by Mandy Green, Busy Coach
Nick Saban has a simple but powerful rule: The 24-hour rule.
After a game—win or lose—players and coaches have exactly 24 hours to celebrate, reflect, or process emotions. Then, it’s time to reset and move forward.
But here’s what most people don’t realize…
This isn’t just about the players.
Saban knows that coaches need time to step back, clear their minds, and think. Without that space, decision-making gets clouded, stress takes over, and creativity disappears.
This is what I call Whitespace—deliberate time in your schedule to slow down, reset, and gain clarity.
Why Whitespace Matters for Coaches
Adding more Whitespace to your schedule and Whitespace to your mind brings you:
- Peace – You can finally breathe and think clearly.
- Clarity – Decisions become easier because you have space to process.
- Creativity – New ideas emerge when you aren’t buried in busyness.
- Better Leadership – When you’re calm and clear, your team benefits.
Think of a time in the offseason when you had a free morning…
Remember how you felt?
You were energized, but not rushed, and because of that, you had clarity.
This allowed you to work through challenges in a way you just can’t when your schedule is packed.
Now imagine creating that same feeling 3-4 times per week, even in-season.
The Best Leaders Protect Their Whitespace
The most successful coaches and business leaders go to extremes to protect their Whitespace:
- Nick Saban has his 24-hour rule.
- John Wooden scheduled time for deep thinking and reflection every day.
- Steve Kerr regularly steps away from the game to gain perspective.
- Keith Cunningham, author of The Road Less Stupid, insists on three sessions of thinking time per week.
- Richard Koch, author of The 80/20 Principle, says his biggest money-making ideas come while sitting by his fish pond.
You must slow down to speed up on the road to greatness.
How to Create More Whitespace
Your goal is to create more Whitespace in your life.
I encourage every coach I work with to start with a 90-minute Friday morning walk—no phone, no email, just space to think.
That’s the key to solving big problems, leading with clarity, and staying ahead in coaching and recruiting.
The best coaches don’t just work harder.
They think better.
And it starts with Whitespace.
If you want Mandy’s help to figure out how to create more whitespace in your calendar, use this link to set up a call with her.