Making Space When the World Feels Heavy
When creating space feels too hard, a little structure and accountability can be the nudge you need.
Lately, it feels harder than ever to carve out time for myself.
The news is overwhelming, and figuring out what to do about it can feel paralyzing. Even in this space I’ve created for myself outside of full-time employment, it’s easy to feel “behind” on projects. Between spending time with my kids, caring for our baby, and everything else I want to do, space for myself often falls by the wayside.
In a world that constantly demands our attention, taking time to write for myself sometimes feels…trivial, even selfish.
But when the world feels like too much, creating space for yourself feels more important than ever..
Creating space can keep you grounded when everything feels unsteady, and help you protect your ability to think clearly, to care deeply, to keep going without burning out. And when you’re able to think more clearly and creatively, the right next step often becomes more obvious.
But creating space isn’t always easy!
A few weeks ago, I treated a friend to a spa day for her birthday. It felt super indulgent, not something I’d typically do for myself, but doing it for a friend was a good excuse. The spa had a laminated “bathing ritual” guide with a 10-step routine: shower and exfoliate, sauna (5-10 min), cold drench (1 min), mineral pool (10 minutes), cold drench (1 min), aromatherapy steam room (5-10 min), hot pool (5-10 min), cold drench (1 min), relaxation room (10+ min).
As I dutifully went through the steps one by one, determined to do a good job at relaxing, I marveled at how successfully this place had created a ritual to bridge people from their day-to-day to unstructured space, helping doers who are more comfortable with checklists ease into relaxation by giving them something to do. The bathing ritual was just the bit of scaffolding I needed to ease into a space where I could actually relax.
It made me reflect that sometimes the key to creating space is a gentle frame, a structure that helps us let go, without feeling like we’re floating untethered.
Private journaling, originally inspired by The Artist’s Way’s morning pages, is like that for me. I don’t always know where my thoughts will go — some days it’s a to-do list, other days it’s a wild idea, or just clearing out anxious thoughts. But showing up to write creates space, and that space often leads to more creativity, clarity, and calm.
If diving into completely unstructured space feels too uncomfortable, maybe you just need a gentle nudge — a ritual, a routine, a bit of structure that makes it easier to begin.
I hope that’s what Creating Space, a 6-week guided journaling course with Buster Benson of 750 Words, can be for you. Lightweight support and accountability provides scaffolding that’s meant to help you create space for yourself that might otherwise feel too daunting. The prompts are designed to spark ideas and reflections. And the arc of the weekly themes are designed to help you explore common areas related to creating space for what you want.
Each week we’ll explore a different theme:
✨ Carving Out Time for Yourself
✨ Creating Physical Space
✨ Getting Curious About Finances
✨ Overcoming Obstacles
✨ Noticing What Emerges
✨ Getting Clarity on What You Want
For many of us, having a simple framework makes it easier to show up. Once you do, you might be surprised by what emerges.
I’d love for you to join us. We’re kicking on June 29th, and you can go through the course at your own pace!
— Jean
Jean, your opening really hit home: "Lately, it feels harder than ever to carve out time for myself. The news is overwhelming, and figuring out what to do about it can feel paralyzing." It's so true, isn't it? It feels like the world is constantly shouting for our attention, and the idea of stepping away, even for our own well-being, sometimes feels like an act of rebellion.
I particularly chuckled at your experience with the spa's "bathing ritual" and your determination to "do a good job at relaxing." It's such a relatable paradox! We've become so conditioned to checklists and productivity that even the act of unwinding needs a rubric. It speaks volumes about how deeply ingrained the "doing" is in our lives, and how much we sometimes need permission, or even a literal guide, to just be. Thank you for putting words to that subtle, sometimes humorous, struggle.