Margin: Creativity
Creating Margin for Creation
Throughout my years as a designer I unwittingly developed an affinity for living in the anxious, high-pressure space pressed up against a hard deadline. When faced with the need to produce something subjectively pleasing, that objectively checks all boxes in a creative brief, within a limited amount of time, I really begin to feel alive.
The confines of that space is where inspiration can strike me like lightning.
Even with weeks to develop ideas—I came to rely on that eleventh hour because I knew the pressure would help me produce what was needed. I would force time to be the constraint in which creativity could thrive.
I and many would call this lifestyle: the hustle.
In reality, I was constantly teetering between procrastination and panic for every project.
As I’ve matured in faith, I now see how foolish and detrimental this approach can be to my health, creative mindset, and walk with God. I relished those bursts of creative energy, but the aftermath meant dealing with a persistent anxiety and panic, all while toeing the line of burnout.
We are designed to be quick problem solvers when faced with sudden adversity.
There are many incredible stories of human feats when we are faced with a seemingly impossible situations and an adrenaline rush. Growing up I was a fan of the TV show MacGyver—purely for its spin on creative problem solving under pressure.
This is kind of how I approached my creative work.
Let me tell you, in hindsight, the show is much cheesier than I thought as a kid. More importantly—“MacGyvering” through a situation is a survival gimmick, not a creative lifestyle.
Leveraging panic for productivity is not a sustainable way of living.
Margin affords time and space for rest, breakthrough, and thoughtful revelation.
As Christians, we are called to steward the resources entrusted to us—time being one of the most valuable.
Creating margin with that time allows space for inspiring moments and breathing room to cultivate innovative ideas. Most importantly, margin provides still, quiet moments in which God can speak and we can listen—the ultimate source of direction and inspiration. When our eyes are open, we view time as a precious resource.
So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom.
—Psalm 90:12
There is a natural inclination with my personality to wait, to fall down the rabbit holes of research, and to overthink before finally acting. In reality, these moments should be filed under the category of procrastination.
They are excuses to fill up time before the bittersweet creative panic sets in.
I’ve come to believe a more mature approach creative projects is to deliberately design margin into my schedule, and then patiently begin the process. These intentional moments are spaced around times of productivity so that I am able to rest, be inspired, and iterate ideas as a pattern throughout the process.
Without intention and discipline, margin can easily become a creative vacuum—a void in which procrastination inflates to fill the entire moment.
Margin isn’t something to be squandered on things that don’t edify or inspire. Rather, it’s moments to be intentional with and to use in pursuit of creativity, revelation, and growth.
Some of us thrive under pressure, but consistently living in that space doesn’t allow our creativity to truly flourish; and it often undermines the precious gift of time.
There are moments when we must act quickly, but I am beginning to see that this shouldn’t necessarily the norm for us believers—it’s often just a habituated behavior of letting slip away that which should have been stewarded most.
If this reflection resonated with you and you’re looking for some additional resources on quitting ‘the hustle’ consider checking out:
To Hell with the Hustle: Reclaiming Your Life in an Overworked, Overspent, and Overconnected World
