Making Space

I have this tendency to pack my life full of obligations, to be busy, busy, busy. All. The. Time. I'm learning, however, that this is not an effective strategy for getting things done. In fact, it seems to be working against me.

The stuff on my schedule, while generally stuff I enjoy, includes a number of things that I feel I should be doing or enjoying. So lately I've been trying to say "no" more, and only add to my schedule the things I really want to do. Surprisingly, this strategy has opened up space in my life for MORE things I love.


I've been going, going, going for so long, that I forgot how good it feels to have nothing planned, to be free to make impulsive, last-minute decisions about what I'd like to do with my time. Over the past few weekends, I've managed to relax, practice yoga and even get some chores done, not by scheduling every moment, but rather by making fewer plans and doing exactly what I wanted, when I wanted.

Here's a sampling of what I found time for:

• Washing and drying several loads of laundry
• Cuddling with my cat
• Baking cookies with a friend and her son
• Watching multiple episodes of my current TV obsessions on Netflix
• Lounging by the pool
• Teaching a yoga class
• Napping in the middle of the day
• Talking books and drinking coffee with friends
• Taking a hot yoga class
• Vacuuming the rugs and cleaning the kitchen
• Seeing a movie and having lunch with friends
• Doing a restorative yoga practice at home
• Writing and journaling
• Reading
• Completing some work for clients
• Talking with friends and loved ones on the phone and on Skype

It's amazing what we can get done when we stop doing the things we think we should be doing, and make space for the things we could be doing.