Part 2 of 2
I have been talking about the importance of margin—about how slowing down and creating space in your life is one of the secrets to success.
But what if slowing down does not feel like an option?
What if you are a working mom in your 40s with three young kids, putting in 50+ hours at work, trying to squeeze in Bible study in the morning, Pilates at lunch, kids’ activities in the evening, and somewhere in between, you need to make dinner, check homework, and keep your household from falling apart?
To someone in that season of life, margin does not feel like an option; it feels like a luxury you do not have.
And if that is some version of you, I get it. That’s beyond hard. And still, I would challenge you with this: Margin is not about doing less. It is about being more intentional.
Too often, we think margin means cutting things out entirely. That is not always possible. Instead, margin is about being ruthless with what truly deserves your time and attention, and being present for the moments that matter most.
You do not need a lot of margin. You just need enough margin. Enough to breathe. Enough to think. Enough to stop feeling like every moment is spent in survival mode.
So how do you do that when it feels impossible to slow down?
Practical Ways to Create Margin—No Matter Your Season
1. Audit Your Time (With Brutal Honesty)
Write down everything you do in a week. Every meeting, every errand, every commitment. Then ask yourself:
- Does this need to happen?
- Does it need to happen as often?
- Am I doing this out of obligation or true value?
Most of us are doing too much because we have never questioned whether we need to do those things.
2. Build Micro-Margins Into Your Day
You may not have an extra hour, but can you find five to 10 free minutes?
- Instead of scrolling your phone in the carpool line, take a deep breath and enjoy the quiet.
- Instead of rushing from one task to the next, pause for just a moment before switching gears.
- Instead of answering emails at night, take five minutes to reflect on something good that happened that day.
Margin is not always about more time—it is about more presence.
3. Redefine “Good Enough”
- The laundry does not have to be perfectly folded.
- Dinner does not always have to be made from scratch.
- Your workout does not have to be an hour-long session—10 minutes of movement is still progress.
Many people are exhausted not from doing too much, but from doing too much perfectly.
4. Use Transitions Wisely
Life is full of small gaps—walking to a meeting, driving home, waiting for a Zoom call to start. Instead of mentally jumping to the next thing, use these moments to reset. A deep breath. A short prayer. A moment of gratitude. Small resets lead to big changes.
5. Protect Just One Thing
If you cannot build margin into everything, protect just one thing that truly matters:
- One night a week with your family, no work.
- One quiet moment in the morning before the daily chaos starts.
- One hour on the weekend to recharge in whatever way fills you.
One protected thing is better than none.
The Real Challenge: Are You Willing to Let Go?
For many people, margin is not impossible—it is just uncomfortable.
- It means saying “no” to things we feel obligated to do.
- It means choosing presence over productivity.
- It means redefining success—not by how much we get done, but by how well we are living.
I will not tell you that life is going to slow down on its own. It won’t. The world will always demand more of you. But I will tell you this: If you do not create margin, life will take it from you anyway—through exhaustion, burnout, and missed moments you can never get back.
Final Thought: The Best Version of You Needs Margin
You can be a great mom, a great executive, a great leader, a great spouse, a great friend—but not if you are running on empty. Margin is not about doing nothing. It is about making sure you have enough energy, focus, and joy to give to the things that matter most.
So, I will leave you with one question: What is one small way you can create margin today?
Because if you start with that one small thing, you just might realize that slowing down—even just a little—makes everything better.