White space

I’m just so-o-o busy. I’ve got a lot on my plate right now. It’s crazy busy. I’m so busy, I don’t know which way’s up. I’m so busy, I hardly have time to think!

Sound familiar? Is one of these usually the first words out of your mouth when asked how it’s going? When did being busy become a badge of honour?

We jam pack every minute of the day with something. If not our own tasks, then it’s someone else’s – kids, hubby, neighbour, parent, school. Why do we do this to ourselves?

Personally, I think being busy is a waste of time. It’s a waste of time better spent on doing less, doing nothing. Staring out the window. Letting your mind wander. Being just a tiny bit idle.

There’s a lot of good to be said about doing a little daydreaming. Even just giving your brain a rest for a few minutes opens you up for more creative thinking. How many times has some good idea or another popped into your head while the hot water is pouring over you in the shower?

Less often really is more. Every graphic designer knows the power of white space.

Doing less is hard work, though. It takes commitment and a will of steel.  Maybe even a little brute force to keep your butt in that chair for a little while longer when there are dishes to be done or laundry to fold.

‘They never put on a woman’s gravestone “She kept a tidy house.”’, said playwright Margaret McSeveney. Ain’t that the truth?

If you’re really going to get serious about this, you’ll need to go back to the root.  Have a good think and prioritize. You have to decide what the most important things in your life are and put those at the top of your list. Commit that these will be the things you spend the most time and effort on.

Doing less doesn’t mean being unproductive. With your priorities in place, doing less means you’re spending your time on the important things. Doing the right things. It’s a good thing.

Let yourself stare out the window for a bit. Sit in the garden with a mug of tea listening to the birds. Park yourself on a bench and stare off into the distance. Find the rabbit/bear/clown in the clouds.

Put a little white space into your life. Or green space. Whatever works for you. Just create some space in your life that you can fill with sweet nothing.

Have you done any daydreaming lately? Where’s your favourite daydreaming spot? Share your story in the comments below. We‘re listening.