Margin: Protecting Your Time and Energy

"Margin restores balance and restores our soul."

— James Bryan Smith, The Good and Beautiful God

Why Margin Matters

Imagine opening a letter where the words cover every inch of the page, no white space anywhere. Overwhelming, right? That’s what life can feel like when we leave no room for margin.

I first heard about margin as a spiritual practice through James Bryan Smith. Later, I found Dr. Richard Swenson’s book Margin, where he describes how “marginless” living often shows up as pain, stress, and exhaustion in his patients. Two very different voices, same truth: our health depends on protecting our time.

The Cost of a Marginless Life

Dr. Swenson says he sees the effects of marginless living “about every 15 minutes” in his medical practice. People arrive exhausted, anxious, and hurting—rarely realizing their pain is tied to how they fill their schedules.

Sometimes the simplest reset — five quiet minutes of breathing — can do more than any treatment. Margin isn’t exactly meditation, but it touches the same thread: our need for unstructured, restful, obligation-free space. Margin is medicine for both body and soul.

How to Create More Margin in Your Life

Here are a few practices that have helped me:

• Unplug before bed. Put your phone away and unwind without screens.

• Start your mornings quietly. Wake up a bit earlier so you aren’t rushing into the day.

• Work less, or set boundaries. Protect evenings and weekends from constant texts and emails.

• Leave space unplanned. Keep one weekend a month free of commitments.

• Plan for rest. Take a trip, even a simple getaway close to home, to recharge without pressure.

These simple steps are small acts of protecting your time and energy—and they create space for deeper joy and peace.

Final Word

Our pages need white space. Our lives need margin.

Your health is worth investing in.

Never give up.

With love,

Sarah

💌 Read Sarah’s full article here: Margin: Protecting Your Time and Schedule as a Spiritual Practice →

About the Author

Sarah Farley is a wellness coach and writer passionate about helping women create balance, peace, and joy in everyday life. You can find more of her work at Sarah Farley Wellness.