Don’t be afraid of the white space

[Image credit: anankkml]

In my post New Beginnings, I talk about not wasting the white space on the blank page of each new day.  This past week, however, I was reminded during the editing process at work not to be afraid of the white space.  What does this mean, exactly?  In publishing, it suggests that stuffing as much as we can onto a page is visually overwhelming to the reader.  Similarly, stuffing too much into each day is also physically and mentally overwhelming to the doer.  So how do we balance it out?  By making every word (action) count.  This way, the white space (free time) complements the overall publication/day’s design.  I talk about this often — taking periodic time-outs to rejuvenate.  But I just as easily forget and then find the demands on my time at a record high.  Consequently, it helps to pick a few priorities and work in the rest as time (and white space) allows.

Do you handle the white space by trying to fill it all in?

New beginnings

[Image credit: Sujin]

“ … the old has gone, the new has come!”
~ The Bible (NIV 1984)

Old habits die hard.  But as the quote states, the old has passed.  Finished.  Completed.  2012 has left the building.  Of course, that doesn’t mean we forget all the bumps and detours along our journey toward Someday.  It just means it’s time for a new beginning.  I love the feeling of a blank page.  It can be scary to some, but to others it’s a chance for redemption.  An opportunity for improvement, deliverance, recovery.  As one wise Yogi stated: Never too old, never too bad, never too late, never too sick to start from scratch once again (Bikram Choudhury).  If it’s not January 1st, it can be January 2nd or March 3rd.  As long as we have breath, each day is a new beginning.  Fill each page from top to bottom.  Go ahead, start now.  Don’t waste any of that white space.  And Happy New Year!

What’s a new beginning in your life?

F is for free time

[Image credit: Stuart Miles]

There was one day last week where the left side of my Franklin was penciled in from 5:30 in the morning until 7:00 at night, after which I simply wrote free in big bold letters (and which ended up being filled with dinner and a movie).  The next day I woke up to an almost blank page.  For some people an open day may elicit excitement, but not for me.  I need that security blanket of knowing what to do and when.  But I’ve also learned my Franklin is more like a guideline and that it’s okay for me to deviate from the list. After sitting at the patio table that morning and writing for a bit, I pulled out my planner and jotted in my day, including some more free time.  It helps to know I can thoroughly immerse myself in my daily tasks, and eventually receive the earned reward of time to do whatever it is my heart desires.  This is one of my ideas for eliminating stress.  Of course the real test will be keeping a flexible schedule on my upcoming travels.  Wish me luck!

Is your to-do list a loose guideline or set in stone?