A Twist on the Spoon Theory
streetlifesolutions.blogspot.com
streetlifesolutions.blogspot.com
This is probably the key quote, pointing out that "resource conservation" models (e.g., "spoons") doesn't work for everyone:
> I talked recently to someone whose brain works very differently from mine. If they have the structures in place that they need to succeed, they will just keep on being able to do stuff until one of those structures breaks down. They can pack their weekend and then work all week; they can have something after work every single night. But if a structure crumbles on them, suddenly they can’t do much of anything.
> The person I talked to was familiar with resource conservation models, and this really harmed them when their structures crumbled. They found advice to cut back on the stuff they were doing, save energy, commit to the minimum necessary, cancel plans. And none of that helped, plus it’s actually really depressing and isolating to do the absolute minimum you need to survive every day, so they ended up just as stuck and now without any of the things that made them happy.
Whereas if I'm going through a severe depressive episode, building momentum and restructuring is the only thing that works for me.
It's important to set realistic daily goals and not beat oneself up as long as some momentum is building, even if it's in tiny increments.
I seem to follow the spoon model (if I schedule too many things, _bad_ things happen) but I don't have any genetic diseases, so not sure what to make of that.
I wonder if anyone knows a good hack for this problem. I suspect physical exercise works to some extent. Perhaps meditation?
The best I figured out is to maximize energy levels at all times - increases likelihood you'll have any to spare. (Diet, excercise, meditation and the hardest, good amount of sleep.) It is a limited improvement at best.
When I don't, it's usually because the people I'm meeting with just are unwell and germy, even if they aren't actively coughing and sniffling. In such cases, showering as promptly as possible afterwards and engaging in self care to support my immune system helps me recover faster.
I will note the coffee and alcohol mentioned in another comment both have moderate medicinal effects, as does spicy food. (But it does so at a cost because it's a stimulant, not nutritional support. It doesn't give the adrenals more to work with. It just runs them on high, basically.)
Alcohol is an antiseptic and helps kill germs. Anecdotally, I have heard of cases where an improperly prepared meal caused food poisoning in the folks who did not have alcohol with the meal, but not in those who did have alcohol with the meal.
Caffeine boosts the adrenals, which helps with immune function generally and allergies in specific.
YMMV and similar disclaimers.
But in order to be fair, having $500k in savings is nowhere close to being a millionaire.