How to Build More Margin into Your Life

If your life as a modern woman looks anything like mine, it is overwhelmingly full. Whether you work or not, have children or not, are married or not, homeschool or send your children to school, belong to a church or not, you are likely busy in a way that feels inescapable. It may feel impossible to change. We are a culture of doing, and when we are not doing, we are still doing. Some nights you may sink into bed wondering where the day went. Many days you may wish you had just one more hour to do something for yourself–to finish that book or project, take a bubble bath, sit on the porch with a glass of wine at sunset, go for a walk, read some poetry, do a little yoga, go for a pedicure.

I know how you feel. But take a deep breath here. There is hope.

Do you schedule margin?

In college, I used a paper planner. It had a page for every day with spaces to write down all my coursework as well as my non-school-related commitments. I worked, was part of a campus theatre company, and took a full course load. I needed a planner in order to stay on top of it all. After college, I stopped using a planner for several years. Then, when I got married and had my first baby, I started using a planner again–this time one with a weekly layout, where you see a full week on one page spread. I used it to keep track of my meal plan, doctor appointments, meetings (book club, my knitting group), travel, and when my daughter’s daycare was closed.

A few months ago, I bought my first paper planner with a daily layout since college. The need for a daily layout in this stage of my life tells me I have more to manage than ever. If things are not written down, I miss them, and the space for each day in my weekly planner isn’t enough anymore.

To read more, click over to The Glorious Table.