My favorite days of summer are the ones where I wake up with nothing on the calendar—no alarms, no agenda, just an open stretch of hours.

I mean, when did having a packed calendar become a badge of honor anyway!?

Sometimes I hear people proudly say things like, “I have back-to-back meetings all day,” as though we’ve all collectively agreed that busyness is something to aspire to. #nothankyou

I don’t know about you, but I LOVE having an open day every now and then to do whatever I feel called to do.

After all, no plans are the best plans…when you actually protect them.  Because spaciousness in the calendar doesn’t just happen—I have to fight for it.

And why not? I already protect time for everything else in my life.

If I have a dentist appointment, I show up (reluctantly!). If I have a meeting with a client, I don’t cancel because I “got busy.” If I have to get my oil changed, I make the time.

Before long, any time to myself—reading outside, thinking for an hour, working on a creative idea—can just…disappear.

So why does white space get treated differently? What if downtime were an actual appointment?

This August, let’s schedule white space in our calendar the same way we schedule everything else and make the most of these last, long days of summer.

You don’t have to fill your life to live it fully.

Spaciousness is In Season. 

A Ritual for August: Space Making

Once a week in August, choose one place in your life—physical, mental, or emotional—to create space. Then ask yourself, “Where can I create a little more room to breathe?”

Some ideas…
+ Physical: Block out one morning for “nothing time” or take a slow walk with no destination.
+ Mental: Give yourself one device-free hour.
+ Emotional: Say no to one thing that doesn’t nourish you or cancel one unnecessary obligation.

Above all, create space…not to fill it back up, but to enjoy it.

Room To Take Root: How A Spacious Job Search Opens Up Possibilities

A lot of job search advice I hear from others is rooted in urgency: “Apply to 100 jobs…network constantly…scroll LinkedIn all day…go go go…”

It’s exhausting—and unhelpful. What good is getting a job you don’t even want just to escape a job you hate? Spacious job searching, on the other hand, can open up a world of desired possibilities.

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On the Podcast: Counting Down Our Most-Loved Episodes

Haven’t heard your favorite yet? Want to guess which conversation is in the #1 spot? On the podcast we are celebrating 12 for 12: 12 of your all-time faves in Season 12 🎙️

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Want more career wisdom? Check out these podcast episodes/blog posts!
+ Smart Salary Negotiation Strategies with Sabine Gedeon [Listener Favorite]
+ How To Modernize Your Cover Letter [Listener Favorite]
+ Discover Your Path to Career Fulfillment [Listener Favorite]

For more insider stories, quick tips, and #CareerTalk, I invite you to connect with me on Instagram @flourish.careers.