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Your schedule needs white space too
Mind the gaps for long-term thinking and creative rejuvenation.
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White space is a designer’s best friend and most powerful ally. It’s what gives great visual work breathing room. It creates moments of silence that amplify the areas of focus. It forms groupings and builds rhythm. We’d never question the value of whitespace — it’s one of the most fundamental building blocks of our trade.
But how often do we consider the need for white space outside of design, in our lives? Shouldn’t the same benefits of white space apply there too?
On the wonderful Design Matters podcast with Debbie Millman, there’s an interview with Dorie Clark about long-term thinking in a short-term world. The whole thing is worth a listen, but there was one quote near the end that slapped me in the face:
“We have to have white space if we’re going to be long-term thinkers”
Dorie isn’t a designer, but she’s transplanted this common design term to convey the same qualities. She means we have to build white space into our schedules to give us room to plan ahead. Without white space, we are trapped in short-term thinking.
I’m guilty — way guilty — of ignoring this advice too often. My schedule is always…