Ep. 23 - Creating Margin in Your Schedule: Why White Space Isn’t Just for Paper

Welcome to When Dreams & Actions Collide! I’m Joylanae, your productivity powerhouse and guide on this journey to building a life that not only supports your goals but gives you the space to breathe.

In the last few episodes, we’ve covered a lot of ground—finding your fundamentals, creating small habits that spark a “Domino Effect,” and the unique rhythm of growth that doesn’t happen by the clock. We’re now in the last stretch of the year, when life can feel busier than ever, and it’s so easy to let our goals take a back seat. But here’s the truth: what if the answer wasn’t adding more to your schedule but creating margin instead?

Today’s episode is about creating that extra space, that much-needed margin in your life—the buffer that lets you handle unexpected changes, savor moments of joy, and keep moving forward. Margin is all about allowing more room for life’s spontaneous twists and turns, whether it’s through intentional “free time” or pockets of rest that leave you better equipped for the next thing on your list. Just like the white space on a page makes everything easier to read, creating margin in your schedule makes life easier to live.

So how do you do this? First, embrace the idea that not every day will go exactly as planned—and that’s completely okay. When we set our expectations for each day, week, or season to be flexible, we allow ourselves a bit of grace. This isn’t about giving up structure but about learning to adapt when things inevitably get messy. As a Type A person who loves order, I get it—it’s not always easy to let go. But with a family, work, kids’ schedules, and so much more, a rigid routine just isn’t realistic, and margin has been a game-changer for finding peace amid the busyness.

We’ll talk about using margin for different needs: maybe you need it to catch up on something you missed, maybe to do something you enjoy, or maybe just to rest. I’ll share a bit about how I carve out free time in my own life, blocking out time on my calendar, and giving myself a little flexibility that’s helped me recharge and keep moving toward my goals. I even set up these moments for my kids, giving them unstructured, phone-free time that research shows is essential for growth. Honestly, we adults could use more of that too.

So, as we go through today’s episode, we’ll break down practical ways to set your expectations and make space in your schedule, even during the busiest season. If you want to enter the new year feeling grounded rather than worn out, start here. For more on this, be sure to check out our past episodes on transforming your schedule and rebooting routines—they’ll be linked in the show notes. Here’s to finding room for what matters and creating a life with a little more margin!

Episodes Mentioned in Podcast

Episode 2 - Time Boss - Owning Your Own 24 Hours

Episode 4 - Establishing Rhythms & Routines in Your Daily Life

Episode 16 - Transforming Your Schedule 

 

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