Understanding the Art of creating Margin in your Life

As the sun rose on the morning of a pivotal workshop for me, my mind was buzzing with anticipation. I had meticulously outlined the day’s event for 15 industry leaders; everything was mapped with precision. But the universe had other plans. As I drove to the venue, my colleague’s suitcase—and importantly, my laptop and medication—tumbled onto the busy dual carriageway. Disaster! I had absolutely not planned for something like this. There I was, faced not only with the nerve-wracking task of trying to gather our belongings but also the pressure of only having mere minutes to spare.

This incident is the perfect prelude to my new podcast episode Creating Margin for the Unexpected.

Life’s Unplanned Moments: Crafting Calm amidst Chaos

Stories like these, where life’s fabric frays into chaos, really demonstrate the value of creating margins. These moments underscore the power of proactive and reactive margin. We cannot predict every twist in our lives but we can cushion their impact by building flexible spaces into our routines. It’s not about devising contingencies for every possible eventuality—such an endeavor would be exhausting and ultimately futile. Instead, it’s about having enough buffer to breathe, recalibrate and continue with grace.

The Subtle Pressure of Remaining Perpetually Busy

In a society that often equates busyness with productivity, and hence, worth, it becomes a radical act to pause. The raised eyebrows I received for purchasing magazines as an indulgence are symptomatic of this pervasive badge of busyness we’re encouraged to wear. As women, we’re often subject to this scrutiny magnified by the mental load we juggle. It’s a cacophony of paid work, household management and the silent, yet constant, ticker tape of tasks running in the background. I’ve felt it, and maybe you have too.

A Palette of Self-Care in Life’s Canvas

It took facing the relentless rush of adrenaline for me to recognise the need for a shift. I had to forge better habits to mitigate this rush. Strategies began with color-coding my diary—not just for work but for well-being—and remembering those critical buffer times between appointments. I started to overestimate, rather than underestimate, the time needed for each task. My diary bloomed with colors not just of deadlines, but also patches of time earmarked for self-care.

Advocating for Margin: A Legacy for the Next Generation

In this episode, I discuss the tangible ripple effect that creating margin has—not only on personal well-being but socio-culturally. In prioritising margin, we silently advocate for a healthier approach to our collective work-life balance. The actions we model today could lift the burden from the shoulders of the next wave of workers, entrepreneurs and dreamers. It’s here that resilience is forged—not in the crucible of endless hustle, but in the purposeful and unapologetic preservation of one’s time and energy.

Your Invitation to Pause

I invite you to experiment with creating margin in your life. It’s not a one-size-fits-all solution; it’s a practice, a commitment to setting boundaries and honouring them. It’s about daring to peel off that busy badge and asserting that your peace is non-negotiable.

Listen to this episode of Your Permission to Pause to explore the transformative power of creating space in your life. You can listen here.