The Dream Inspo.

The Life You Deserve

I Took a Social Media Detox, Here’s What I Learned

There’s a lot we can gain by being on social media. However, there are a lot of social media detox benefits.

Recently, I took a few days away from social media. What exactly does this mean? Well, I didn’t open the apps of Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter, which are my usual go-to instant social platforms. Instead, I used the time I would spend on each app working on my brand, resting, and finding out what needs to go in my life.

Why did I take a social media detox?

If you have an iPhone, there’s a recent feature added that gives you a phone usage report. I noticed a massive increase in my time on my device, and the leading apps I spent my time on was social media platforms. Honestly, the percentage of time spent on each app was embarrassing. Yes, since my career is in media, I spend a lot of time on social media looking for news stories, engaging in content discussion, etc. And, I could’ve used this as an excuse for the amount of time spent. But, being honest with yourself is a part of growing. So, I knew I had a real issue.

Since I intend on improving my life this year, I was aware that this detox was imperative, and I was ready to make a change.

social media detox
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Here’s what I learned during my social media detox

I regained the urge to go out and have fun.

In just those few days, I felt the urge to go out into the real world and enjoy the beautiful streets of my city. Social media took up a lot of my time, which eventually made me lazy. I didn’t want to go anywhere after finishing my homework or articles, but somehow I found the strength to tweet an unhealthy amount of times.

I love baking as a hobby.

My sister and I went to the grocery store with my new spare time and purchased every ingredient we needed for making cookies from scratch. We even ordered custom aprons with our names on them. It was a breath of fresh air and an excellent way to bond with my sister. We’re planning to bake often!

I enjoy cooking and trying new recipes.

As a graduate student and journalist, the most accessible food option is fast food or something quickly put in the microwave. But, since I had some time to spare, I found myself on tasty searching up dinner recipes and cooking with my family.

This social media detox was well needed, and I plan on taking one often to enjoy real life more. What are your thoughts on social media detoxes?

Hey, you made it this far. Check out 5 Things To Do Instead of Being on Your Device

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Here’s How I Plan to Improve My life in 2022

It’s the second month of the new year, and I still want nothing more than to improve my life in 2022.

Before the year started, I promised myself that 2022 was going to be MY year. Yes, everyone says this. Yes, I said the same thing about 2021. But, you know that feeling of elevation? I’ve been experiencing this since the year started. It might be my determination to make this year better than the last, or I could be in the process of elevating.

Whatever’s the case, it has me even more pumped to see what I can accomplish. Since I’m excited about the future, I’ve decided to share three ways I plan to improve my life in 2022. I hope this can help my readers or people just visiting prepare themselves to spread their wings and soar.

My 3 Way Journey to Improvement

Ways to improve your life in 2022
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No more sleepless, burnout nights

Nothing prevented me from accomplishing my goals more than sleepless, burnout nights. We’ve all watched success stories of individuals who do nothing but work, work, and work. They preach about how they’ve gone days without sleep to perfect a launch or create content. To improve my life, I choose not to glamourize the ‘all work, no play’ mindset. I’m human, and I need sleep–of course. But, I also need time to relax and have fun. I don’t want to overwork myself and not enjoy the fruits of my labor.

Write/Plan… Organization Matters

This is a very imperative way to improve your life. In 2021, I did not write and plan out my content, organize homework assignments or digital content. This is a significant reason I did not accomplish a lot of my goals last year. Since I started mapping things out–from articles to content– I’ve seen an increase in my consistency. When I write something down, it’s easier for me to complete it and check off my list when I can see it… crazy. Sidenote: I’m currently writing this post at 11 pm. 2021 Lashaunta would’ve never done this!

Morning Affirmations? Yes, please.

Okay, I started getting into affirmations in 2021, but I’ve been deep into it this year. If you’ve been reading my posts for a while, you’ll know that I’d talk negatively about myself when I was younger. And, of course, this is far from a confidence booster. However, now that I’m in my 20’s, I want to love myself more than anyone. Because if I love myself, I can love others properly. Writing and saying morning affirmations set the tone for the day. I always feel like I’m important in this world because I am– and you are too.

How are you improving your life in 2022? We have so much time to get things started.

Hey, you made it this far! Check out. So, you failed? Here’s How To Recharge

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5 Things To Do Instead of Being on Your Device

In 2022, we’re focusing on the real world. Here are 5 things to do instead of being on your device.

As humanity evolves, we’ve developed an attachment to our cellular devices now more than before. It provides access to jobs, connects us with family and strangers worldwide, and even stores valuable information. The connection with our devices is so strong that it has become a morning ritual to check it as soon as you wake up. With newly addictive devices comes detachment from the real world. Think about it. How many hours do you spend on your electronics per day? Now, how many times have you gone for a walk? Friends, it’s time to put the phone down. Here are five things to do instead.

5 Things To Do Instead of Being on Your Device

5 Things To Do Instead of Being On Your Device
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Read a book

So many phenomenal new books are waiting for you to indulge in its characters. From fantasy to urban fiction, don’t miss the chance to visit your local bookstore and start your bookworm journey. To stay away from the urge of using your phone, stick to hard copies.

At-Home date night with friends

What’s better than a night full of great vibes in the comfort of your own home? Invite some of your closet friends over, reminisce, and enjoy a night full of laughter. Create some ‘boss friends’ goals together and talk about how you all can better support each other.

Take a walk

Life isn’t a walk in the park, but that shouldn’t stop you from taking a walk often. Walking is known to help clear your mind and release negative energy. If you don’t want to take one alone, ask a friend.

Game night with your family

Thanksgiving and Christmas don’t have to be the only time families come together. Have a game night with your loved ones instead of texting or calling them. Talk about those embarrassing times when you were younger. Play spades or claim someone is cheating during a fun game of Uno.

Buy a journal and write your heart out.

Feel like writing a social media post about how you feel? Buy a journal instead. Sometimes we give too much insight into our personal lives to strangers who find amusement in our pain. Use that journal to get your feelings out and keep adverse people out of your business.

If you like this post, you’ll love What To Do In The First Days Of 2022

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What To Do In The First Days Of 2022

Happy New Year, everyone! It’s day 1 of 365, and we’ve already accomplished one of the biggest goals— we lived to see another year! Everyone expects the New Year to be completely different than the last. We want our lives to change for the better, but sometimes we don’t know how to get to that point. We start to stress ourselves out the first few days of the year. Let’s not do that— here’s what to do in the first days of 2022.

What to do in the first days of 2022

Don’t stress about New Year’s resolutions.

I get it. Every time the New Year comes around, we force ourselves to create one goal that we want to achieve in the year. Yes, New Year’s resolutions were made to challenge yourself, but they can be done in a fun, non-stressful way. It also doesn’t have to be something extremely challenging. Don’t create a goal that you genuinely don’t want to achieve. That’s how you end up putting yourself down. Also, New Year’s resolutions do not have to be completed within the first two or six months of the new year. Please don’t put a time limit on it. You have the entire year to meet this goal. It’s also not a crime to not have a resolution at all.

What To Do In The First Days Of 2022

Relax your body and mind.


This is something I had to learn. You do not need to go into the New Year pushing yourself. Use this time to relax or write in your planner/journal in the first few days. Give yourself time to breathe before you go hard; you don’t want to burn yourself out before the year even settles in.

New Year, New Growth

Leave the past in the past.


Try not to think about negativity from the past year. Think of this year as a fresh start and allow yourself to bring in good energy. For you to grow this year, you must not let the past hold you back.

Speak highly of yourself and make it a habit.


In the first days of the new year, get used to speaking positivity into your life. This year is yours, and you’re going to achieve everything you have planned. Speak that into existence so you can get used to doing it every day of the year.

I’m excited for the New Year, and I know you all will achieve so many goals. Please don’t be hard on yourself. Move at your own pace, and everything will run smoothly. What to do in the first days of 2022? Relax and prepare for greatness! Happy New Year, everyone.

If you like this post, you’ll love 6 Affirmations To Start Off Your Day
To learn more about Lashaunta Shanese, visit her website
Please read my latest article for Sheen Magazine

These 4 Things Can Prevent Your Growth

As the new year approaches, the last thing we need is growth prevention. So let’s get into how these 4 things can prevent your growth.

Growth can be stimulating— especially when you’re having a hard time figuring out what’s taking the process so long. For one, we can’t rush it. Growth is something that transpires when you permit yourself to change. It’s when your mind becomes more assorted and willing to step out of your comfort zone. Honestly, the process is dissimilar for everyone. For some of us, we can easily adapt to this new form of thinking which allows growth to overtake our lives. And for others, it’s not a walk in the park.

Either way, there are 4 things that can prevent your growth— whether you can easily adapt to changes or not. Let’s Talk!

These 4 Things Can Prevent Your Growth

These 4 things Can Prevent Your growth
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Low Self-Esteem

If you’ve never experienced low self-esteem, you’re an icon—seriously. It’s when someone lacks confidence about themselves and what they can achieve. They often think of themselves as failures before they even begin. Low self-esteem is one of the main problems that prevents growth— because in their mind, they already loss.

Environment

Yes, your environment can prevent growth. Sometimes we get too attached to the areas we grew up around and become scared of the thought of leaving. It is possible to grow in the same environment, but not much. We need to experience new surroundings and people from different cultures. We need to experience the world. It’s much bigger than the neighborhood or city you’re used to.

Overly Procrastination

It’s no secret that everyone procrastinates. Even the most successful people talk about how there are times when they ‘put off’ doing something until the last minute. However, overly procrastination can prevent growth. What is overly procrastination? It’s when your motivation is erased by consistently waiting until the last minute to do something. You eventually choose to not finish the project— for example— at all. And we all know, if you don’t finish what you start, you’ll still be in the same position.

Negative Nancy’s (Naysayers)

The people you choose to be around can affect your growth. If you surround yourself with unsupportive people, that energy affects you mentally. You start to second guess yourself and your talent, which can create low self-esteem. If people are always negative around you, distance yourself. Nothing positive comes from that negative energy.

You know you have what it takes to take the world by storm. Grow and allow yourself to stay away from those 4 things. You got this.

If you like this post, you’ll love 6 Affirmations To Start Off Your Day

To learn more about Lashaunta Shanese visit my website.

Read my latest article for Sheen Magazine.

6 Affirmations To Start Off Your Day

With these 6 affirmations to start off your day, you’ll feel happy and calm.

As women continue to dominate in every industry, it’s crucial to avoid exhaustion and adverse energy. Affirmations are known to boost the power and mindset of an individual. It’s the exercise of optimistic thinking and self-improvement that many believe helps achieve success and good mental health. Every day we are confronted with challenges that regularly make us question our abilities to succeed. We interrogate ourselves so severely that it eventually halts our growth. It’s time to start uplifting ourselves every day and making sure we comprehend how deserving we are of love, success, and much more. Here are six affirmations to start your day.

6 Affirmations

6 Affirmations To Start Off Your Day
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Today will be wonderful.

Wake up with the mindset of having a great day. Never think about past upsetting events or revenge. Today will be good because your mind is allowing good energy to flow right through.

I am a magnificent piece of art.

You are a walking Van Gogh painting. Pay no attention to societal ‘beauty standards.’ You are one of a kind, and your features are showstopping.

I choose peace and happiness.

Protect your peace and happiness today— and every day. Adverse energy cannot get close to you.

I am worthy of love.

You are worthy of the love you’ve always wanted. You do not have to lower your standards and accept scraps. Give yourself that love until the right person comes along.

I deserve to buy myself something nice.

That new car? You deserved it. That new purse? You deserved it. Always know that you deserve to have nice things, and it’s even more imperative that it was a gift to yourself. You worked hard for your money, and there’s nothing wrong with showering yourself with the best things in life.

I am deserving of career growth and opportunities.

You deserve that new job title and raise. You deserve that six-figure business. Your name deserves to be in rooms where the opportunities will be endless. 

Of course, these 6 affirmations to start off your day can be used by men as well. Let’s uplift ourselves and embrace who we are.

If you love this post, you’ll love My Self-Care Plans For 2022

Read my latest Interview in Sheen Magazine!

To learn more about Lashaunta Shanese visit my about page.

Protect Your Energy: Life 101

Let’s learn ways to protect your energy in this crazy world.

One of my favorite topics to write about is protecting your energy. I’ve witnessed some crazy things in my life, and so far, I can comprehend how imperative it is to put a protective barrier around your energy.

Let’s be honest.

As much as we wish the world were a better place, we have to admit that people often push out negative agendas. They always find something hateful to share or say, and they never see anything wrong with their actions. These are the type of individuals that we should plan on staying far away.

These people find joy in seeing others sad and hurt, so the best way to deal with it is to keep your distance.

But, what if we have to be around these people? Let’s get started! That’s when you use these three different ways to protect your energy.

3 Ways To Protect Your Energy

Protect your Energy
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Try to avoid conflict

I know, I know. Sometimes conflict comes around and we have to defend ourselves. However, please try to avoid it as much as possible. It’s one of the quickest ways to take in bad energy. As I said, there are people who will purposely target you and try to bring you down. Most of the time walking away or agreeing to disagree works. Don’t let them win!

photo of a sign and eyeglasses on table
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Choose positivity, always

Of course, this is better said than done. We all have bad days even when we try to think positive. It’s a part of life. However, as long as you’re choosing to think positive thoughts, you’re fighting against the negative energy in this world. Also, just because you have a bad day doesn’t mean you’re a negative person. Don’t worry, we all have those moments, even the most positive people in the world do.

woman doing cobra pose
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Clear your mind with meditation

When I feel overwhelmed by negative energy, I take a moment to breathe. I usually use the mone minute breathe concentration on my apple watch to help calm my nerves. This is a part of meditation, and there are many other ways you can clear your mind and body of toxic thoughts. Although I still have a lot to learn about meditation, this method works for me.

Now go out there and protect your peace!

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The Key To Having a Productive Day

It’s time we discussed the key to having a productive day.

Every day we wake up with the intention of having a better day than before. Because no one wants their days to be worse, that’s insane.

Of course, in the life we live, there are times where events will happen out of the blue that alters your day. However, it shouldn’t stop you from at least trying to map out what you’d like your day to be like.

As a grad student who’s also a journalist/creative marketer/digital content producer (I wear a lot of hats, I know), I need to create a plan for my days, or else I’d drive myself crazy.

In my opinion, the key to having a productive day starts with realistic planning and allowing yourself time to relax.

Let’s get to it.

The Key To a Productive Day

The Key To Having a Productive Day
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Realistic Planning

Let me start by saying planning helps a lot with trying to stay organized. If I didn’t plan what days to do my homework and the number of hours I’d spend on each class, I’d be stressed out. However, sometimes we plan things outrageously.

What do I mean by that?

You should plan realistically, meaning map out things you know you’d for sure have time to do. For example, today is my content day for this week.

I planned to write this blog post and create social media content. For me, this is realistic because I know for sure I could get it done without feeling tired. Outrageous planning would be me planning to write 10 blog posts, 5 social media content, and a youtube production.

Don’t get me wrong, there are people who can plan all of those things and get it done, but for me and all that I have to do, it’s not realistic. Planning this would’ve resulted in me thinking my day was unproductive because I couldn’t get it all done.

woman sleeping
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Allowing Yourself Time To Relax

In order to have the energy to be productive, you have to allow yourself to relax. Yes, you read that correctly. If you go the entire day just working, more than likely you won’t finish all of the tasks you’ve planned. Give yourself a coffee/tea break in between projects, read a book or do something relaxing. I usually read a chapter of my favorite book or have a tea break.

What’s your key to a productive day?

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Read my previous blog post.

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So, You’re On A Budget?

So, you’re on a budget?

Being on a budget can be both life-changing and challenging. Obviously, the Pros of being on a budget are far more important than the Cons, but we can’t act like they don’t exist. Many people create budgets for a plethora of reasons. You could simply be saving up towards a goal/ item you’ve always wanted or things in your life have taken a slight turn and in response, you’re being cautious. Either way, there’s a limit on what you can and can not spend.

To some people, BUDGETS=NO FUN, STRICT RULES, WORK WORK WORK.

On A Budget
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As a young Graduate student on a budget, I can’t say this has been the easiest experience. While everyone else is taking trips outside the country, I’m saving majority of money to further my brand and expand in the media industry. There were days where I found myself STRESSED OUT, especially during my undergrad years.

However, there are ways to have fun on a budget. Some people even find ways to take small getaways without going over their limit. I found a way to do that, and honestly, it’s beyond a life saver. I coudn’t wait to share them with you all.

VISIT A MUSEUM

On A Budget
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Nerd alert. For a lot of people, museums are only seen as educational, but they’re really fun to me. From looking at massive art scultpures to paintings from centuries ago, I really enjoy walking through those ancient hallways. Some of you may already know, but recently I visited the Morton Arboretum in Lisel, Illinois (Visiting The Morton Arboretum). It was only $16 which is much less than I anticipated. I left with a lot of photos and videos, plus an experience that I’ll forever cherish.

STAY AT A HOTEL FOR A WEEKEND

white bed sheet set
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Okay, I have yet to do this but I know many people who have and it’s always praised. When we think of hotels, we automatically think of overpriced and expensive. Yet, there are hotels that are inexpensive and are still highly ranked. This mini vacation is a perfect reward for those who have been on a budget and stayed true to it. This one little simple weekend vacay won’t hurt your pockets. Don’t forget, you need to treat yourself sometimes.

photo of cafe interior
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BRUNCH WITH FRIENDS

Whether it’s brunch or an early morning breakfast date, this type of small date will lift your spirits while not hurting your pockets. If I could visit my favorite small cafe every day with my laptop, I would. My main goal is to try to do this once of week, but for now once a month works perfectly fine. I know someone might ask, ‘Well, how is this fun?’. It’s fun because, in my opinion, you’re pampering yourself. You get to relax and eat outside of your home, which for some people are toxic places.

I really hope these simple things bring fun into your life, if you happen to try them. Remember, saving is imperative but a life you enjoy is even more imperative.

Lessons Learned: Don’t Allow Greed To Take Over What You Love

Sometimes, life will humble you faster than you can blink.

We learn so much as we grow and explore life.

We tend to look for things that make us better human beings, but we don’t like to take into consideration that we could use self evaluations often.

I know, we don’t like to hear it.

Yet, many people, including myself, need to use the advice we give others.

I’ve always told others not to allow greed to take over what they love to do.

What do I mean by that?

I mean, never let the thought of being bigger and making more money overshadow your love for your dream, to be exact.

I need to take my own advice.

I’m currently a Freelance Journalist, just one of the many aspects of media that I’m apart of. I absolutely love to write, film, and edit my own content.

I never wanted to be in the media industry to become a billionaire and own my own continent, or something outrageous.

But, lately I’ve found myself worrying more about the perks of being known in the media industry than my actual love for it.

This has to stop, like ASAP.

I never want greed to take over what I love, because then it becomes a chore and we never love chores.

It’s the main reasons why I haven’t been writing my weekly journals and blogging like I was before.

I’m taking my own advice and getting back into my zone!

I’m taking back what I love and I’m doing it because it brings me happiness.

Do you know anyone that chose greed over what they loved? Why do you think this is common?