someone else.
Let’s say:
- Getting out of bed: 1 spoon
- Showering and getting dressed: 2 spoons
- Cooking breakfast: 1 spoon
- Catching a delayed train and standing for 40 minutes: 2 spoons
- A busy work shift full of meetings and emails: 4 spoons
- One difficult phone call with a relative back home: 2 spoons
By the afternoon, you’re done. Zero spoons left. No energy for socializing. No strength to go grocery shopping. Maybe not even enough to return messages.
This isn’t laziness. It’s simple math.
Why The Spoon Theory Matters for Africans Living Abroad
Living abroad as an African can quietly drain your energy in ways that aren’t always visible.
Here’s what that can look like:
- Code-switching all day at work, switching between Pidgin or Yoruba at home and formal English at the office.
- Dealing with subtle racism or microaggressions, whether it’s being asked where you’re “really from” or watching someone repeatedly mispronounce your name.
- Sending money home while managing rent, bills, and rising costs in a new country.
- Feeling isolated—especially when everyone else is celebrating holidays you don’t connect with.
- Each of these things can cost spoons. Even if your calendar looks clear, your emotional load is heavy.
So when someone asks why you’re “tired all the time,” or why you’re not “doing more” with your time abroad, the answer might be: you’re out of spoons.
How We Currently Measure Productivity
Let’s be real. Most of us were raised to measure productivity in hard numbers:
- How many emails did you send?
- How many hours did you work?
- How many clients did you onboard?
- How many side hustles are you juggling?
But this model ignores the human side of the equation. It doesn’t care how exhausted you felt or how much you pushed yourself to get through the day. It only looks at the output.
For someone who’s always mentally and emotionally exhausted, this system feels punishing. You can’t keep up. And when you try, it only leads to burnout, guilt, or shame.
Can The Spoon Theory Redefine How We Measure Productivity?
Yes, it absolutely can, and here’s how:
1. It centers the cost of tasks, not just the result
Instead of only tracking what you achieved, the Spoon Theory asks how much it cost you to do those things. If replying to five emails took all your energy, that should count as a full day.
2. It encourages planning based on energy, not time
With spoons in mind, you can build a to-do list around how you feel, not just what’s scheduled. Some days will be high-spoon days; others won’t. That’s okay.
3. It validates invisible struggles
From culture shock to homesickness, not everything that drains us is visible on a calendar. The Spoon Theory gives space for that.
4. It helps avoid burnout
When you track your spoons, you’re less likely to overcommit or push through pain. You learn to rest before you’re empty.
Practical Ways to Apply The Spoon Theory at Work
Here are practical ways to apply The Spoon Theory to maximize productivity:
1. Track Your Spoons Like a Budget
At the start of the day, mentally assign yourself a number of spoons. Be honest. If you’re drained from a stressful weekend, maybe you’re starting with six instead of ten.
2. Group Low-Spoon Tasks Together
Don’t spread them throughout the day. If replying to messages, checking emails, and writing reports each cost one spoon, batch them in one sitting to save mental energy.
3. Block Recovery Time
Don’t just schedule meetings. Schedule spoon-recovery time—quiet walks, short naps, or meals without screens.
4. Say No Without Guilt
Learn to say “I don’t have the energy for that today” instead of “I’m just being lazy.” Your worth isn’t tied to your productivity.
5. Talk to Your Boss or Team
If you have a manager who’s open-minded, explain that some tasks take more from you than others. Share what helps you stay productive without emptying your tank.
Rethinking Productivity in a New Country
When you’re living abroad, your productivity can look very different from someone born and raised in your current city. You’re building from scratch, socially, emotionally, sometimes financially.
You’re learning how to be two people at once: the version of yourself that fits into your new country, and the one who still holds home in your chest.
That dual identity? That costs spoons too.
So the next time you don’t finish everything on your list, take a breath. Check your spoons. Did you show up? Did you try? Did you survive?
That counts. That matters. And maybe it’s time we all start measuring productivity in a way that honors the truth, not just the numbers.
Final Thought
The Spoon Theory isn’t a buzzword or a motivational poster. It’s a practical way to measure productivity in real life, especially when life feels heavier than usual. Especially when you’re thousands of miles from home, carrying more than most people see.
You don’t need to earn rest. You don’t need to apologize for your limits. You just need to use your spoons with care.
Because sometimes, survival is the most productive thing you can do.
