Staff Blog
Our weekly blog, written by FH staff, features our reflections about a variety of personal and industry-related points of view.
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Serenity Now!
June 20, 2012
By Kathleen Anthony, account supervisor
As a mom, wife, dog owner, daughter, sister, friend and employee, I feel like I’m in perpetual motion — There’s always someone who needs help or something that has to get done. No wonder I wake up tired! Sometimes juggling all these roles really gets to me and all I want to do is run down the street screaming like a lunatic. (Does that count as exercise?)
Lately, I’ve been trying very hard to reign in my “Type-A” tendencies and find some peace and quiet during my every day life. At a recent meeting, a coworker (Thanks, Wesleigh!) shared an article titled “Life’s Missing White Space,” which translated the design principles of white space into advice about how to cope with daily stress. Pretty cool concept, eh? According to the article, white space accomplishes the following for design:
- Greater legibility
- Feeling of luxury
- Breathing room & balance
- More emphasis
The author continues to offer ideas and advice about how individuals can achieve “white space” throughout their daily routines.
Breathe — Take a couple of minutes between tasks and meetings to breathe. After a meeting, for example, return to your desk and just sit still for a couple of minutes, focusing on your breath going in and out. When you get home, pause and breathe.
Schedule — Leave space on your calendar between tasks and meetings instead of scheduling back-to-back.
Projects —Instead of juggling a bunch of projects at once, try to do one for as long as you can before switching to the next. If you can, take a short break between each project.
Sit — Start your day with “white space” by sitting still for 10 minutes. It can be a meditative session or simply sitting still with a cup of coffee or tea.
Remove clutter —Select a few important things on your desk and in your home and remove the rest. This will give you visual space and create a more peaceful atmosphere.
Savor — Slow down and savor everything you eat, everything you do. Breathe before you take each bite and enjoy it.
I feel calmer already, how about you? Do you have any tips on how to achieve more “white space” in life?