Build Margin Into Your Life For a Satisfying Retirement
Margin is quiet time alone, money in the bank, a healthy body. Also time with family and friends. Uninterrupted time for reflection
Yes, I know you’re retired. So you have a lot of time on your hands. Now instead of making an income, you’re home. But now the wants” take over your time. You are visiting family, friends and don’t forget the grandkids. Plus, yard work and housework fill every last minute of your waking hours. Some of you are 24/7 caregivers to your life-long mate. Whew! Who said retirement is the easy life?
So, let’s discover the idea of margin
Books written without margins are unreadable. Living lives without margins are unlivable.
“No book ever begrudges its margins. And no life should either.” Wayne Cordeiro in Leading on Empty.
The book’s cover at the bookstore drew your interest. When you opened the book, all you saw were words! Big blocks of text, no white space. Now even if the writer had essential facts to share, it‘s unreadable. With no white space, all words, no margin, it was a no sale. You pushed the book back into the rack.
Now think about your life
How much white space do you have between your activities?
Not much, not a lot or none?
Read this scripture. In only a dozen and half words, the writer nails God’s advice on margin.
On the seventh day, God had finished his work of creation, so he rested from all his work. Genesis 2:2 (NLT)
Did God say, wow, I’m tired, I need a break? No, tiredness is not one of the attributes of God. So, why did He rest? Because, and here’s a biggy;
He Was Done
“God rested and He wasn’t tired,” Anonymous
How about you? Are you ever done? Does one project or one activity slam into another throughout your day?
Okay, but how do I know when I’m done?
You’re not God. You can’t get your project finished in six days. So, what’s the key? The key to building margin in your life is that you alone have the power to set limits.
Here’s the key: Done does not mean you finished the job. You set a limit of the hours you’ll spend doing whatever. When times up, you’re done, not finished, but done.
Opening up spaces in your day begins with your understanding of what is essential and things less critical in building a relaxed lifestyle.
Needs vs. Wants
Doctor Richard Swenson wrote a book on the importance of margin. Margin: Restoring Emotional, Physical, Financial, and Time Reserves To Our Overloaded Lives. He writes of our needs.
I’ve read this book many times to keep me on track of what’s essential in my life. His insight has opened up margin, so I breathe easier.
Dr. Swenson lists the seven needs we have for an enjoyable and fulfilled life. The seven: God, Love, Relationships, Meaningful work, Food, Clothing, and Shelter. Everything else is, Wants.
Here’s where the importance of creating margin comes in
There is nothing wrong with obtaining some of your wants. But, when wants crowd out your ability to provide your needs, you’re sunk.
I thought I’d pass this along to my fellow retirees. Your working buddies believe you have all the time to do nothing. We know better, don’t we?
Separating our needs from our wants in retirement. This will go a long way to building the margin needed for enjoying retirement more. I hope so.
Two statements to keep in mind
1. A book without margins is unreadable. So is a life without margins. It is unlivable.
2. Margin is quiet time alone, money in the bank, a healthy body. Also time with family and friends. Uninterrupted time for reflection.
Thanks for reading to the very end. Doesn’t always happen, but I’m overjoyed when it does.
Richard
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