DND, ignoring messages and utilising airplane mode.
I am the most anti-social person. If you knew how many times in a day that I want to throw my phone out the window… but I’m still paying for the dammed thing so that’s not gonna happen 🥴
As I have gotten older and matured, peace has become my number one priority. Meaning: anything giving me the opposite of peace is in danger of becoming disposable, or at least being put on mute 🤫
Quite recently, I had a period of circa two weeks where I was feeling mentally and thus physically drained. And I could not for the life of me figure out why. I began to notice when my phone would notify me of messages or incoming calls, I’d feel overwhelmed. It was then I realised it wasn’t necessarily the people in my life that were disturbing my peace; but the obligation I felt to respond and make myself available at all times that was draining me.
I know when I am at my best, I love talking to people and answering my phone (dependent on who you are). However, when I am feeling down or I’m very busy, it’s quite the opposite.
It also does not help when people have built up expectations of you based on particular circumstances i.e. expecting me to always pick up calls because there was a time that I was always available. Nevertheless, things change. And more importantly, what other people think of or about me is none of my business.
Once life has taken you through many a turmoil, you realise just how valuable your peace is. And that in making yourself a priority, your peace goes hand-in-hand with that.
Therefore, whereby I used to make myself feel obligated to always answer calls and respond to messages very promptly, that is no longer a priority. Also, if my head takes me, I will fully have my phone on Do Not Disturb all day and mind my own business, gleefully.
I don’t know how many other people out there have felt a similar way, but I know I’m not alone. The thing I’ve learnt is, if you make yourself too available, there are certain people you’ll attract who only know how to take, take, take and will leave you running on empty. So it’s at our own discretion to take agency over our own time and make no apologies for it.
Time is the most valuable thing we have on this planet and you can never get it back. So as I am learning to, I’m encouraging y’all to be more selective with how you choose to spend it. Tomorrow most certainly is not a given and we have no obligation to use our time on those who demand it.
Be a little more selfish with your time, spend some of your time on other people and other things if you choose. Just make sure to protect your peace. Once you have it, you’ll know true torment when it’s gone.
Protect your peace ✌🏾
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