Making Space for Spaciousness

In Japan, “Yutori” (ゆとり) represents a way of living with spaciousness – having room to breathe, think, and simply be. As someone whose natural speed is permanently set to hyperdrive, embracing this concept feels like trying to slow down a bullet train with a feather. Yet, the wisdom of yutori beckons us to consider: What might we gain by creating more space in our lives?

Picture your typical day: racing from meeting to meeting, multitasking through lunch (if you remember to eat), responding to emails while on calls, and somehow still feeling perpetually behind. Sound familiar? I’m raising my hand right alongside you. We wear our busyness like a badge of honor, but at what cost?

Yutori isn’t about doing nothing – it’s about creating intentional spaciousness that allows us to do everything more effectively. Think of it like music: without rests between notes, we’d have noise instead of melody. The space between activities isn’t wasted time; it’s what gives our actions meaning and impact.

Some practical steps toward embracing yutori:

  • Practice presence in small moments. Feel the warmth of your coffee cup, notice the changing colors of leaves on your commute, truly listen to a colleague’s voice.
  • Build buffer time into your schedule.  Stop booking meetings back-to-back; give yourself room to process, reflect, and transition. Schedule those breaks.  Hold them sacred.  Do not book over them. (Talking to myself, again!)
  • Connect authentically.  Quality time with others isn’t a distraction – it’s what gives our work meaning and provides vital perspective.

Remember, stress isn’t just about having too much to do – it’s often about trying to do it all alone. Asking for help isn’t weakness; it’s wisdom. Prioritizing isn’t giving up; it’s growing up.

Perhaps the greatest paradox of yutori is that by doing less, we often accomplish more. When we create space in our lives, we make room for creativity, deeper connections, and better solutions to emerge naturally.

What small space might you create in your day today?

Happy Networking!

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