Margin: Protecting your time and schedule as a spiritual practice.

"Margin restores balance and restores our soul"

-James Bryan Smith from The Good and Beautiful God

Imagine getting a letter in the mail and opening it to find pages and pages of written text from TOP to BOTTOM of the page.  If you are anything like me, you might put that letter down or try to skim it to get a gist.  Reading the whole thing, just staring at it for too long, would probably feel overwhelming. 

That letter has no margin. 

Many of our lives are like that letter.

What is this concept of "Margin"?  I first heard this term used in the book The Good and Beautiful God where the author, a pastor named James Bryan Smith, urged the reader to include margin in their life as a spiritual practice.   In his discussion of Margin, he referenced another book, appropriately titled: "Margin", written by Richard Swenson, MD.   Upon reading Dr. Swenson's book, it was eye opening how much this Medical Doctor also had to say about the importance of the same practice:  Creating space and boundaries with your time and your life.  Both men, with very different backgrounds and jobs, were saying the same thing.  

James Bryan Smith doesn't mince words when he says:

So be honest and be ruthless with your schedule.  Your spiritual, relational and physical health depend on it.

While Dr. Richard Swenson offers us this perspective:

 How often do I see the effects of "marginless" living?  About every 15min.  Into my office on a regular basis comes a steady parade of exhausted, hurting people.  The reason these patients come to me; however, is not to discuss their lack of margin.  They don't even know what margin is.  Instead, they come because of pain.  Most don't realize that pain and the absence of margin are related.  

In the clinical setting, when treating patients with issues related to chronic muscle tension, one of the tools we give them is to lay there and breathe for 5 minutes.  It is literally a part of their treatment time, to learn diaphragmatic breathing and then to just sit still.  Often this has more of an impact than any massage or stretch would.  It helps them to unwind their nervous system and relax their body from within.  

Now, margin is different than a breathing or meditation practice, but it touches on the same thread.  Our minds, bodies, and spirits need time and space where we are not obligated, not rushing, not doing.  The pages of our lives need some space around the edges.  They need margin.

So how do we create margin?  Here are some ideas.

1.  Develop a nightly routine where you put your phone away and give yourself time to unwind in a relaxed way.  Screen time may feel relaxing, but for our brains it is often just the opposite. This will also set you up for a better night of sleep.

2. Wake up earlier to have some quiet time to yourself so you are not just rushing to work or school.  If you can manage to do number 1, number 2 will be a lot easier. 

3.  Work less.  I know times are tough and bills need to be paid, but there are pros and cons.  Working too much may help you feel a little more financially comfortable, but at what cost?   Working less may make the budget a little tighter, but what else is gained?  Maybe just have this conversation with yourself if you are feeling spread too thin at work.  Alternatively, create better boundaries with work.  Decide when you will and won't answer e-mails or respond to texts and stick to it.

4.  Don't commit.  Leave a weekend every month where you decide to make no commitments.  Just enjoy the peace and ease of having a couple days to yourself.

5. Plan a trip.  Many of us don't go on vacation because we don't plan for it and to do it spontaneously makes it seem too expensive and overwhelming.  Prioritize down time with your loved ones with good planning and I'm sure you will find the right vacation for you.  It doesn't have to be a Caribbean get away; it could be a week at an air BNB an hour away with the cost split between several people.  And on this trip, don't have an itinerary, just be.

Your health is worth investing in.

Never give up.

With love,

-Sarah