The Importance Of Making Space

As a Virgo, I crave structure – I love creating to-do lists, action steps, routines and habits. It helps me to feel safe and is great for keeping track of where I am in relation to where I want to be. But sometimes, my endless to-do lists leave me feeling drained and overwhelmed, and I get so caught up in doing that I don’t leave space for new ideas to inspire me.

Creating space in our lives is about creating moments where we can slow down and get present. It sounds counterintuitive, but slowing down actually makes us more productive. We see ideas where there were once roadblocks, and we see possibilities where there were once dead ends. Slowing down allows us to be more creative. But that’s easier said than done, I know.

So how can we create more space in our lives in simple, practical ways? Here are some effective and easy to apply solutions you can incorporate today.

Prioritise your tasks

Make a list of your priorities and decide what are your non-negotiables? Schedule these in your planner first. Then have a look at everything else you are filling up your day with. Is there anything that can be delegated or eliminated? Get really strict about cutting out unnecessary items from your to-do list.

Schedule time to do nothing

I know this will be hard for high achievers, because it feels contradictory from the way we’ve been conditioned as a society. But boredom stimulates creativity. Scheduling at least 5 minutes a day where you sit in silence without scrolling on your phone, watching tv, or working, allows your mind to wander. Wander leads to play, which leads to new ideas and more creativity.

Get rid of time wasters

Where are you unconsciously wasting time? Are you spending hours mindlessly scrolling social media, or snacking when you’re bored? Make a list of your current daily habits and get intentional about eliminating time wasters from your day.

Make time for play

This may seem counterproductive, but hear me out! When we play, we allow space for new ideas to emerge. It gives us a creative outlet, a chance to mess up, take risks and experiment in a place that isn’t high stakes. Think of an activity you enjoyed as a kid. Did you like to build with Lego? What about painting, drawing or perhaps dancing? Whatever it is, find a way to do this activity at least once a week and reconnect with your inner child.

Start journaling

“Free writing” is a technique developed by Peter Elbow in 1973. It is similar to brainstorming but is written in sentence and paragraph form without stopping. This strategy increases the flow of ideas and reduces the chance that you’ll accidentally censor a good idea.

Journaling is an excellent way to get rid of the gunk in our heads and quiets the noise so we can focus on what really matters. Once that gunk is emptied, there is now space for the new ideas and “aha” moments to enter. If you feel hesitation around journaling, try this prompt: “what is on my mind right now?”

Meditate

Starting a meditation practice is one of the best ways to create more space in our lives. It quiets the noise in our heads and allows us to see things more clearly. It also reduces stress and enhances our focus. 15-20 minutes is all you really need to enjoy these benefits.

Incorporating these habits will allow you to create more space in your life, so you can stop feeling frantic and stressed as you move through your day. Creating space allows you to slow down, get present and enjoy the gifts you already have, while fuelling your creativity.