Crystal
About the Author

I'm the blessed wife of Jesse and mommy to three precious little children. I'm first and foremost a child of God. I’m passionate about glorifying Him and making the most of my days on this earth.

(in)side DaySpring: things we love
& you will too!
Find more at DaySpring.com
(in)side DaySpring:
things we love
& you will too!
Find more at
DaySpring.com
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  1. I’ve been inspired by the idea of margin since I read The Overload Syndrome by Richard Swenson. These are some great ideas. I especially like what you say about creativity and having a handiwork project going.

  2. I loved the margins analogy. I plan out my week in different coloured pens each Sunday afternoon. I plan in time with God, time for work, one coffee data each week, housework, appointments BUT I never plan in the margins! Thank you for this gentle reminder xx

  3. This is truth! My word for 2014 is refresh and I am doing all of the above. It is working (though I am not out of the woods yet). Finding margin is key. Thanks for posting this!

  4. At first I felt that I was a failure at this! but, as I work full time in front of a computer…I have the blessing of reading these wonderfully encouraging emails! And, i connect with many people via email during the day. One of God’s greatest blessings in my life is how He uses cyberspace to bless me, and for me to connect and bless my friends who I would not otherwise have time to chat with.
    Now, if I could just have a clean house… haha!

  5. Good post Crystal! What u call margin, I call transition time. Th breathing room between activities where I give my mind time to shift gears. Kinda like a manual transmission vs automatic on a car. Our bodies n minds were not designed by God to go thru life at breakneck speed. It can be a recipe for ill health, depression, etc…
    Once again great post!

  6. the word ‘margin’ makes me feel afraid. afraid that i’ll never have margin because there’s always something else to do. and feeling that if other things and people were more perfect, then i’d have some margin.

    boy, that was hard to say. 🙂

  7. Annie, well done for what you’ve been brave enough to share. The Lord loves your honest heart. This may sound trite but I do believe that God’s desire is for YOU to step aside and take rest and refreshment in the margins. Psalm 23 comes to mind to pray for you. Keep being honest, it’s a precious gift but look out for the refreshment of still waters. Xx

  8. I am a big fan of white space and breathing room in my daily sched. I hate rushing from one thing to the next, so generally (if commitments allow), I only plan ONE extra/out-of-the-house-thing for each day, in the morning. I have two young boys and one baby on the way, so that mid-morning slot is really all I have in between feeding them, catching a solid nap at home and preparing a homemade dinner. I find that only allowing one activity a day that doesn’t directly contribute to a thriving life at home is a major blessing to me, and I can still keep my family on a predictable routine. As for my own white space, I live for that quiet nap time hour that I can pour over the Word, journal, and sip a cuppa tea.

    Thanks for this great post! 🙂

  9. Thank you so much for these words! I’m a full time pastor and a stay at home mom. I truly try to squeeze something into every moment of my day….rushing to and fro because I’ve tried to do much in the time frame I’ve been given. I think I can always do one more thing before move on to the next appointment. You’ve helped me get a mental image of what my life looks like…a book without margins. Even during down time, I’m folding laundry or answering an email or sweeping the floor etc. I love the idea of a two hour buffer! And scheduling what I would call some “white space” time sounds heavenly. I’ve missed being creative the last couple years and just thinking about it makes me excited, refreshed and more like ME. Thank you!

  10. Crystal ,
    I can’t put in words how much you have been to me in this past few years.. We have never met each other nor have we spoke to each other but your words have brought peace in me when I have been lonely and down .. Your advices have made a great differences in my life and and I am still learning a lot from you.. Today was plain another hectic day.. I plan to keep margin everyday in my life but some duties do take over my day and I am exhausted and with a terrible headache by now.. I read your blog multiple times a day and now reading this tells me to slow down again 🙂
    But now I am just taking a few minutes off from my to do list to read this and comment 🙂 I also need to get a journal and write about my blessings … Just started and stopped doing it .. Feeling guilty now.. Thanks for all your support and encouragement to many of readers like me..
    May God bless you and your family..

  11. I loved this and needed it today. Great, great advice. I too always have a needlework project going. I believe creativity is God-given and I am determined to nurture it in my life. My projects often take awhile (in some cases, years!) but I work away at them and find it so satisfying to work with my hands to produce something beautiful.

    I find, too, that God also helps us be creative in other areas — planning meals, cooking and baking, decorating, managing our homes on a budget, and many more. He even helps us to think creatively!

  12. This whole month has been one chaotic whirlwind for me. My family, mostly one sister and I, are trying to get my dad moved into an assisted living facility. No one can image the amount of paperwork, meetings, long distance phone calls, etc. that must take place. After much work we are finally moving him this next Thursday. Praise God!! 🙂

    All this pressure and stress-plus the added workload has put me into “crazy mode”. I finally got some time Friday afternoon and just did nothing–no phones, work, anything. It felt good for a change not to be super tired and overwhelmed.

    I schedule some refreshment time each day. I get up a little early and have some hot tea & read the Bible before work. It helps to start my day.

    Also love your idea of a blessings journal. I have done a thankful journal for years. I begin by making a master list of what I’m thankful for–God, church, sins forgiven, etc. then each day I put in what I’m thankful for that day. It really puts into perspective how many blessings God has bestowed upon us!

    Blessings to everyone! 🙂