FWIW, I’ve never heard anyone use the term spoons to refer to their degree of willpower. Rather, I’ve always heard people use the term spoons to refer to their level of physical energy/stamina.
For example, someone might say that having to stand (rather than sit) on public transit wiped out their spoons for the day.
If I heard someone say that clearing out their email inbox wiped out their spoons for the day, I would be surprised. I would assume they were using the term at an additional level of remove from the original metaphor. That’s fine, but nonstandard in my experience.
Many tasks take both physical and mental energy, like running errands. So I can see how some people might assume, from hearing spoons refer to such tasks, that it meant both kinds of energy. Or they could assume the opposite from me in terms of which one it refers to more. Or, the consensus on its definition could be different now than a decade ago when I formed my impression. Still, here’s my data point.
FWIW, I’ve never heard anyone use the term spoons to refer to their degree of willpower. Rather, I’ve always heard people use the term spoons to refer to their level of physical energy/stamina.
For example, someone might say that having to stand (rather than sit) on public transit wiped out their spoons for the day.
If I heard someone say that clearing out their email inbox wiped out their spoons for the day, I would be surprised. I would assume they were using the term at an additional level of remove from the original metaphor. That’s fine, but nonstandard in my experience.
Many tasks take both physical and mental energy, like running errands. So I can see how some people might assume, from hearing spoons refer to such tasks, that it meant both kinds of energy. Or they could assume the opposite from me in terms of which one it refers to more. Or, the consensus on its definition could be different now than a decade ago when I formed my impression. Still, here’s my data point.