What is your hot beverage of choice? Tea? Coffee? I know there are some hot chocolate drinkers out there.

So, when you are pouring your wake-me-up drink each morning, do you fill it up all the way? I don’t know about you, but I do. With my tea, I will even put in more scolding hot water after I take the teabag out. I overfill it.

Then I balance my cup, like I’m on a tightrope, to my chair, hoping to not spill any. Of course, nearly every time I do. It either creates a mess for me to clean up or burns my hands. Occasionally I’ll get it on my clothes.

Why do we do this?

As I look over at my cup of tea while I’m writing this, the answer is clear. I don’t want to miss that extra sip of tea. If I’m at home, I don’t want to have to get up and get another cup that much sooner. If I’m at a cafe, I don’t want to lose money on this drink I just bought.

Really!?! Time and money? Yeah, that’s all I got.

There is something in me that can’t help but overfill my cup to the brim, even if it has the potential to cost me more time or hurt me. I don’t want to miss out, so I leave no margin.

I have found myself doing the same thing in my life.

My schedule is packed and whether I like to admit it or not, I am the one overfilling my schedule cup. There is no margin. In the end it costs me more than I think it might save me. My loved ones and I both suffer as a result.

What about you? Are you overfilling your cup? Your schedule, your finances and your relationships all need margin. If you pack these out, it will cost you. You will get hurt.

Make room for margin. Stop burning yourself in life. Stop overfilling your cup.