Energy vs Mood in Autism: Why Tracking Energy Works Better
Mood tracking apps use generic terms like "mood." They assume mood = unhappy, rather than drained = exhausted.
Can you have good mood but low energy? Absolutely.
I like playing Fortnite with my friends, but the trivial nature of small talk is exhausting. I'm clearly enjoying myself but dislike navigating small talk just to engage in things I enjoy.
Mood = how I feel emotionally.
Energy = how much capacity I have to act, talk, and tolerate input.
What Energy Actually Measures
Energy tracking tells me the subtle factors that make me feel drained, not simply "unhappy."
Bothersome environments with bright lighting or flashing colors drain me, despite wanting to be there. Mood tracking doesn't account for this.
When my mood is fine but my energy drops, it’s usually from:
- Bright lights / Flickering
- Constant background noise
- Unexpected interruptions / Task-switching
- Social scripting / eye contact
- Sensory stuff on my skin (Sweat, sunscreen)
Why This Matters for Autistic People
Sensory overload is more taxing on me than on neurotypicals. Special interests are satisfying, but the sensory clutter that comes with engaging in them makes it less worthwhile.
Tracking energy helps me understand how activities are actively draining me, despite enjoying them. Wearing light-sensitivity glasses before running or biking outside makes something I already enjoy a lot more bearable.
I treat energy like points on a 0–10 scale—not calories.
When I don’t track it, the small drains stack up and I don’t notice until I’m close to shutdown. Tracking helps me catch patterns I would have otherwise missed due to already being cognitively exhausted.
Real Examples
Talking with friends. I enjoy talking with them, but masking my autistic traits—forcing eye contact, scripting what to say, navigating small talk—creates social exhaustion despite being happy to see them.
What happens when I only track mood instead of energy? I become unaware of why I feel drained most of the time. Why executive dysfunction kicks in and I literally can't get out of bed and do chores despite being eager to.
Energy tracking gives me provides clarity on these subtle drains. Gives me more energy for things I actually want to do.
Why Spoons Tracks Energy, Not Mood
Energy has a much more profound effect on us than neurotypicals. Mood fluctuates with everyone. But the tax we pay to do most tasks is much more exhausting.
I'm Omari, a 23-year-old autistic adult who's been managing chronic burnout for 5+ years while working warehouse shifts.
This is why I built Spoons around this exhaustion—the concept that I start each day with limited energy units (2 energy, 3 energy, or 5 energy) that get depleted by my daily tasks. Unlike mood, which is subjective and vague, spoons give a concrete number to work with.
Tracking it is crucial for me to manage autistic burnout.
This is why Spoons tracks energy. One slider from 0 to 10. That's it.
Launching April 2026. getspoons.app - One email when it's ready. No spam.
— Omari
Note: I'm sharing my personal experience as an autistic adult, not medical advice. If you're experiencing severe burnout or crisis, please consult a healthcare provider familiar with autism.