Understanding Spoon Theory & Preventing Burnout

As given at RevConf '19

Transcript

1. THERE IS NO SPOON?
   Understanding ‘Spoon Theory’ &
   Preventing Burnout
   Jameson Hampton @jameybash
   

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2. RevConf 2019 | @jameybash
   @jameybash
   

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3. RevConf 2019 | @jameybash
   Hi, I’m Jamey
   

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4. What is Spoon Theory??
   RevConf 2019 | @jameybash
   A social metaphor for how much energy we each have in a day
   The key to Spoon Theory = You have a finite number!
   

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5. “I wanted something for her to actually
   hold, for me to then take away, since most
   people who get sick feel a loss of a life they
   once knew. If I was in control of taking away
   the spoons, then she would know what it
   feels like to have someone or something
   else, in this case Lupus, being in control.”
   - Christine Miserandino
   RevConf 2019 | @jameybash
   

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6. RevConf 2019 | @jameybash
   You can’t know how many spoons someone
   else has just by looking at them!
   

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7. What happens when you run out?
   RevConf 2019 | @jameybash
   

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8. RevConf 2019 | @jameybash
   

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13. Who does spoon theory affect?
    RevConf 2019 | @jameybash
    • Shared Language
    • Greater empathy for others
    • Better understanding of our limits
    

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14. Physical Illnesses & Disabilities
    ◦Constant pain is exhausting!
    ◦Emotional drain of worry
    ◦Reduced mobility/decreased accessibility
    ◦Frequent health care
    RevConf 2019 | @jameybash
    

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15. Mental Illnesses
    ◦Constant emotional
    distress is also exhausting
    ◦Being told to “get over it!”
    ◦Can be socially
    ostracizing
    ◦Can also be physical
    RevConf 2019 | @jameybash
    

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16. Marginalized Groups
    ◦Being discriminated
    against sucks!
    ◦Emotionally dealing with
    the political climate
    ◦Having to justify your
    existence
    ◦Microaggressions
    RevConf 2019 | @jameybash
    “You don’t sound
    black”
    “You don’t look
    transgender”
    “Where are you from
    anyway?”
    “So who’s the guy in
    your relationship?”
    “Oh, are you an
    engineer?”
    

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17. Codemash 2018 | @jameybash
    

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18. RevConf 2019 | @jameybash
    

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    As you can see, privilege is a factor!
    Just because you have privilege, it doesn’t mean your
    life can’t be hard sometimes! But it isn’t hard BECAUSE
    you have privilege. It’s hard EVEN THOUGH you have it.
    

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22. How does this affect me???
    RevConf 2019 | @jameybash
    

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23. Self Care!
    RevConf 2019 | @jameybash
    

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24. Self Care!
    RevConf 2019 | @jameybash
    Accountability
    Forgiveness
    

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25. Managing your employees’ spoons
    ◦Productivity –
    everyone needs
    energy to do their
    best work
    ◦Empathy – you care
    about them (I hope!)
    & want them to lead
    fulfilling lives
    RevConf 2019 | @jameybash
    
    
    Burn Out
    

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26. RevConf 2019 | @jameybash
    Let’s talk about Agile!
    

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27. Spoons vs Agile Methodology
    RevConf 2019 | @jameybash
    • Velocity – an intangible
    unit of measurement
    • Prioritizing your team
    dynamic
    • Your employees are
    your #1 resource!
    

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28. Lessening your employees’ burdens
    ◦Recognize that their health is
    more important than their work
    ◦Provide adequate health care!
    ◦Treat mental illness as an illness
    ◦Make accessibility a priority, not
    an afterthought
    RevConf 2019 | @jameybash
    

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29. Keeping
    people’s needs
    in mind --
    RevConf 2019 | @jameybash
    “Fair” isn’t
    always
    “equal”
    

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30. RevConf 2019 | @jameybash
    Keeping people’s needs in mind --
    Understanding the affect on productivity
    

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31. Fostering a diverse & tolerant workplace
    ◦ Actions speak louder than words
    ◦ Don’t demand that minorities do all the diversity work!
    ◦ But do listen to your underrepresented employees and
    believe their stories
    ◦ Don’t tolerate crappy behavior!
    RevConf 2019 | @jameybash
    

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32. Recommended reading/watching!
    ◦ The original Spoon Theory essay by Christine Miserandino -
    https://butyoudontlooksick.com/articles/written-by-christine/the-spoon-theory/
    ◦ Your Invisible Illness Is Valid by Sam Escobar - https://femsplain.com/your-
    invisible-illness-is-valid-f33f85f18dc3
    ◦ That Time You Failed To Follow Up On Diversity by Melissa Nightingale -
    https://mfbt.ca/that-time-you-failed-to-follow-up-on-diversity-
    cd701f52da6c?gi=dd80985b40fb
    ◦ Monitoring The Health of Your Self by Mary Thengvall -
    http://confreaks.tv/videos/codedaze2016-monitoring-the-health-of-your-self
    ◦ The Quest for the Rainbow Bagel by Zach Anner -
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LhpUJRGrZgc
    RevConf 2019 | @jameybash
    

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33. RevConf 2019 | @jameybash
    @jameybash
    jameybash.com
    

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