There are two mental models about work and fatigue
The article discusses two mental models regarding work and fatigue. The first model suggests that all activities draw from a finite reservoir of energy, while the second posits that productive work is inherently more taxing than consumptive work. The author reflects on their personal experiences with these models and emphasizes the importance of recognizing energy management in both work and leisure activities.
- ▪The first model, known as the spoon theory, suggests that all activities draw from a single reservoir of energy.
- ▪The second model claims that productive work is more toilsome than consumptive work, a notion often debated.
- ▪The author shares personal experiences that challenge the dichotomy between productive and consumptive work.
Opening excerpt (first ~120 words) tap to expand
May, 2026 2026/06/01There are two mental models about work and fatigue which, like my brief dalliance with Roshe Runs, I have loved and outgrown: The first is the fungibility of fatigue. Also known as the spoon theory,1To be clear, my point is with the colloquial extension of spoon theory to able-bodied people like myself, and not the chronic illness context in which it was coined. it is roughly the notion that everything we do — from the mundane (brushing one's teeth, taking a shower) to the expensive (entering flow state for four hours of incident response) — carries some vaguely quantitative measure of toil, all of it drawn from a single reservoir over the course of the day. Like a wizard spending mana to cast spells at varying levels.
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Excerpt limited to ~120 words for fair-use compliance. The full article is at Applied Cartography.
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