Nutrition by Dawn - Blog

Let’s start 2026 differently.

Not with the usual list of resolutions you’ll abandon by February. Not with guilt. Not with deprivation. And definitely not with trying to overhaul your life in one fell swoop.

Instead, let’s start this new year with intention.

Let’s talk about balance.

The Truth About January Burnout

If you’re crawling into this month feeling a little crispy around the edges - overwhelmed, overcommitted, or just plain over it - you’re not alone.

The holidays can be beautiful, but they can also be a lot,  especially when you say yes to everything and everyone.

So if you’re feeling a bit burnt out from all the doing and giving… take a deep breath with me.

Now exhale.

Because this month, we reset.

We’re not chasing perfection. We’re not declaring war on our habits. We’re not starting over.

We’re stepping forward, with clarity, with mindfulness, and with a fierce commitment to more balance in every area of our lives.

Why Balance Matters

Balance isn’t about achieving a perfect split between work and play, salad and sweets, hustle and rest.

It’s about alignment.

It’s about recognizing what drains you - and what fuels you - and choosing to design your days with more of the good stuff.

Because when you walk in balance, you walk in power.

You have more energy, more joy, more capacity to care for others - and more room to actually enjoy the life you’re building.

Step One: The Two-List Reset

Before we dive deeper into what balance looks like in your day-to-day routines, I want to invite you to do something simple - and incredibly powerful.

Make two lists:

1. Things that are not serving you
   These are the habits, commitments, relationships, patterns, or tasks that leave you drained. The things that suck your time, your energy, and your peace.
    

2. Things that are serving you
   These are the choices, rituals, relationships, and activities that help you feel like you. The ones that energize you and bring joy, ease, or meaning.
    

Don’t overthink it. Your lists don’t have to be long. They don’t have to make sense to anyone else. They just need to be honest.

Once you’ve written them, you have a roadmap.

Keep doing more of what works. Start phasing out what doesn’t.

That’s it. That’s the beginning.

Let Go to Make Room

Here’s the magic: when you release what’s not serving you, you create space.

Space for peace.
Space for clarity.
Space to say yes to the right things instead of everything.

That’s what I experienced firsthand this past holiday season, and I’ll be sharing more about it in upcoming blogs. But for now, just know that your time and your energy are precious. And you deserve to spend them on things that actually matter to you.

So here’s to balance. Here’s to intention.

Here’s to living a life you love - without giving up the things that bring you joy.