Spring Has Sprung... And So Has My Attention Span

By LaDawn Sullivan

Spring showed up like it pays bills in my house—bold, uninvited, and rearranging everything.

The sun is out longer, the breeze is doing just enough, and suddenly my brain has decided that spreadsheets are optional and sitting outside is essential. I’ve got emails open, deadlines looming, and a to-do list giving me side-eye… while my spirit is whispering, “You could be on a patio right now.” And, I know I’m not alone.

Because spring doesn’t just wake up the flowers. It wakes up your feelings. Your fatigue. Your desire to do literally anything other than what’s on your calendar. And when you layer that on top of a world that already feels chaotic, demanding, and a little too loud? Whew. Concentration doesn’t stand a chance.

One minute I’m leading, building, decision-making like I’ve got it all together… the next minute I’m staring at my screen like, “What was I just doing?” Not a single productive thought in sight. Just vibes and pollen.

So now I’m sitting with the questions:

How do I stay on course when everything in me wants to wander?

How do I stay sane when the world refuses to settle down?

How do I find inspiration when my brain has clearly clocked out for spring break?

And the answer is not, despite what productivity culture might tell you, to “push through” like a machine. Because I don’t know who needs to hear this, but I am not a robot. I am a whole human being with responsibilities, yes—but also limits, moods, and apparently a deep seasonal desire to be outside minding my business.

So first things first, I stopped trying to control the season. Spring is not built for rigidity. It’s built for renewal. And renewal doesn’t happen when you’re gripping control like your life depends on it. It happens when you loosen your hold just enough to breathe.

Now don’t get it twisted. I’m not out here abandoning my responsibilities, because the work? Still very real. The needs in our communities? Still urgent. The leadership? Still required. But I’ve had to shift how I show up in it. Instead of trying to be locked in for eight straight hours (who told us that was realistic anyway?), I’m working in pockets.

Give me a solid hour of focus—real focus, not fake multitasking where I’m checking emails, texts, and my sanity at the same time. Then I step away. Take a walk. Get some air. Remind myself that the world is bigger than my inbox. Because apparently, fresh air is doing what caffeine could not.

And let’s talk about inspiration, because she has been playing hard to get lately. I used to think inspiration was something that showed up when I was sitting still, focused, doing all the “right” things. Turns out, inspiration has been outside this whole time, living her best life, waiting for me to come find her.

She’s in the sunlight hitting your face like a gentle reminder to relax your shoulders. She’s in the laughter you didn’t plan for. She’s in the small, quiet evidence that growth is happening, even when everything feels uncertain.

Nature doesn’t rush, panic, or overcommit… and somehow, everything still blooms. Imagine that.

Now sanity? That’s the real work. Because staying sane right now requires boundaries that some people are not going to like. Including, at times, the version of myself that thinks I can do everything.

I cannot carry every headline. I cannot solve every issue by Tuesday. I cannot pour from an empty cup, no matter how much the work tries to convince me to “just push a little more.”

What I can do is choose. I can choose what gets my energy. I can choose when to pause. I can choose progress over perfection—even when perfection is looking real tempting and completely unrealistic.

And on the days when my brain is on vacation but my calendar is fully booked, I give myself just enough grace to keep moving without falling apart. Because the goal is not to be perfectly focused. The goal is to stay connected, to the work, to the mission, and to myself.

And let’s just go ahead and name what we’re all feeling. This isn’t just personal, it’s collective. This restless, distracted, slightly overwhelmed energy? That’s what happens when you care. When you’re paying attention to the world and still choosing to build something better inside of it. That’s not weakness. That’s awareness.

So no, I haven’t figured out how to eliminate distraction. And honestly? I’m not sure I’m supposed to. But I am learning how to move through it with a little more grace, a little more humor, and just enough structure to keep everything from falling apart.

Some days that looks like knocking out my priorities and feeling accomplished. Some days that looks like doing the bare minimum and calling it survival. And some days… that looks like stepping outside, closing my laptop, and remembering that I am allowed to exist beyond my responsibilities.

Balance. Or at least, a strong attempt at it. Because even in the chaos, with the distractions, when my attention span is hanging on by a thread and a good playlist… the mission still matters and so do I.

So if you catch me outside, taking a “quick break” that has turned into a full reset, just know I haven’t lost focus. I’m just making sure I don’t lose myself trying to keep it.🌷