Margin to me means making space in your life for what is important to you outside of work and your to-do list: God, family, friends, volunteering, hobbies. This is an area that God has been recently speaking to me about: making more room for Him, and increasing the amount of physical, mental and spiritual rest I get on a regular basis.
"Then Jesus said, "Let's go off by ourselves to a quiet place and rest awhile." He said this because there were so many people coming and going that Jesus and his apostles didn't even have time to eat. So they left by boat for a quiet place, where they could be alone." Mark 6:31-32 NLT
Just like the margins and space on a document, we need room to breathe and grow in all areas of our lives, to help balance what we do, being mindful that we are a whole person. If God created the world with a day of rest, and Jesus modelled getting away for time of rest, and recharging, we should too.
Below are the main points and my comment/reflections on an article which has greatly helped me make more margin in my life.
10 Ways to Create Margin in Your Life by Brad Bridges (click this title for the link to the article.)
1) Use all of your vacation days.
Our family doesn't have paid vacation weeks, so we have to plan carefully when we want to take a vacation. We try to take days off whenever we can on a regular basis to make connection and rest a priority in our family's schedules.
2) Protect your day off religiously.
This is harder for me than my hubby. I do some freelance work from home, but I now block off chunks of time most of the weekend to unplug from work and let myself relax, laugh, sleep, hang out with my family and friends.
"Come to Me, all who labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." Matthew 11:28
3) Don't schedule meetings back to back if you can help it.
If I am the one scheduling something, I try not to do more than 2 major things in a day. When I have to do more than that back to back, I work in a break as soon as I can, to relax and refocus before beginning another task. I find too many meetings in a row makes me less productive, and that most employers will understand if you have a major deadline you need to complete before you can meet.
4) Make sure that you delegate more responsibility.
I do this whenever I can. At home, I share the cooking, cleaning and errands. At work I do not take on someone else's tasks if they are there to do them. By clearly knowing what I am to do, I can better focus on my task at hand and be available to assist or train when asked.
5) Only check email during designated times during the day.
I check both my personal & work emails at set times: after my quiet time & before breakfast, over my lunch break, during my afternoon snack break, and right after dinner.
6) Get up earlier in the morning.
I am the first one up at home, and usually second to bed. I know I need 7-8 hours of sleep to feel well rested and recharge my inner batteries. In the fall/winter, I have to get up 15 min earlier than I do in the spring/summer to do light therapy to help my seasonal affective disorder remain well managed.
"Let me hear in the morning of Your steadfast love, for in You I trust. Make me know the way I should go, for to You I lift up my soul." Psalm 143:8
7) Put meetings with God and yourself in your schedule book.
I write my weekly schedule in pen to block quiet time & bible study firmly into my week. In really stressful seasons, I use an app to make sure that I don't miss this important time as it is a priority to me to remain connected to God each day.
"Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth." Colossians 3:2
8) Turn off the TV and/or the internet.
I downgraded our TV channels last year. We only watch a few shows as a family when we choose to, so we are not a slave to the TV schedule or have to watch commercials anymore. I also disconnect from WiFi after dinner until the next morning, which helps make for a quieter lifestyle for me. Once a month, I stay offline for the whole weekend.
9) Learn how to say NO.
I don't allow the "needs" to stress me out anymore. I only have the same amount of time everyone else does, and God is helping me balance when to prioritize people over work. I no longer apologize if I need to say no to a request, which becomes easier when you know why you should say no. I am capable of doing more than I do, but not all at the same level of excellence or focus.
"Let what you say be simply 'Yes' or 'No'; anything more than this comes from evil." Matthew 5:37 ESV
10) Exercise.
I make the time to do so because my body needs the physical release, and it helps me sleep better and fight off the blahs. Do what you can with the time you have. Even stairs vs elevators is a start towards a healthier you! I aim for a minimum of 5000 steps daily, but normally hit 10,000 3-4 times a week.
I would add:
11. Be intentional.
Making down time or margin more of a priority is an intentional act. You too can start doing so by making some of the changes above, modifying as you go along based on what works for you.
What would you add to this list?
Taking This to God in Prayer:
God, I would like to put more margin into my schedule, but I don't know where to start. Would You guide me to the first step You would like me to make towards connecting more with my family, friends and You, as I learn to unplug from work in healthy ways. Speak Lord, I am listening. In Jesus' Name, Amen.
May God bless you as you make more margin for Him to move within your life, both at work and at home.
Karla Lees
Christian Women at Work
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