Today, I Confess: I Struggle with Margin.
Many years ago, I heard a financial expert say something akin to the following:
Many of us *think* we're living within our means when we're really not. We label some purchases emergency expenses when they're actually quite predictable:
...A home will need a new roof.
...Your car will need new tires.
Sure, these expenses can come up sooner than expected... but if you are not intentionally setting money aside for these purposes, it's likely you are not living as far under-budget as you think you are.
Let it be known: I'm not here to offer you financial advice today. π
Instead, I propose we look at our schedules with a similar perspective.
We all know music teachers are prone to carrying a hefty load of commitments. π΅βπ« I feel a constant tension between "learning to say no!" while still needing - and wanting - to pursue the many things on my calendar.
Perhaps you feel the same?
I don't want this to feel like yet-another-reminder to take things off your plate. 99% of the time, when someone says that to me, it feels overly simplistic and dismissive.
Instead, I want to remind you: Margin in your schedule is not a luxury. It is a necessity.
This isn't about rest or taking time for yourself (though those things ARE important).
The need for margin in your schedule is inevitable.
We've all been there: we build a schedule that is just barely maintainable. Every hour of the day is committed to something.
On paper, it works.
But in reality? It's one phone call/sickness/snowstorm away from disaster.
Just as adulthood comes with certain inevitable expenses, our schedules will face obstacles.
There are many ways this shows up in Studio Teacher Life:
- You will get sick without warning
- If you have children, they will need you at moments that feel inconvenient
- You will have to schedule appointments that conflict with your packed calendar
- A letter will show up in your mailbox summoning you to jury duty every few years (Psst! there's an episode for that coming up in March with a fun surprise guest! π)
...on and on the list can go...
Even though these interruptions are unpredictable, they are all-but-certain to come your way.
In some ways, I've made a lot of progress in this department. For the first time in MANY years, I have empty hours in my afternoon/evening teaching schedule. While I still hold a no-makeup policy, it is a breath of fresh air to have places to move students when I need/want to.
My tuition rates include two weeks of missed lessons for me (and two for students) each year. That saved me last month when I spent an unexpected week with my mom in the hospital. While I hated to "burn" a whole week of lessons from that reserve, I was grateful to cancel everything in one fell swoop; no emotional bandwidth required.
That said, there's still plenty of room for improvement. I've long struggled to schedule time for the day-to-day Stuff of Life. Grocery shopping, dinner prep, and laundry are all things I repeatedly neglect to designate time for in my schedule.
(All indications that margin is at a premium over here) π
I've also struggled with the rhythm of writing this Confessions e-letter this year. In my heart of hearts, I want to publish a podcast every Monday AND send this letter every Thursday, but I've had to relax that expectation here in 2026.
This one's a bit complicated: on the surface, it seems like a no-brainer to back off the production schedule. I know *you* don't mind.
The problem is, I feel most like myself when I'm able to write and process these ideas alongside you. This work changes me for the better, and I like to think it helps you, too. I'm restless when it's not getting done. π«₯
I say all this to acknowledge how creating margin is rarely as simple as "learning to say no" (as the world is quick to suggest).
If you struggle with margin in your schedule, I'd love to hear what sends you most over-the-edge. Will you hit REPLY and tell me your biggest pain-point when it comes to things that derails your schedule?
(Side note: Spam filters are getting trickier to navigate, and sending a reply to this email will help make sure this letter lands in the correct place each week)
π₯ May we never become so busy making a living that we forget to make a life. π₯
