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The current state of the world has made the act of prioritizing one’s well-being to the top of the list. As previously reported by AfroTech, Digital Park, a Black-owned Brooklyn-based tech startup, launched its mobile app to combat mental stress during the peak of COVID-19. Now, two years into the pandemic, a new version of Drift Wellness has been built to create even more customization for users — an integrated pulse check-in feature. According to a press release shared with AfroTech, the new update measures your BPM heart rate and creates an ambient sound tailored to your pulse. To use the innovative feature, users are to place their fingers over their phone camera and flash. Making feature updates regularly is founders Jeffery and Oyin Antwi’s intention of not being a one-and-done mobile interaction, but rather a fluid experience for users’ journeys toward steadfast growth and better health. “Mindfulness apps with the pandemic and the BLM movement in 2020 — so many apps started...
Russell Simmons , a pivotal figure in the music and fashion industries, has amassed significant wealth over the decades. This fortune stems primarily from his groundbreaking contributions to hip-hop culture, business ventures, and media endeavors. Simmons is best known as the co-founder of Def Jam Recordings, a label that helped launch the careers of iconic artists like LL Cool J, Beastie Boys, and Run-D.M.C. Building Wealth Through Music The foundation of Simmons’ net worth lies in his revolutionary work in music. Def Jam Recordings , which he co-founded with Rick Rubin in 1984, became one of the most influential labels in hip-hop history. The label’s success, fueled by signing game-changing artists, established Simmons as a major player in the music industry. By the late 1990s, he sold his stake in Def Jam to Universal Music Group for a reported $100 million, cementing his financial success. Expanding Into Fashion Simmons didn’t stop with music. In 1992, Russel Simmons ventured...
Starting your day off meaningfully and productively can set you up for success. The “success” doesn’t need to have a traditional definition of achieving more sales or closing out more projects. Success is and always will be personal . Similarly, morning routines are specific to each person and determined by physical, mental and spiritual steps. Here’s the surprising truth about morning routines and what successful people do differently. The Truth About Morning Routines Establishing a morning routine may seem like a step out of your comfort zone, but it can provide organization and relief. It’s about prioritization of what steps would have the most impact on your day in a positive way. These steps can look different than those of folks around you, but ultimately it’s about what sets you up for success personally. This could look like preparing the night before or giving yourself enough time to slowly implement your morning routine rather than rushing into it. Celebs have spoken about...
Being funny pays. Just look to TikToker DeMarcus Shawn as confirmation. Beginnings Growing up on the outskirts of Chicago, IL, he recalls always being funny, often creating skits or playfully imitating his family members. His humor translated well to the camera, and he would toss around various skit ideas with his two older brothers. With the rise of social media, leaning into it was natural for Shawn. Ultimately, he landed on TikTok as his breeding ground for content though initially his Instagram was geared towards his creative interests. @artbydemarcusshawn #fyp ♬ original sound – DemarcusShawn “I grew up doing music and learning how to sing and photography. I’m a guy that’s heavy on drawing and painting,” he told AFROTECH™. “ Those are my hobbies that I like to do. Outside of that, when I came into TikTok, it was more of what I’ve been doing with my siblings, but on a larger front.” Full-Time Content Creation Shawn was working on building his online presence while also employed...
In the realm of professional development , the conversation around authenticity and presentation continues to evolve, particularly within diverse communities. Recently, Puerto Rican Chicagoan and plus-size beauty influencer Joolie Annie has been making waves on TikTok with her series addressing the nuances of maintaining demurity in the workplace. Known for her transparency, Joolie Annie has long used her platform to challenge societal norms, embracing her identity as a plus-size transwoman despite the backlash. In this particular series, she blends sarcasm and wit to explore the often-unspoken expectations of beauty and femininity standards at work. With nearly 25 million views on her most popular video, Joolie Annie’s content resonates deeply, especially as she encourages others to embrace their authenticity and create content consistently, even when it’s challenging. Here’s how to keep it demure and mindful at work, according to Joolie Annie. Who Is Joolie Annie? Joolie Annie...
Far before Nia Long could fathom becoming a mother, she was putting in work to ensure that her future children would be able to live out their collegiate dreams. An actress best known for starring in cult classics like “Soul Food,” “The Best Man,” and “Love Jones,” Long is the mother of two sons, 23-year-old Massai Z. Dorsey II and 12-year-old Kez Sunday Udoka. During a fireside conversation hosted by Ally Financial during the 2024 American Black Film Festival, Long opened up about her journey to motherhood and how smart financial savings helped her put her eldest son through college without the help of any loans. At one point during the panel, “Money and Mindfulness: A Conversation with Nia Long,” the actress was asked what her values regarding her finances are. “One of the things is [that] I started saving for my children before I became a mother,” she recalled. “I took $3,000 and I just put [it] in this account. I was like, ‘I’m never touching that.’ And it allowed me to get my...
An existential crisis is a profound and often unsettling moment in an individual’s life when they confront fundamental questions about the meaning, purpose , and significance of their existence . It is a period of intense self-reflection and contemplation that may arise when individuals grapple with the realization of their mortality, the nature of human existence, the search for personal identity , realizations about free will and choice, and the meaning of life. It can feel heavy and overwhelming, as it consists of questioning the meaning of living at its most basic explanation. An existential crisis can not only impact your personal life, but your professional one as well. Key Aspects Of An Existential Crisis Questioning one’s purpose, direction, or reasons for living Feeling disconnected from people, activities, or values that previously gave life meaning Having a sense that life lacks inherent meaning and questioning the meaning of existence Experiencing intense boredom,...
In the digital age, the term “popcorn brain” has emerged as a metaphor for how our attention shifts from one thing to another, like the popping kernels in a bag of popcorn. Coined by researcher David Levy in 2011 , it explains the overstimulation caused by technology , leading to constant distraction and difficulty in focusing. Popcorn brain describes how our attention rapidly shifts from one thought to another. Similar to our day-to-day lives, the metaphor mirrors the fast-paced environment created by the digital world. Our minds become overwhelmed by the constant influx of information from various sources, resulting in stress and restlessness. What Is The Average Attention Span? According to CNN , Dr. Gloria Mark, a leading expert in informatics at the University of California, Irvine, states that our ability to concentrate is declining. In her book, “ Attention Span: A Groundbreaking Way to Restore Balance, Happiness, and Productivity,” Dr. Mark emphasizes decades of research in...
For professionals, a consistent morning routine can be an asset in beginning your day on the right track. With an established morning routine, whether waking up at 5 AM or 9 AM, you will have a stronger foundation to set the tone for an effective workday . If you find it hard to fall asleep before midnight, trying to force yourself into the early-rising club may lead to exhaustion. It’s essential to listen to your body’s natural rhythms. Even if mornings aren’t your strong suit, you can still establish a routine that aligns with your body’s preferences. By prioritizing consistency and finding a schedule that works for you, you can create a morning routine that sets you up for success without sacrificing sleep or well-being. Popular Steps To Include In Your Morning Routine A well-crafted morning routine can lay the foundation for a successful day ahead by setting a positive tone for your daily activities. Adding intentional habits into your morning can help you feel more focused and...
Burnout, hustle culture and grinding to exhaustion is no longer attractive to the new generation of leaders, which opens doors for employers who offer an alternative lifestyle. Creating a new standard for the workplace starts with a company culture that not only offers an extensive package of mental health resources and services, but actively encourages employees to invest time into their well-being. Here are a few of the trailblazing wellness resources that can change the game for employee well-being: Meeting Employees Where They Are There’s a big difference between offering employees wellness services and supporting “the whole person and their spectrum of care.” In order to better understand the unique needs of employees at each office, T. Rowe Price has been implementing a “test and learn” technique . For example, to help employees feel more comfortable seeking out talk therapy, the firm offered a therapist’s services for 8 hours a week in an office. After a successful test run,...
Are you ready for John Legend to put you to sleep? John Legend first teamed up with Headspace, an app for practicing mindfulness, in 2020. The two first launched “Focus Music,” as a helpful resource in the midst of the pandemic’s impact. The soundtrack’s aim was to help ease users’ stress and improve your health and focus, according to GQ. “People are concerned about the state of the world, and they have good reason to be,” John Legend told the outlet. “There are a lot of stressful things about the fact that there’s a raging pandemic, the economy’s where it is, unemployment is where it is—but there are proven techniques that help people deal with someone of those issues.” Now, in the partnership’s second year, the Grammy-award-winning singer is in the spirit of self-love, wellness, and a good night’s rest. According to a press release, Headspace has aired its debut Super Bowl commercial ahead of the annual football championship. The campaign, “Love Yourself Like A Legend,” is of the...
Wu-Tang Clan legend RZA is the latest to partner with Calm for a project. In an exclusive interview with Rolling Stone, the god revealed how his partnership with the mindfulness meditation app was part and parcel of his larger world view. “I say meditation is better than medication,” he said to the outlet while explaining that he also practices veganism and meditation as part of a holistic approach to health. “A lot of equations I had to figure out in life came to me through long walks. There was a point when people thought I was bugged out…Right before Wu-Tang had really gathered, I’d walk [on] Staten Island. I’d walk through all the neighborhoods and people would look at me and think I was talking to myself and shit. But I was contemplating. I was calculating.” The “King of the Sleeping City” — narrated by LeBron James — is actually the second project that RZA released in the so-called “mindfulness space.” The first, an EP called “Guided Explorations,” was released in partnership...
When it comes to matters of mental health, this woman wants us all to live well! Toni Jones is a loving, creative, trailblazing artist using the power of music to continue her work as a mental health advocate for women. “I use my platform in a way that is nourishing to me first,” said Jones in an interview with AfroTech. “The platforms that I use feel good to me because when you are in a place of service or innovation or anything like that, you can find yourself being all over the place and so it’s important for me to use platforms that make it easy and seamless for me.” For her, that tool is music which she distributes through DistroKid in order to avoid going through all of the streaming platforms to upload her music. It actually wasn’t until last year that she turned to music to help not only herself but others along the way. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Toni Jones| Affirmation Music (@iamtonijones) After experiencing burnout from the one-on-one sessions with...
Amidst the chaotic times brought on by COVID-19, racism in America, and the fight against racial injustice, Black Americans have been dealing with many mental stresses this year alone. Thanks to this Brooklyn tech startup, it’s found a way to help the Black community find a sense of peace during this time. Digital Park — a startup launching new technology companies and enhancing the human experience — announced the launch of their new mobile app called Drift – wellness + sleep, “a growing collection of Ultra HD videos and sounds to support mindfulness, focus, or sleep anytime and anywhere you are,” according to a press release. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Digital Park (@digitalparkstudio) The app works by creating a relaxed viewing and listening experience for users playing videos and sounds from nature, including water against rocks, birds, rain, trees, and a crackling fire. According to a press release, each video is an immersive Ultra HD experience combined that...
Need some sweet dreams? Diddy can solve that problem. Audible and Thrive Global released a sleep meditation program with the business entrepreneur titled “ Honor Yourself: Meditation Guided By Diddy. ” In a velvety, slow-talking tone, the artist now known as “Brother Love” guides listeners through a meditative rest that is perfect for bedtime. “There’s nothing to do right now but let go. By getting into bed, you sent the signal that it was time to rest. And by being here right now, resting, sinking into your breath, you’re honoring that signal,” Diddy says over New Age music, according to USA Today . “Right now, all you have to concentrate on is feeling calm, feeling relaxed, feeling at peace, feeling heavy.” Last week, he also tweeted the “free gift” to fans on Twitter. https://twitter.com/Diddy/status/1252740194987540480?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Etweet Diddy is one celebrity voice among the Amazon company’s Dream Team , which also includes recording artist...