Nutrition by Dawn - Blog

There’s something about the end of August that still feels like back-to-school season for me, even though I haven’t been in school for years.

Maybe it’s those childhood habits that never completely leave us. Labor Day starts approaching, the mornings and evenings get a little cooler here in New England, vacations begin winding down, and suddenly there’s this feeling in the air that it’s time to get back into a routine.

I was still in Vermont as I write this, with another day and a half of vacation left, and yes, I’m counting every precious minute. It has been a wonderful two weeks filled with sand volleyball, pickleball, friends, and plenty of time away from my normal routine.

But I can already feel that back-to-school mindset kicking in.

And I think we can use that feeling to our advantage.

Summer Doesn't Have to Be Your Most Productive Season

For many of us, summer is a little different.

Maybe you're traveling more. Maybe the kids are home. Maybe your schedule is unpredictable. Maybe your business naturally slows down, or maybe you're simply giving yourself permission to enjoy the season.

You might feel like you've spent the summer "treading water" when it comes to your health, business, or other goals.

That's okay.

There are seasons when maintaining what you've built is enough.

But as summer begins winding down, we naturally get an opportunity to shift gears.

If you have children heading back to school, your daytime schedule may begin opening up again. If your kids are older, like mine, routines change in other ways. My son will be heading back to college, which means the rhythm of our household will shift again.

Whatever your situation looks like, this seasonal transition can become a natural reset point.

I'm Ready for My Routines Again

My vacations tend to be very active.

Over the past two weeks, I've played a ton of sand volleyball and pickleball. I've loved every minute of it, and after my final glorious morning of pickleball, I may need a little vacation from my vacation activities!

And when I get home, I look forward to returning to my regular routines.

I'll get back on my Peloton. I'll work with my trainer at the gym. I'll return to Pilates. I'll continue my Saturday morning pickleball clinics.

Those routines aren't punishment for enjoying vacation.

They're simply the things that help me feel like myself when I'm home.

And there's another benefit to stepping away from them occasionally.

Different Experiences Create Different Patterns

Doing different activities is good for your body because you're asking your muscles to work in new ways.

And it's good for your brain, too.

When you step outside your normal routine, you create different patterns. You're moving differently, thinking differently, experiencing different environments, and giving yourself space away from the things you do every day.

That's one of the reasons I value taking time away so much.

I don't come home feeling like I need to "catch up" from vacation.

I come home with renewed enthusiasm for what's next.

That's a very different mindset.

Use the Season as Your Reset

You don't need children going back to school to take advantage of this transition.

Think of it as an opportunity to ask yourself:

Where do I go from here?

What would you like your health routines to look like this fall?

What needs attention in your business?

Which habits worked well before summer that you'd like to bring back?

What did summer teach you that you want to keep?

And what needs to change?

You don't have to overhaul everything on the Tuesday after Labor Day.

Choose a few things that matter and begin rebuilding your rhythm.

Maybe that's getting back to your workouts three mornings a week. Maybe it's setting aside dedicated business development time again. Maybe it's meal planning, scheduling client work differently, or finally moving forward on the project you've been thinking about all summer.

Use the natural shift of the season to create a shift in your mindset.

Make Your Next Season Intentional

I've got some exciting plans rolling out this fall, and I'm looking forward to getting home and putting those plans into action.

There are also changes happening with some of the wellness products I've shared over the years. My favorite digestive product, Zive7, has been rebranded and relaunched as TotalGut7, and here is the updated link for anyone who's been wondering how to continue getting it.

But more than anything, I'm looking forward to returning home refreshed rather than depleted.

That's what a good break should give you.

So wherever you are in this transition, from kids already heading back to school to another few weeks of summer ahead of you, start thinking about what you want your next season to look like.

You don't have to rush into it.

Just start asking:

Where do I want to go from here?

And if you're struggling to answer that question, I have single strategy sessions available. I'm always happy to hop on a call and noodle through a plan together.

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