Build your schedule to maintain margins. Give yourself time to reflect, rest, and connect. 

During the midst of this holiday season it is important to own your schedule; it is important to take care of yourself. It is easy to pack your daily calendar from early morning until the evening hours. It is a time when the inclination is to cram in every meeting and commitment into the schedule before the holiday break. We also pack our evenings and weekends with holiday parties, concerts, and gatherings.

Margins are the time in our schedules, the time in our lives, when we catch our breath and reflect. For me, I need margins between meetings; I need some “margin time” in my day. Don’t commit to back-to-back meetings . . . add 15 minutes between meetings. Don’t schedule multiple meetings in different locations without comfortable, stress-free, travel time. Don’t overbook the weekend without scheduling time for relaxation and exercise.

Margins are necessary to function at best. Margins keep us sane. Margins are required for us to “be in the moment” and enjoy the season. We must take care of ourselves. We can’t be there for others if we stretch ourselves too thin and wear ourselves out.