Part 1 of 2
Ask most people you know how they are doing, and you will hear some version of this:
- “Busy. A lot going on.”
- “Crazy. Just trying to keep up.”
- “Swamped. Running from one thing to the next.”
Rarely—if ever—do you hear someone say:
- “Things are great. I am focused on what’s important.”
- “I plenty of time and margin in my life.”
- “I am being intentional—never in a rush.”
We live in a constant state of hurry, rush, and busyness—and it is keeping us from defining what is “enough,” from avoiding “too much,” and from truly understanding the secret of success.
The Cost of Constant Rush
If you are always rushing, always overloaded, always moving from one task to the next, here is what happens:
- You do not focus on the big picture. You are too caught up in what’s urgent to focus on what actually matters.
- You do not have time to think. When was the last time you sat in silence, just reflecting on your life, your work, or your faith?
- You sacrifice depth for speed. Relationships, career growth, and personal fulfillment do not happen in a hurry. They require presence and patience.
- You live reactively, not proactively. Instead of choosing what deserves your time and attention, you let the constant demands of life choose that for you.
And worst of all?
You do not even realize you are in this cycle. It becomes normal. You accept that being busy, overwhelmed, and tired is just the way life is.
But it does not have to be like that.
The Secret: Margin
One of the great secrets of success—personally, professionally, and spiritually is margin.
Margin is the space between your limits and your load. It is the difference between what you can handle and what you should handle. It is the intentional choice to leave room in your life rather than packing it full.
When you have margin:
- You focus on what truly matters, rather than just what is urgent.
- You have time to think, reflect, and grow.
- You build deeper relationships because you are present, not distracted.
- You operate from a place of strength, not exhaustion.
How to Create Margin in Your Life
1. Stop glorifying busyness. Being busy is not a badge of honor. Start valuing focus over frenzy. Remember, if you win the rat race, you are still a rat!
2. Prioritize ruthlessly. If everything is important, nothing is. Identify the three to five things that matter most in your life and give them the time they deserve.
3. Say “no” more often. Every yes to something unimportant is a no to something important. Protect your time.
4. Schedule thinking time. Block out time on your calendar for reflection, whether it is about your career, your faith, or your relationships.
5. Slow down your mornings. Instead of rushing from the moment you wake up, build in quiet time to start your day intentionally. I started this routine two years ago, and it has been life changing. I go to the basement each morning and do two daily devotionals before I do anything else. I turn on YouTube and enjoy a calm video playing relaxing music related to whatever season I am in.
6. Embrace the idea that less is more. More meetings, more commitments, and more obligations do not make you more successful—they make you more overwhelmed.
The Final Takeaway
If you do not create margin, life will fill your time for you. The urgent will always overtake the important.
So, the real secret to success?
Slow down. Focus on what matters. Leave room in your life for what is truly important.
Because when you are always in a rush, you miss the best parts of life.