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Blank Space
NEWSLETTER
1/8/20262 min read
Blank space.
That looks like a typo where I forgot to fill in my first paragraph, but it’s the pillar of my new year's resolution. I’m pushing myself to create pockets of unused space every week (I’m working up to every day, but that is WAY too intimidating to start with).
I am a planner and a doer. Frankly I love that about me. I do. But it means I fill every pocket of my day, always striving to maximize efficiency. I’ve told my husband that his face washing is inefficient (doesn’t he know he’s wasting 15 seconds he could spend somewhere else). I am VERY effective and I pack a lot into every day. But I am also exhausted. I often miss the joy of the moment thinking about what I am going to do next. There’s also research tying creativity and productivity to having periods of rest (Gah, science).
Normally I plan every moment of my work calendar the week prior. Every minute is blocked off. I even include my lunch breaks, when I’m going to workout, and a gap for when the kid gets home from school. This week I made small but noticeably strange feeling changes. I intentionally left some blank windows in my calendar. Over the past few days I’ve taken unplanned breaks just because I felt like I needed them.
This new lens I’m trying got me wondering what blank space would mean in terms of my wardrobe. So far, it has translated into extra time for curiosity. “What if I paired this shirt with that dress - I’ve never tried that before” and “hmm, I haven’t worn that for a long time, do I want to try it again or am I ready to get rid of it”. Many of these explorations result in very little. Not everything is a cute new outfit discovered, but I’m having fun with my wardrobe. I feel more of a sensation of playing dress up than I have in a while. When I land on an outfit I’m more often feeling fresh and excited about my look. Turns out creativity, self expression, and playfulness aren’t as accessible when there’s a ton of pressure. Who knew, right (please hear my sarcasm)??
Leaving this blank space for a single week so far, I’m wondering how else it will impact my style. Maybe it’ll mean more shopping for excitement and joy, less about finding a specific piece at a specific time. Maybe it’ll mean trying a new brand without the fear that typically comes with it for me. Maybe I will have more satisfaction with what I already own vs. feeling like I’m missing out. Honestly, I really don’t know. But I know that’s the point of this blank space. Not needing to start with an answer so that I am actually open to whatever shows up. It’s so uncomfortable, but also kind of refreshing.
I’m curious to hear from you if you leave any blank space in your life and what kind of things show up for you when you do. Maybe you even want to share the best thing that’s ever shown up for you from leaving blank space?? Email me!
