Nutrition by Dawn - Blog

This is the final post in our Back to Basics September series, and I couldn’t wrap things up without talking about a topic that affects literally everyone: stress.

It’s universal. And it’s heavy, especially now.

But the question isn’t whether you’ll feel stress.
The question is: How will you manage it?

Let’s Be Honest: The World Feels Heavy

No matter your circumstances or opinions, the weight of the world is very real right now. And that weight takes a toll, both physically and emotionally.

Stress:

• Elevates your cortisol

• Increases inflammation

• Disrupts clear thinking

• Pulls you out of planning and into constant reaction mode
   

And whether it’s happening in your health, your family, or your business, the impact is the same.

Respond vs. React

I'm not going to pretend this is easy. It’s something I still work on every day.

Just this week, I caught myself in that classic pattern:

• Trying to finish a task (updating my email sequence!)

• Feeling the pressure to check it off

• Getting frustrated that it wasn’t quite flowing

• Wanting to force it
   

Instead, I had to pause.
I literally said to myself: “Dawn, stop. Put it aside. Come back later.”

(Easier said than done, especially for us Type-A, list-checking people, right?)

But it worked. And when I slept on it and took my coach’s advice to let it marinate, the creativity started to flow again.

Stress Management = Intentional Breaks

You don’t need a two-week trip to Europe to reduce stress (though I am very excited about mine).

You can build breaks into your day:

• I take a walk every day, often twice.

• 30 minutes at lunch.

• 30 minutes at the end of my workday.

And no, I don’t check emails during that walk.
It’s a true step away. It gives my brain room to breathe and reset. And I come back more focused and energized.

If You Can’t Take 30 Minutes… Start With 15

That may feel like a luxury. But I promise, if you give yourself even 15 minutes of intentional rest, you will:

• Think clearer

• Feel better

• Make better choices

• Respond instead of react

And isn’t that what we’re after?

Don’t Forget to Breathe

Yes, of course you’re breathing, but are you breathing intentionally?

Deep, full, slow breaths force your body out of fight-or-flight and into calm.
It only takes a few seconds, and it makes a huge difference.

Your Takeaway This Week

👉 Build in breaks, real ones
👉 Don’t push when your brain is scrambled
👉 Step away so you can come back stronger
👉 Breathe with intention

Stress is real. Don’t let it run the show.

As always, what I hope for you is that you live a life you love without giving up the things that bring you joy.