Crossing the Bridge of the Season - On the Wings of a Reset

Every season has its own rhythm, but fall has always felt like a bridge in and of itself.

On one side: the long stretch of summer that kept you busy with people, plans, and projects.

On the other: the sprint toward year’s end with deadlines, decisions, and next steps that matter.

The gap between the two, this bridge…can feel a little shaky and unsure. For high-achievers…entrepreneurs, executives, leaders…this season brings both excitement and weight. Fresh starts and opportunities. But also, distractions, competing priorities, and the very real pull of overwhelm. It can be a lot to carry!

Here’s what I know to be true:

What you do while crossing this bridge makes all the difference. Sound familiar?

The High Cost of Losing Focus

Let’s be real. Your brain is processing more information in a single day than leaders 50 years ago handled in an entire week. Meetings, notification pings, emails, texts, social feeds, project dashboards, client requests…

It’s no wonder 2024 studies show the average person is interrupted every 2 minutes!

The real kicker? It takes an average of 23 minutes to regain full focus after each interruption. Do that math: that’s nearly half your workday gone.

Leaders don’t stumble because they lack ideas or ambition.

They stumble because they underestimate the cost of distraction. It isn’t just about lost time. It’s about decision fatigue.

When your brain is constantly shifting gears, you burn through mental energy WAY faster. By mid-afternoon, even the most strategic leader can find themselves making reactive choices instead of intentional ones. Not good.

That’s like crossing a bridge in circles…busy, but not actually moving forward. Well…not without the spirals, right?

Overwhelm is a Signal, Not a Weakness

Here’s where perspective matters. Feeling scattered, unsteady, or even drained…doesn’t mean you’re failing. It means your nervous system is maxed out.

Your body was designed to respond to stress with a “fight-or-flight” surge. And yes, that’s great when you’re dodging danger. But what about those times when you’re sitting in back-to-back Zoom calls or trying to finalize year-end strategies?

Fight or flight…doesn’t work.

When your system stays in high-alert mode, you end up:

Reacting instead of responding
Multi-tasking but producing less
Struggling to see the big picture because your brain is stuck focused on the weeds over the guardrails!

That’s why overwhelm isn’t weakness. It’s simply your body waving a flag that says, “Hello? I need a reset.”

The Power of a Reset

Think of it like this: a bridge may sway in the wind, but it doesn’t collapse because it’s designed to recalibrate. It flexes just enough to stay…strong.

You were created for the same. What you need IS NOT more hours in your day or more hustle. What you need IS intentional recalibration. AKA…a reset.

When you take even 10 minutes to pause, breathe, and reset, you’re shifting your brain out of high-alert mode and into the parasympathetic nervous system…the “rest-and-digest” space.

That’s where clarity, creativity, and strategic thinking come alive. Yay!

Here’s the thing: research shows that short breaks improve not just focus, but also your problem-solving ability. That means, a walk around the block, literally makes you smarter. A few minutes of journaling, or a simple gratitude practice can absolutely rewire your brain toward calm and clarity.

And when you show up calmer, you don’t just feel better, right? You make better decisions. Simple.

The Bridge Analogy: Crossing with Intention

Okay…so picture yourself standing at the mid-point of a bridge.

Behind you is noise: unfinished tasks, distractions, meetings that ran too long...you get the picture.

Ahead of you is your journey toward your goal: a decision to make, a project to move forward, a conversation that matters. Movement.

HOW you cross determines what happens next.

If you sprint without pausing, you risk tripping. If you try to carry everything at once, you slow yourself down.

But what happens if you step intentionally…one foot in front of the other? You reach the other side steady, strong, confident, calm...and ready for what’s ahead!

That’s what a focus reset does. It helps you to recalibrate, and gives you the footing you need so you don’t wobble, or hop-scotch your way across.

Here’s how to make that happen.

Welcome to Your 10-Minute Focus Reset

Choose a pocket of time that works best for you, without overthinking it:

before or after your morning coffee
before or after your morning calls
during a brief break
when you “shut down” for the evening

Then, simply choose one of the options below:

Listen to a podcast or audiobook that challenges your perspective or inspires your leadership approach.
Do a mini mindfulness practice…no screens, just focused breathing or journaling your thoughts.
Step outside for a quick walk, even just around the block. Leave your phone behind and be fully present in your surrounding sights and sounds.
Find a quiet spot to sit and just reflect. Allow your mind to clear and re-center.
Write down three things you’re grateful for, and one priority you’re focusing on.

All of these are great for shifting your mindset before diving back in.

These intentional actions will pull your brain out of reactive mode and into a space of calm and clarity…very necessary for making those impactful decisions you’re known for. 😉 Just sayin.

And if you’re looking for more structure and consistency with purpose this season, stay tuned…I’ve revisited and revised my ALIGN JOY-Full Living Program into a powerful 8-week foundations program!

Until then, put this 10-Minute Focus Reset into daily practice. And if you try it, I’d love to hear how it goes for you. Leave a comment!

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I'll meet you on the bridge!

Deni