Ashanti Talks Self-Care On "She Comes First"
It takes a certain something special to have longevity in the music business, and Ashanti is a prime example. The Grammy Award-winning singer and songwriter, known for hits like "Foolish" and "Rain On Me," just celebrated the 20th anniversary of her debut self-titled album, as well as the 19th anniversary of her sophomore album Chapter II. Looking back on the millions of albums sold and hits under her belt, Ashanti is proud of the mark she's left on R&B. On this week's episode of "She Comes First," Ashanti unveils what it took to stand tall as the only woman on a male-dominated record label, and how protecting her boundaries led to a career she gets to define on her own terms.
She Comes First Podcast | Episode 4: "A Little Bit Self-Ish" featuring Ashantiyoutu.be
Looking back, Ashanti remembers being "young and naive" starting out in the game to the point where she didn't even realize how monumental it was to sell half a million copies of her first album. "[I thought] is 500,000 [copies] a good number? Did we do good? I didn't really know what was going on," she says. "I think I appreciate it now more than I did then because now I understand how much it resonated."
Ashanti, now 41, has since become an independent artist and is forging a new career on her own terms. She says her happinness now came from sticking to her guns and setting clear boundaries about what she felt was best for her career. "It was hard walking away from the seven offers from major labels," she recalls. "I remember that space and time. The boundary was, 'I'm not taking these deals that I don't like. Don't call me with that because I'm not taking a 360 [deal].' It was hard and scary, but it turned out pretty good. I'm in an amazing space right now."
Watch the full interview above!
ItGirl 100 Honors Black Women Who Create Culture & Put On For Their Cities
As they say, create the change you want to see in this world, besties. That’s why xoNecole linked up with Hyundai for the inaugural ItGirl 100 List, a celebration of 100 Genzennial women who aren’t afraid to pull up their own seats to the table. Across regions and industries, these women embody the essence of discovering self-value through purpose, honey! They're fierce, they’re ultra-creative, and we know they make their cities proud.
VIEW THE FULL ITGIRL 100 LIST HERE.
Don’t forget to also check out the ItGirl Directory, featuring 50 Black-woman-owned marketing and branding agencies, photographers and videographers, publicists, and more.
THE ITGIRL MEMO
I. An ItGirl puts on for her city and masters her self-worth through purpose.
II. An ItGirl celebrates all the things that make her unique.
III. An ItGirl empowers others to become the best versions of themselves.
IV. An ItGirl leads by example, inspiring others through her actions and integrity.
V. An ItGirl paves the way for authenticity and diversity in all aspects of life.
VI. An ItGirl uses the power of her voice to advocate for positive change in the world.
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Why You Should Implement The Closing Shift Cleaning Hack Into Your Daily Routine
A new cleaning hack could allow you to do away with Saturday cleaning altogether because your house is already tidy. Closing shift cleaning is a viral trend originally named by influencer Clara Pierce, who shared with her followers how she keeps her apartment clean and how that leads to productivity and a better overall experience in her apartment daily.
"Whenever I'm really trying to set myself up for success for the next day, I close up my apartment like I'm closing a shift at work. Sometimes, the closing shift involves cleaning my entire apartment, and other times, it involves cleaning it 10% to make sure that it's better for the next day," Pierce shared with her followers.
The Closing Shift Cleaning Hack
@clararpeirce goodnight 😴🫶🏼 #closingshift #closingshiftcleaning #nightroutine
The closing shift video has garnered over 3.8 million views, and the hashtag #closingshiftcleaning now has over 71.3 million views, proving that TikTok users are benefiting from this cleaning trend. Now that we've entered the spring equinox, I applied this trend to my own home and discovered that spending an hour tidying my home daily versus having days where I clean for hours was far more productive.
The day-to-day ways that your home can become messy with dirty dishes, clothes, boxes from packages, etc., can easily create an environment that isn't conducive to rest. My home is my sanctuary, and with a busy schedule, making time on the weekends for one big clean wasn't giving me the experience that I needed in my home.
But taking the time every night before I went to bed to clean allowed me to wake up in an environment that not only looks good but feels good for my space and my mind. It also helped me to develop a routine to clean my dog's food and drink bowls nightly so that he was also benefiting from the closing shift routine, as the FDA recommends washing pet food bowls and utensils "after each use" and cleaning water bowls daily.
Decluttering experts such as Rebekah of Organize for Love have shared similar organization skills across social media platforms and through their offerings for those looking to organize their homes and lives. In this Instagram post, she discusses the importance of scheduled decluttering as well as having a routine to clean.
Have you tried the closing shift cleaning hack for your daily routine, or are you team "get somebody else to do it" with a weekly housekeeper? Please sound off in the comments, and let's get to cleaning.
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Featured image by Rockaa/Getty Images
