Peace is my #1 priority in 2025.
Do Not Disturb Me.
It is no secret that I keep my phone on Do Not Disturb (“DND”) for twenty-three (23) hours out of the day. Yes… 23. For the bulk of my day there are less than five (5) people that I allow to disrupt my day or my work flow. The Do Not Disturb feature on my iPhone is without question one of my FAVORITE features. Over the years, I have found that constant notification sounds are easily distracting for me. I do NOT have the time or energy to be constantly tied to my phone. So much of the work that I do for theDaniDistrict and Dani Joh… is done from my phone. All of the requests people have for my time… both personal and professional…are tied to a laptop or phone. Therefore, my phone is ALWAYS on silent. I miss calls and texts all day long, and I don’t care. When the sound is on I know it is officially after 5pm and time for me to switch into Mom-mode. 😂 If I hear a notification before 5pm … my very first thought is, “who is this and how did they get through DND?” So…. all of the people that hit “notify anyway” no longer have access to me during Lent. (…. Maybe after Lent too… I’m still undecided honestly.)
Boundaries are Necessary for Peace.
Late last year my anxiety spiked, out of no where. My sister… being the big sister she is… called in reinforcements to get to the bottom of all of my stressors. (Note: I don’t often talk about my older sister publicly because she is pretty private, but babyyyyy she got to the bottom of all of it. IMMEDIATELY. 😂) After speaking to her, and her mentor, it was evident that I needed to establish stronger boundaries to maintain my peace during this time of uncertainty.
I have always been a quick study. If you tell me something once, I can research it and put a plan into place by close of business, tomorrow. By Monday of the following week… it’s done. My brain moves at lightning speed. That has always been my biggest blessing, and sometimes my biggest curse. I have always known all of my stressors. (…That’s why I keep my phone on DND… See above). I did not, however, fully grasp or understand how my stressors had the ability to affect me or the goals I have personally established for myself. When I realized that was then case… I immediately went back to the therapy tools I was provided with in 2020 and I chose ME. To date, I do not regret choosing my peace over any and everybody’s problems.
I refuse to be the strong friend. It has never been a title I wore with pride. Get somebody else to do it.
People Pleasing…. Hard NO.
Am I anti-social? No. Well…. Not always. I am an introvert. I enjoy quiet time. I value my peace more than most people that I know. I do not allow my peace to be disturbed by anybody (except my 2 roommates).
Some people may feel it’s drastic to cut off communication from the world for 20+ hours of the day. I do not. I’m not saying it is a strategy that will work for everybody, but it is a strategy I would recommend empaths and introverts try. People will absolutely be upset…. So be prepared for that.
How I Occupy My Time…
TV. I watch TV. I LOVE a good TV Show and a good movie. LOVE them. I can watch old movies, Documentaries, and all of my favorite Millennial (late 90s and early 2000s) TV Shows all day. Netflix putting a Different World back on TV was a dream. At some point I’ll do blog post of all of my faves, but fully expect it to be LONG.
Social Media. As an entrepreneur and business owner, I probably shouldn’t admit this…. but I watch TV more than I am on social media. (Most people are on social media more than they watch TV…. That is wild to me). I use social media for business, to laugh, and to connect with my cousins and friends that I don’t get to see or talk to everyday. I interact with my social media followers and the people I follow the same way I do with the people I know or see in-person. I’m well aware of the separation. But again, it is still business for me. In this season of peace, I have decided that people that do not interact with the business aspect of my social media accounts also do not need access to those pages. What exactly are you looking for if you are not supporting?! (Note: Supporting does not always mean purchasing. You can like, comment or share… for free). I don’t need unnecessary followers, I need My People to provide me with positivity to break up my day.
I workout. I’m not one of those people that will preach to you about fitness. I workout for my mental health. There are definitely physical benefits… and I do LOVE my clothes… but running/cardio helps me to mentally compartmentalize my day, slowly. My treadmill is indisputably my favorite piece of gym equipment that we own. (We own a lot of gym equipment … the last house had a gym in the garage). If you don’t have a Peloton membership or a gym membership… I would highly recommend getting one. Especially now.
I LOVE MUSIC. …. Especially HOOD MUSIC. 🤣 God & Trap Music has been my personal brand for years. Is it right?!… Likely not. My Pastor would probably be mortified if he knew how ghetto my playlists are, but we walk in truth over here, so I don’t mind. I don’t know if it’s because I was raised in Miami, danced with a marching band, or if it’s because I went to HBCUs… but I know my brothers have definitely rubbed off on me and my taste in music. We’ll just leave this one here because my mama would definitely be embarrassed that “God & Trap Music” is the brand of her only daughter.
I Read. A lot. Too much. I read for work. I read for fun. I will read YOU if you piss me off ☺️. Reading is fundamental. I think we all should do more of it. I love to learn. I learn a lot from reading.
How are you maintaining your peace in 2025? What are some new strategies you are trying for Lent? Let me know!
