10 indicators you have no margin

Charles Stone March 16, 2024

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In Richard Swenson's seminal book, Margin: Restoring Emotional, Physical, Financial, and Time Reserves to Overloaded Lives, he defines margin this way. Margin is the space between our load and our limits.

He says it is related to our reserves and resilience. He calls it a buffer, a place where we can recharge our batteries, and a space where we can focus on what matters most. I highly recommend the book. Unfortunately, those in ministry often lack margin. Here are 10 signs that may indicate you lack margin and five steps to gain more of it.

1. I'm always mentally and physically exhausted.
2. Small things more easily get under my skin. I can't turn my anxious thoughts off.
3. I don't seem to have the joy for ministry I once did.
4. I count down the days until my day off. Yet even on my day off I'm still anxiously thinking about ministry stuff.
5. Those who love me most tell me to slow down yet I always have a comeback excuse.
6. I often worry about what others think of my performance.
7. I too easily take things personally.
8. I find that I can't focus as well as I once did.
9. I get easily distracted and try to multi-task more often.
10. My devotional times with God are mostly dry.

If a few of these are consistently true of you, you may need more margin in your life.

If that's so, what should you do?

When I've found myself with little margin, it hasn't been easy to change things, but these steps have helped.

• Admit that you life is too full and that it's not good, pleasing to God, or healthy for you.
• Learn the art of mindfulness, being aware of and in the present moment without being harsh on yourself or worrying about what happened yesterday or fretting about what might happen tomorrow. Meditate on the words of Jesus in Matthew 6.
• Take a day off, really. Turn off your phone and don't check email. Do something that refreshes your soul.
• Turn your mind off earlier in the day than you do now. Perhaps you need to decrease night meetings. Maybe you need to establish hard stops for those evening meetings.
• Remind yourself that if you don't take care of you, you can't take care of others.

After all, Jesus did say something about loving yourself.

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Charles Stone coaches and equips pastors and teams to effectively navigate the unique challenges ministry brings. By blending biblical principles with cutting-edge brain-based practices he helps them enhance their leadership abilities, elevate their preaching/ teaching skills, and prioritize self-care. A pastor for over 42 years, he has served as a lead pastor, associate pastor, and church planter. He published seven books, and over 300 of his articles have appeared on various Christian leadership websites. He holds four earned academic degrees, including a D.Min. and a Ph.D. Learn More »

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