Tweaking the Code

Have you ever worked on a blog using a template? Did you sometimes feel that it didn't quite appeal to you completely? It may be a great start but you wanted to make it feel just right. So you got into the messy work of tweaking the code to make it perfect for your needs.

Likewise, there are times when there are areas in our lives where we need to tweak the code to make it right for us.


Margins.
I do not like the cluttered look where there isn't enough white space to make the page have breathing room. White space gives us that easy feel that is easy on the eyes. It sets a more relaxed feel that alleviates stress. In life, do we provide enough breathing room, enough margin and white space to allow us ease? Life's pace has become so hectic that things get so crammed into each other. It gives us this dizziness and not enough space to chill.

Is it time to tweak the margin code? It's time to look at our schedules to see if we are allowing ourselves breathing space between appointments, commitments, and tasks. Running from one thing to another leaves one enervated and less likely to be at their best. When scheduling on your calendar, leave a few minutes to grab a drink of water, stretch a little, go for a 2-minutes walk, do a mini-meditation. We need to start factoring in mini retreats in between our hectic commitments.

When was he last time you took a vacation? It doesn't have to be a long and expensive one. Take a day on the week-end to drive to the mountains or the beach. If budget is tight, pack a picnic. Visit an out-of-town friend and catch up with each other.

Color.

Sometimes, just changing the color of the title, text, some accent element on your blog makes all the difference. It gives a newness that renews the excitement and motivation. What is it in your life that can use a little color change?

One inexpensive and easy way of freshening up your home is paint. It is amazing how painting a room or just adding accents can change the mood and provide renewed inspiration.

What about changing the color of your curtains. In these days when we are conscious with our expenses, we might try dyeing instead of buying new ones. Or maybe just adding a bright spring valance will do the trick. Add colored accents, even little touches can make a big difference. Think baskets, candles, pillows.

Think of ways to introduce colors into your daily spaces and wardrobe. It's a quick picker-upper that can introduce cheer and passion back into your day.

Size.

Text, graphics, pictures, and other elements can sometimes be the wrong size for visual appeal. Tweaking for size can give the page an attractive balance.

What areas of your life are too big, what areas are too small? It's time to do some tweaking to achieve a good balance. It might be work, relationships, education, or playtime. Do not allow some areas to get overwhelming that the focus on the other areas is lost.

Preview.

I like to preview my work before I click the save button. I keep tweaking until I get just the right effect that I am shooting for.

It is not a bad idea at all to click "Preview" in our life's tweaks as well before we commit. Preview allows us the freedom to try creative ways of doing things without too much pressure.

If you are thinking of changing careers (this can be pretty scary), you can preview by doing volunteer work in that area. Before I decided to switch from computer programming to training, I volunteered to train some educational classes for Toastmasters and a Youth Leadership Program. When I liked what I saw in the preview, I then took the leap and clicked save.

Think of ways on how to preview your tweaks. Play at it until you get it right. It could turn out to be a really fun experience.

So, if you are feeling that your life has lost some luster and excitement, tweak it just like you tweak your blog. Get that newness going - tweak the code.