How to Leave Margin to Love Others Well
Coming to you today with a real and raw reminder that I need just as much as anyone else.
Let’s talk about margins.
Not the 1-inch kind with Times New Roman, double-spaced research paper vibes. I’m talking about time margins.
Space.
Time.
Breathing room.
The kind of margin that lets you be more than a hectic task-juggler. The kind that makes space to simply BE a person – to pause, to be present, to love well.
If you’ve ever felt like your time is stretched paper-thin or your days are filled before they even start, you’re not alone. There’s soooo much grace for that. Really.
But there’s also a better way: Learning to leave margins in your life.
We usually think that it looks like a cleared-out calendar or a free afternoon. But that’s not always realistic, is it? Sometimes, leaving margin is as simple as weaving beauty and truth into your everyday spaces. Like watercolor Scripture art hanging by the door or above the kitchen sink, gently calling your heart to slow down and rest in God’s promises.
So, let’s talk about what it looks like to create margin in your life and how to let truth anchor you in that space.
What Does It Mean to “Be a Person”?
When I was a young adult, I was asked the usual question we all face at some point: “What do you want to be when you grow up?” And I remember telling my mom without hesitation, “I just want to be a person.”
It probably sounded vague to everyone else, but to me, it made perfect sense. I didn't want to be defined by a job title, a degree, or any particular “ thing.”
I just knew I wanted to have enough space in my life to show up for the people I loved. That was it.
I just wanted to be a person.
Now that I'm older, I realize that being a present, available, wholehearted person isn't something that just happens with age or circumstance. It's an intentional choice. One you make over and over and over again, every day, no matter your season of life.
Whether you're building a career, knee-deep in school, staying home with littles, or balancing a little bit of everything – creating margin for the people you love is an intentional act. It does not magically appear in your schedule. You have to choose it. You have to fight for it.
I'm not just talking about having a few extra unplanned minutes scattered into the late evening. I’m talking about making room in your heart to be fully present in the moment.
To pick up the phone.
To write the note.
To sit across the table and really listen.
When “Margin” Starts Disappearing
Maybe you're in a season right now where, on paper, things should feel a little bit more flexible. The kids are in school, your work schedule is not as crazy, or maybe you've intentionally scaled back a few commitments. You should have more space... and yet somehow, your calendar is still overflowing.
Sound familiar?
It's wild how quickly that extra time gets swallowed up, isn't it? Like crumbs in the car seats, little things sneak into every nook and cranny of your day without you even realizing it – until suddenly, there's no margin left.
You find yourself saying yes to one more thing, squeezing in one more errand, or responding to one more message, and before you know it, your open space is all gone. Again.
Here's the truth, friend: More time does not automatically mean more margin. Life will fill every inch of breathing room you have unless you protect it.
So if you've been feeling like you've tried to make space, but it keeps disappearing –
You're not alone.
You're not behind.
You're not doing it wrong.
It just means it's time for a reset. Let's figure out how to guard that margin a little better so you can love your people with presence and intentionality.
Practical Ways to Create Margin in Your Life
Okay, let's get into the nitty-gritty. If you're craving more space in your life – more room to breathe, to be present, to be a person – here are some simple (and doable!) ways to create real margin.
Schedule free time.
I know, I know – it sounds a little backwards. But if you don't plan to rest or to be available, that space will get filled up fast.
Try blocking off time to just BE. Maybe it's Tuesday afternoon or every other Wednesday at lunch. Leave that window open to check in on a friend, meal prep for someone, or just sit on your porch with no agenda. Margin does not happen by accident – you have to lock it in.
2. Aim for harmony, not balance.
Here's a little nugget of wisdom from a friend that stuck with me for years: forget balance, aim for harmony. Balance makes it sound like every part of your life should get equal time and space – but real life doesn't work that way! Harmony lets you align your schedule with the things you value most – even if one gets more attention for a while.
Soccer season? Maybe your evenings are heavy on the bleachers.
A close friend going through something? You might pour extra time into that relationship.
That's not imbalance – that's intentional living!
3. Try task batching.
If you've never heard of task batching, prepare to meet your new best friend! It's just grouping similar tasks to cut down on time-wasting transitions. Instead of bouncing from emails to laundry to bill-paying and back again, try batching things that require the same type of focus. Sit down, knock out all your online to-dos that once, and thank yourself later.
** Hint: This Time-Saver notepad will help you batch like a boss!
4. Use Parkinson's law to your advantage.
Here's a fun little truth: a task will take as long as you let it. That's Parkinson's Law. Give yourself 30 minutes to write an email? It'll take 30. Give yourself five? You'll probably still get it done. Go set an actual timer on your phone, assign a time limit to your tasks, and watch how efficient you become!
**Bonus: The Time Saver list makes it super easy!
5. Meal plan.
Yep…I said it. Meal planning. They weren't kidding when they said adulthood is just deciding what to make for dinner for the rest of your life. Planning meals ahead of time doesn't just save actual time – it frees up mental capacity to hold space for others. No more decision fatigue or last-minute scrambles. Just one less browser tab open in your brain.
**Pro Tip: Here are a few cute meal prep planners that make this task actually fun!
6. Give yourself permission to say no.
Let me say this loudly for the people in the back (and for myself): IT’S OK TO SAY NO! Seriously. Not overfilling your calendar starts with... not overfilling your calendar. Wild, I know. If someone asks, and you're already running low on time or energy, it's 100% healthy to say, “I'm trying not to overextend myself right now.”
You're not being rude, you're being wise. And hey, maybe your honesty will encourage them to set better boundaries too!
There are a million other little tricks to help protect your time, but start here. Start small. Start today. We can do this together!
Anchor Your Margin-Making With Watercolor Scripture Art
Leaving margin does NOT mean you stress yourself out trying to time hack every second of your day. It means you realign your priorities and schedule with what matters the most. And even when life is packed full, you can still move through it with peace and purpose.
That’s why I love filling my home with watercolor Scripture art.
It’s not just a beautiful place to rest my eyes. It’s a visual reminder – right there on my wall, desk, and kitchen shelf – of the truth my heart craves when life starts to feel a little off-kilter.
Whether it's a Bible verse about rest, hope, or grace, seeing Scripture watercolor throughout your day helps re-center your thoughts and ground you in God’s truth.
It’s like a loving little nudge for your soul: “Hey, remember to be a person.”
On top of that, watercolor Scripture art makes for the most thoughtful gifts – for friends in a busy season, walking through something really hard, or just needing a little extra encouragement to get through the day.
Sometimes, the best way to help someone find their margin is to gently point them back to the One who offers it.
Let Bible Verse Watercolor Remind You of Your WHY
Friend, you weren't made to live at breakneck speed. You were made to live slow enough to love others well – to pause, to notice, to be a person who shows up with intention.
Creating margin doesn't mean perfection or having the most organized calendar on the block. It means that you choose to make space for what matters most in your life.
And the best part is, you get to start small!
Take a look around your life today.
What feels over-stuffed?
What needs a little more breathing room?
Where can you loosen your grip, take a deep breath, and simply be present?
As you step into new margin-making habits, don't forget to fill your mind and space with the why behind it all: God's desire for you to sit at His feet and be filled by His presence.
Go check out the watercolor scripture art in the shop. These hand-pieces pieces are full of truth and beauty, designed to help you reflect, rest, and rejoice in the present moments God gives you.
