#danionthego

The Secret(s) to Finding Inner Peace

Although social media may portray otherwise, the last half of 2017 was really hard on me. I was stuck in my head a lot of the time, I wasn’t able to eat, I woke up tired and depressed, and continued to feel lost. I’ve never felt this way before (at least all at the same time) - the feeling was so foreign to me and I didn’t know what to do. Everyday I fought my “inner-demons” and tried to find my way back to peace, but of course, THE MIND IS A POWERFUL ENTITY, and I slowly slipped back into the dark.

I knew that this was something that only I could cure, and not before long, I made a decision to get out of the funk. THIS IS WHAT’S COOL ABOUT LIFE: YOU’RE ALWAYS IN CONTROL OF THE SELF. Looking at myself in the mirror today, I can proudly say that I’m a lot happier than I was before, and I’m excited to share how I got here.

Keep in mind that finding inner-peace is no peaceful journey. It takes discipline, focus and patience. I still have a long way to go, but by documenting my day-to-day, I was able to compile a list of habits I’ve developed to live a zen-filled life.

*DISCLAIMER: Be real with yourself - no day is the same and there will ALWAYS be ups and downs, but to keep yourself grounded and balanced, I highly suggest acquiring some of these habits below:

Practice self-love (Stop being so hard on yourself. You’re a fucking queen/king. OWN IT)

Meditate (I meditate 2-3 times a week for about 10-15 min and honestly I love that my meditation has become deeper and deeper each time - WE GOIN IN)

Express gratitude (Every morning when I open my eyes, I. AM. GRATEFUL. I’M ALIVE)

Self-Reflect (What can I do to make this better? Why do I feel this way? Why is this happening to me? - you’d be surprised about what you learn about yourself when you self-reflect <— I feel like this sentence could have been written better lmao but you get it, right?)

Learn to be more “present” and mindful of others/your surroundings (Let go of the past, and stop worrying so much about the future - everything you need is right here, right now)

Change your perception (Don’t like what you see? Try a different POV)

Write in a journal (I love writing about my day and reflecting on what I did or how it made me feel. You can’t keep all that in your head! You gotta vent).

Write a to-do list everyday - STAY PRODUCTIVE AND FEEL ACCOMPLISHED! Nothing feels better than crossing something off my to-do list. NOTHING.

Light candles and lay in silence (It’s ridiculous looking at the amount of candle jars I’ve accumulated)

Open your windows and let natural light in

Add plants to your room (this stimulates oxygen flow, providing you with clean air to breathe)

Rid of any toxic people in your life (You only got one life, so why waste it on human beings who serve you no good?) *shrugs shoulders*

Focus on your passions or work on discovering what those passions are

Workout *duh*

Eat clean *duh*

Stop playing the victim lol

Read a self-help book, or read in general (I’m such a slow reader, but I made myself a goal to finish 10 books this year lol)

Drink hot tea (I always feel like I’m cleansing my insides when I drink tea)

Get a full nights rest (I’m proud to say that I get a full eight hours every night)

Do things for YOU! (In the end, there will ONLY be you, so make sure you’re living a life that YOU want, not what others want).

Dance!!! BRUHHH I DANCE BY MYSELF IN MY ROOM EVERYDAY! AND EVEN IN THE SHOWER

Ready. Set. Summer. - NTC Session with Eva Redpath and Nike Women 

On Saturday I was invited to my first Nike Training Club session at the Dream Hotel in Hollywood. Lead by Nike Master Trainer, Eva Redpath, the hour-long workout consisted of plyos, teamwork, and A LOT of sweat…. And I mean a lot (my damn foundation started running down the side of my cheek lmao jokes on me - I did that to myself!)

Let me paint a picture for you: The air was crisp… We stood atop the Dream Hotel with a view overlooking the hills and Hollywood just below us. Fancy bottles of kombucha were passed around — which actually turned out to be fancy ginseng water lol SAME BUT DIFFERENT — and the music started to play! I felt a rush of energy as the room filled with women of all types.

This was my first Nike event I attend by myself, so naturally, upon arriving, I immediately introduced myself to everyone and even made friends with the lady at bag check lol! Soon enough Eva was calling everyone to the floor and we GOT TO WERRRRK! Tbh I never had so much fun during a workout! The music was bumpin and everyone was so determined to complete the class (if you follow me on Instagram, @danikapaige, you can get a little sneak peek of the workout by watching the Highlights on my profile. I wish I could have shared a full video of my time there!) Although this was my first solo experience with Nike, it sure won’t be my last.

Let’s Talk: Has Instagram Become the New Resume for Millennials?

I recently watched an episode of Leaders Create Leaders hosted by Gerard Adams, titled, “Understanding the New Millennial” featuring Alex Wolf, Founder of Boss Babe Academy (wow, that was a mouthful - but I think this passes the run-on sentence test lol). I learned a lot about the entrepreneurial mindset and how to take a more genuine approach [from a business standpoint] to millennials, or to anyone for that matter.

However, there was a part of the interview that stuck out to me the most - Alex mentioned that our Instagram profiles have become our resumes - and honestly, I couldn’t help but relate. With almost anyone that I meet, I automatically ask for their Instagram handle, and if it wasn’t given, there’s a 9/10 chance I’ll find your profile and lightly stalk your photos - and I mean this in the least creepy way possible.

Sometimes I can’t help it! Instagram has become a useful tool to gauge how much influence a person has (if any), how creative they are, do they care about their online presence, is this all vanity or is there purpose… the list goes on! Don’t get me wrong - although it may seem like it, I’m not measuring your worth, but it’s interesting to see how much effort a person puts into their Instagram profiles nowadays.

Take me for example. My content game has reached new heights *hair flip* and I take so much pride in that haha! I’m working hard to grow my online presence - hence the back-to-back photo shoots, the difference in editing, and newly added workout videos! I intend for my Instagram to be a source of inspiration, motivation, and positivity in all aspects in life, whether it be through my personal style, a quote, expressing how I feel/what I’m thinking or sharing my travel experiences. You can tell that there’s a certain aesthetic just by glancing at my grid.  

With that in consideration, when someone in the creative field searches my handle on Instagram, I hope that they see the time and effort I put into each post - from the caption to the placement, the color coordination, etc. In this case, I *need* to put my best foot forward and be mindful of my personal brand. What I decide to post is a reflection of my capabilities and versatility, therefore my profile *is* my resume.

On the contrary, I can see this as inefficient. What if I was the best writer in the world, but wasn’t into publicly showcasing myself or my life through a 3x3 interface on Instagram? In that sense, does that make me less of a creative person than anyone else online? What are your views on social media and the impact it has on your career or social life? Is it make or break? Is this something that you even consider when looking at someone’s Instagram?

Thirst Trap - The Importance of Staying Hydrated 

Whenever my body feels “off,” my sister always advises me to drink water. Considering the fact that she’s a registered nurse for Kaiser (s/o to Ate Jordan and all the nurses doin their thang out there), I thought that there would be more to it than *just* water. Fast forward 7 to 10 years later, I secretly praise her for this God-given advice.

Let me hit you with the facts real quick:

Up to 60% of the human body is water

Adult males need to consume about 3 liters of water per day, while an adult females needs approximately 2.2 liters per day - Issa lotta water

Basically other than blood, it’s water lmao. Did you know that your body speaks to you when it needs more water? Dry lips, hands, face? - YA BODY IS TELLING YOU IT’S THIRSTY. Tired? DRINK WATER. Hungry? DRINK WATER!

I try to bring water with me everywhere I go, even if it’s just a quick drive to Target, so I like to take my Takeya around because it keeps my water fresh and cold. Plus, it’s a more sustainable way to consume water. (Come to think of it, all I drink is water - no juice, soda, or anything like that… maybe alcohol… if it’s a Saturday night and I’ve miraculously decided to come out of my cave).

Initially when I decided to discuss the importance of hydration, I was going to give you personal advice and my opinion on why it’s essential to our being, but then I started to do some research of my own (to hit you with aforementioned facts) and learned so much more than I expected! Check it out — Water helps your body in SO MANY ways:

Maintaining weight - Most times when you think you’re hungry or need a snack, your body just craves water. (Drop the granola bar, Susan, and grab a class of H2O!)

Brain function - Drinking water can increase the oxygen and blood flow to your brain, which helps strengthen cognitive function and memory (HOW COOL! Science rules!)

Gives you energy - Have a glass before bed and right when you wake up. These are the last days of your routine trip to Starbucks. Hydrated body = energized body.  

Slows down the age process - Need I say more?

Flushes out the bad stuff - The more you drink water, the more you’ll run to the bathroom, the more you cleanse your body (resulting in smooth, clear, youthful skin). It’s that easy.  

Bye-bye Breakouts! 

No joke, my face was trippen throughout the summer, but I FINALLY got it under control - all thanks to my current skincare routine! I think I found the power combo that works for *my* skin and I thought I’d share it with you all, because who doesn’t want the secret to preventing/fighting a breakout?

Side note: My skin type is normal to oily, and rather low maintenance *but I have my moments*

Other side note: 4 out of 5 of these products can be found at Target (as if you needed another excuse to shop there) AND most of these products are confirmed to be cruelty-free!

Morning Skincare Routine:

Kale Detox Deep Cleansing Face Wash

Thayer’s Witch Hazel

Cactus & Kale Renewal Lotion

Morning Skincare Routine:

Kale Detox Deep Cleansing Face Wash

Thayer’s Witch Hazel

Cactus & Kale Renewal Lotion

The Body Shop Tea Tree Oil - Leave on overnight

Vitamin E Oil - Leave on overnight

Pacifica

Kale Detox Deep Cleansing Face Wash

This light, foamy face wash is the perfect start-and-end to my day - it gently removes any dirt and makeup left behind and leaves my face feeling fresh af. Made with coconut water, clay, power greens and antioxidants, the Kale Detox face wash helps fight my breakouts and blemishes (and overall makes my life so much better).  

Cactus & Kale Renewal Lotion

A little goes a long way with the Cactus & Kale Renewal Lotion! Harmonizing all the best aspects of cactus, kale and rose extract (the perfect trio), this moisturizer keeps my face hydrated and soft all day long.

Side note: Pacifica uses safe ingredients and recyclable packaging, and all products are gluten free, 100% vegan and cruelty free!

Thayers Witch Hazel

Rose Petal

I’m a sucker for anything with rose in it, so naturally I fell in love with Thayers Witch Hazel. It tightens my pores, moisturizes my skin, removes excess dirt and leaves my skin glowy and soft! Not to mention, the scent is amazing *drool*.

Side note: Thayers Witch Hazel is cruelty-free, gluten-free, certified organic and does not use artificial preservatives and parabens!

The Body Shop

Tea Tree Oil

Tea tree oil has been a part of my skincare routine the minute I hit puberty. I use this product religiously as spot treatment whenever I breakout. Whenever I see a blemish appear, I douse it with The Body Shop Tea Tree Oil lol! NOT TODAY.

Side note: The Body Shop is another retailer that’s in the fight against animal testing, where you can sign their petition and learn more about their campaign with Cruelty Free International here.

De La Cruz

Vitamin E Oil

Unfortunately, with every blemish, comes a scar. I like to treat dark marks with a little bit of Vitamin E oil - I leave this on overnight and wash it off in the morning. De La Cruz oil has lasted me for so long and never does me wrong. #bars