Nutrition by Dawn - Blog

We have a tendency to make vacations feel like a trap, right? Either you’re in full indulgence mode: eating and drinking everything, totally unplugged, and pretending your inbox doesn’t exist… or you stay in work mode, glued to your laptop, obsessing over clean meals and missing out on actual fun. Neither one is really that much fun.

Life, and especially vacations, don’t have to be so extreme.

This summer, I’m inviting you to ditch the pendulum swing and embrace a more intentional middle ground. Here’s how I do it:

Set Clear Work Boundaries

Yes, I do check my email while I’m away, but only intentionally.

• I set an out-of-office responder with a note that says if something is urgent, they should re-send with “urgent” in the subject line.
   

• Most people won’t misuse that word, and if they do, I can still decide what actually needs attention.
   

• I carve out 15 minutes a day just to scan for anything that needs a quick reply or can be scheduled when I return.
   

It’s about protecting my time and keeping the business flowing.

🧠 Plan Ahead = Peace of Mind

Before I leave, I take time to pre-plan anything that needs to happen while I’m gone. That way, I’m not worried about dropping balls, because everything important is already in motion.

🥗 Fuel Your Body for the Fun

My next vacation? It’s an active one. I’ll be in Vermont, hiking, playing volleyball and pickleball, and maybe even zip lining or kayaking if the weather cooperates.

So yes, I’m absolutely going to enjoy all the fun foods - there will be cake! (but not for breakfast, lol). And I also want to feel good on the court and the trails. That means fueling my body with the energy it needs before I reach for the fruity umbrella drinks. And when I do, I’ll make sure they’re part of a PFC meal (which can be as simple as adding some shrimp cocktail and a little cheese to your happy hour).

If your vacation is more about lounging on a beach, great! Just ask yourself:

• How do I want to feel while I’m here, and when I get back?
   

• How can I sneak in a little movement or balance my meals so I’m not feeling bloated and sluggish?

🌿 Mindfulness Is the Middle Ground

The key isn’t to restrict joy or “be good.” The key is to be mindful. To make decisions that serve your body, brain, and business, and still allow you to be fully present.

Start with how you want to feel after the trip. Energized? Grounded? Satisfied?

Then act in a way that supports that. That’s what it means to be intentional, not restrictive.

Whether you’re off to the mountains or the beach, I hope you permit yourself to enjoy all of it, without swinging into extremes.

I'll be sharing more from our Vermont adventures soon. Wish me luck on that zip line!

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