The importance of Digital Marketing, outsourcing and how they reshaped business as we know it

February 7, 2022 — Leave a comment

Building a business is no easy task, especially when it’s not a classic brick and mortar shop in a busy street.

While all businesses rely on customers and consumers, the whole money-game is built on 3 pillars: eyeballs, attention and interest.

Setting up shop in a busy street brings you lots of eyeballs and attention, whereas your actual service and/or product bring you interest.

That’s at least how things used to be, but then came The Internet.

The internet is one of the biggest technological advancements in human history.

On one hand, taming fire, inventing the wheel, electric currents and lightbulbs, internal combustion engines, the compass, vaccines and telephones took our existence and comfort to a whole new level.

On the other hand, the internet (and computers to a great degree) instigated a silent revolution and marked the beginning of a new chapter in human history.

The internet instigated cultural shifts, political revolutions and more wealth than ever seen before (Mansa Musa was an exception). It revolutionized the way we go about our lives, the way we eat, shop, interact with each other, date, learn and evolve as a species.

Internet disruption went a step further with the creation of Blogs and Social Media platforms.

It unsettled the way we used to consume and almost killed brick and mortar, in less than 30 years of existence, mind you.

And therein lies the importance of Online Shops and Digital Media/Marketing.

Let’s talk marketing:

The internet (and Social Media) increased our reach more than anything before it.

It didn’t just connect people to people like telephones did, it connected actual THINGS to people through what we now know as e-commerce.

That’s what we call B2C (marketing) in business jargon.

Social Media made it so that you now can literally reach millions of people with just a click.

It’s wild !

That being said, nothing good comes easy, and so extensive reach and good conversion rates usually come at a price, and a hefty one at that.

In practice:

Say you want to launch a small business in your town.

Back in the day, go-to techniques to spread the word were handing out flyers, talking to your friends (word-of-mouth), asking for personal recommendations and leaving business cards everywhere you go.

These techniques could still work (potentially) if done properly, but are hardly going to keep you afloat and financially stable.

The internet, and Internet Marketing (AKA Digital Marketing/Online Marketing) to be exact, allows you to bypass all that and reach more people than you ever could with traditional marketing techniques.

Here’s how:

Social Media (marketing), websites (and landing pages) and blogs, of course.

These 3 channels are where it’s been at for the past..20 years maybe ?

That’s where most people under 65 look for things, so that’s where attention and eyeballs are.

Where to start:

PSA: The inevitables depend on your business and your niche, ALWAYS.

The inevitables for most businesses would be Google My Business, Facebook (controversial, I know), Instagram and a personal website/online shop.

In additional to those four, and depending on your business, you might want to consider a blog for the brand and educational purposes (expertise), a LinkedIn page, a YouTube and/or Tiktok channel (tutorials, how-to’s) and a Pinterest page.

On a lesser level, and once again depending on your biz, consider starting a podcast, a space on telegram, a discord as well as setting up a WhatsApp number for the brand.

The creation and management of ALL THIS requires lots of skills. It requires a lot of time and dedication, too.

After all, there’s no point in being all over the place if you aren’t constantly building and engaging with your audience.

That’s where Online Marketers / Digital Wizards come in:

The consistent management of pages and channels is hectic, tiring and even gruesome to some.

Managing AND building a community from scratch ? Different ball game altogether.

Social Media management, Advertising, Digital Communication and Branding take a LOT of skills. They take a lot of time as well.

But before we talk about all that, let’s briefly discuss branding or brand-building.

Branding:

Brand-building is difficult. It takes so much work and specific skills. It can’t be half-assed.

Brand-building also takes time, lots of it. It took some of the biggest brands in the world YEARS to get to where they are now, and that’s without factoring in the millions of dollars they each put into their marketing machine.

Brand-building entails good design, strategy, digital communication, social ads and much more.

So clearly, it’s as complex as they come. But it’s also the safest way to a prosperous business.

People often buy the brand, not the product itself.

*Open bracket*

FYI, I chose this career path, as a Brand Builder, Social Media marketer and Growth Hacker (so-to-speak), because of its complexity and challenges around it.

I grew up with Social Media and was very quickly drawn to it. I’ve been on it from day one, I was involved in it very early, I saw it grow and evolve, and so did I.

I became a freelance Social Media expert 3 years ago because I felt caged in. Most companies I’ve worked for were so rudimental when it came to marketing. That despite being multimillion dollar ones.

I’ve always wanted to instigate change. Working for the sake of working wasn’t “it” for me. I wanted more, so I went for more.

Obviously more didn’t mean more work, but rather more meaning. I wanted to become a driver of change with my clients, rather than just a pawn.

I worked my butt off and I loved it.

With more than 7 years in, my work became more about setting new standards than following the “old way“.

*Close bracket*

Once you sort out your branding, it’s time to communicate.

Good ~~digital~~ communication entails creativity, innovation, focus and efficiency. It also requires you to be open to new ideas and have an appetite for risk.

The challenge in what I do lies in the fickleness of human behavior. Marketing is all about human behavior.

Skills are important but understanding your audience, your leads and customers is what gets you over the line, never forget that.

Going full circle:

I wrote this post to explain the importance of online presence and branding. I also want to encourage (small) business owners to outsource complex tasks as much as they can. It’s vital.

Many (most) beginners and business owners prefer saving a few bucks and doing it all by themselves. That strategy always backfires, unless you’re a marketing expert.

By refusing to outsource these functions, you will likely waste weeks, months or even years of your business. You’re also likely to waste lots of money and “brand currency“.

Brand currency is what people know you for. Once people know you for something, it’ll take triple the amount of efforts, time and money to rebrand yourself and your business.

You can avoid all that hassle by simply outsourcing the vital functions of your business.

What you gain from outsourcing:

Time and energy: If you don’t particularly enjoy spending time on all the above-mentioned tasks, you’re likely to hit a brick wall doing it yourself. It can be overwhelming and extremely time-consuming, obviously.
Focus: Because there’s nothing more frustrating when starting a business than distraction, outsourcing gives you a breath of fresh air and more freedom to focus on the business itself.
A QUALITY Social Media post, an update on Google My Business or a blogpost could take hours to create. Don’t waste your time communicating when you already have millions of things to handle elsewhere.
Burnout: Doing it all by yourself could potentially cause you to give up. Real business starts when all the excitement wears out. Outsourcing helps avoid that.
Social Ads are complex: it may not seem like it (or does it?) but social ads are as complex as they come. There are so many factors to factor in, and so much tinkering to do as you go. It actually took me years to learn the ins and outs of Social Ads, and I’m still learning, esp. since the introduction of iOS14. I have a masters in that stuff mind you, and more than 7 years working with different clients. That’s how much work went into it. Never underestimate the work of others just because they make it look so simple, so smooth, it usually never is.
Creatives and designs deserve special attention and care: Anyone can create content, but to create engaging, fun and converting content is a different ball-game. Obviously, like everything, it’s a learning curve, but would you rather spend 6 hours/day managing your socials or actually building your project, prospecting and growing your business ?

Outsource. It’s worth it.

Downsizing tips from an eco-essentialist

January 4, 2022 — Leave a comment

The trinity of downsizing:

Sell

Donate

Trash

Most of the stuff we buy throughout the years will either end up sold, donated or trashed.

It’s sad, but it’s also inevitable.

That’s one of the main reasons why I became a minimalist in for first place.

When I look at the number of things I owned throughout my life, I can’t help but feel guilty..

Guilty because most of it went out the window at one point or another, guilty because there definitely are people who can’t afford half the stuff we buy carelessly

Guilty because consumerism is so ingrained in our modern societies that we hardly question our spending habits.

Minimalism allowed me to shift my mindset completely, so the least I can do is simplify the process by sharing some of my tips with those looking to live mindfully and sustainably.

“But what do I do with all the stuff I own ? It’s already been made, bought and used (for most part)?”

That’s the type of question I usually get.

The answer is quite simple:

Sell: if you need the money and want your most valuable things to have a second life

Donate: if you don’t need the money and want your things to be repurposed and help people in need (Charity, NGOs, Homeless Shelters..)

Trash: everything that can’t be repurposed, sold or recycled. It’s unfortunate but don’t beat yourself up too much, it happens to the best of us.

Where to go from here?

Here’s a short list of things you can turn to if you want to minimize further. Some of these tips hint at frugalism as well.

Avoid eating out and getting take outs. Take out foods are usually less healthy and way more expensive than home cooked meals. Learning how and what to cook is a useful skill for a better life, health wise and financially as well
Stop “treating yourself” when you can’t even pay off your debt and loans. Focus on the things that truly matter to you, and things that could have a lasting effect. Perhaps you could treat yourself to some cooking or baking classes, that way you won’t have to overspend every time you crave something. Same goes with most skills (yoga, fitness, cooking, handywork..)
Stop seeking instant gratification. Instant gratification is one of our era’s worst nightmares. It’s responsible for depression, anxiety, people feeling lost, so on and so forth. Refraining from social media use is one of the best things you could do to heal from this disease, news fasts* are also very effective in that regard
Avoid fast fashion AT ALL COSTS. I know it’s convenient and cheap, but what comes easy never lasts. Also, it’s highly destructive to both nature and the humans behind it (btw click on the link if you’re not familiar with this industry, the video’s super dope and it’s only 8 mins long)
One grocery trip twice a month should be enough. Meal planning (and prepping) helps a lot as it decreases overspending, and waste, of course
Shopping online is better as it allows you to browse similar products to the ones you’re looking for, and find the ones that best fit your needs
Go organic as much as you can. Health is important and bad health is extremely costly !
Go for one time purchases. For example, start using linen napkins instead of paper towels
This one’s quite personal and something I’m working towards but I always try to favor cash instead of credit/debit cards
Minimize unnecessary subscriptions – cloud storage, streaming services, music services, apps, gym, website memberships, meal delivery, monthly installments.. I’m sure we all have subscriptions we hardly ever use

Beside all this, digital minimalism is also something you could look further into:

Delete all the apps you don’t use regularly
Sift through and delete all the unread/undesired emails in your mailbox. Here’s the real cost of your full mailbox
Unsubscribe from all the lists that keep sending you updates, offers and newsletters that you hardly ever read. It may not seem like it but most of that stuff is costly in mental energy (c.f. decision fatigue), carbon emissions and anxiety
Organize your photos in folders and delete all copies and similar photos
Disable unnecessary notifications, especially the ones on social media. I personally only kept incoming calls and text message, as those are the ones I use the most with my family and friends

Reach out to me or leave me a comment if you have any specific questions, I’m always happy to help 🙂

*A news fast implies opting out of watching the news on TV, listening the radio, reading newspapers, or following the news on social media and other internet outlets.

Life in Lyon, mostly pros and some cons

December 14, 2021 — 1 Comment

My Honest Experience After Three Years

Lyon was the city where I became an adult.

I moved there to study at university and stayed for three years. During those three years, I learned how to live on my own, manage money, make mistakes and figure out what kind of life I wanted.

Would I move back?

Probably not.

Would I recommend it?

Absolutely, to the right person.

Those two answers aren’t contradictory.

I’ve lived in several countries and cities since then, so I naturally compare Lyon with many other places. Looking back, I appreciate it much more today than I did while I was actually living there.

It’s not my favorite city in France.

It never felt like home.

But that’s okay.

Some cities aren’t meant to be your final destination. They’re meant to prepare you for whatever comes next.

Lyon did exactly that.

If you’re thinking about moving there, studying there or you’re simply curious about what everyday life is like, here’s my honest experience, the good, the bad and everything in between.

Big enough to keep you busy, small enough to breathe

One of the first things I appreciated about Lyon was its size.

It’s a proper city.

You’ll find concerts, museums, football matches, festivals, universities and pretty much everything you’d expect from one of France’s biggest urban areas.

Yet it never felt overwhelming.

I’ve spent time in cities where leaving the house already feels exhausting. Too many people. Too much traffic. Too much noise.

Lyon never gave me that feeling.

You can cross the city without turning it into an expedition. After a while, you start recognizing neighborhoods instead of feeling lost in them.

I think Lyon found a balance that many cities never do.

It’s large enough that you’ll rarely run out of things to do.

It’s small enough that everyday life still feels manageable.

Public transportation is one of Lyon’s biggest strengths

I’ve always believed that a good city is one where you don’t need to think about transportation.

Lyon is one of those cities.

The metro works.

The trams work.

The buses work.

The funicular still feels fun no matter how many times you take it.

Most days, I simply left my apartment and went wherever I needed without thinking twice about how I’d get there.

That’s probably the highest compliment I can give any transportation system.

I’ve lived in places where owning a car felt almost mandatory.

Lyon wasn’t one of them.

Even today, if someone asked me which French city impressed me most when it comes to public transportation, Lyon would easily make my shortlist.

Its location is almost unfair

If I had to choose Lyon’s biggest advantage, this would probably be it.

You’re close to almost everything.

The Alps.

Switzerland.

Italy.

Southern France.

Paris.

Whether you enjoy hiking, skiing or simply taking weekend trips, Lyon makes it ridiculously easy.

Some of my favorite memories from those three years weren’t actually in Lyon.

They were outside it.

I spent weekends hiking around Grenoble, exploring Annecy, discovering Aix-les-Bains and getting lost in places I’d never heard of before moving there.

Annecy quickly became one of my favorite places in France.

If you’ve never been, put it on your list.

Seriously.

Living in Lyon made all those trips possible.

Instead of spending every weekend in the same city, I could keep discovering somewhere new.

That suited me perfectly.

I’ve never been someone who enjoys staying in one place for too long.

Student life

Lyon has a reputation for being one of France’s best student cities.

From what I saw, it deserves it.

The universities attract students from all over France and abroad. There are always events happening, cafés full of students and plenty of nightlife if that’s your thing.

It wasn’t really mine.

I’ve never been much of a drinker.

While many of my classmates spent Thursday nights in bars, I was usually somewhere else.

Watching football.

Learning about investing.

Trying to earn money.

Or simply enjoying a quiet evening.

I had just left home, and my priorities were different.

I wanted to become independent.

I wanted to stop relying on my parents as quickly as possible.

So my experience of Lyon probably wasn’t the typical student experience.

That doesn’t mean the city lacked nightlife.

Quite the opposite.

It simply means I chose a different path.

And looking back, I wouldn’t change it.

The People

If there’s one thing I never fully connected with in Lyon, it was the people.

Before anyone gets offended, let me explain.

I’d lived in several countries across four continents by then (6 by now). Every place has its own personality, and every person experiences it differently. This is simply how I felt during my three years there.

Compared with other places I’d lived, people in Lyon often seemed more reserved. Conversations didn’t happen as naturally. Making friends took time.

That doesn’t mean people were cold.

In fact, once you got to know them, many were kind, loyal and welcoming.

The first step just felt a little harder.

Ironically, some of the friendliest interactions I had weren’t in the neighborhoods people usually recommend.

The neighborhoods everyone warned me about

Whenever Vénissieux or Les Minguettes came up, people usually had something negative to say.

Crime.

Poverty.

Avoid them.

That was the reputation.

Then I actually went there.

What I found were families doing their shopping, kids playing outside, neighbors talking to one another and people simply living their lives.

Were there problems?

Of course.

No one should pretend those neighborhoods don’t face real social and economic challenges.

But reducing entire communities to their crime statistics never sat right with me.

Those visits reminded me of something I’ve experienced in many countries.

Places are rarely as simple as their reputation.

Some of the wealthiest neighborhoods I’ve visited felt emotionally empty.

Some of the poorest felt surprisingly alive.

Lyon reinforced that lesson.

The city where I stopped eating meat

Most people associate Lyon with food.

It’s often called the gastronomic capital of France.

Ironically, it’s also where I stopped eating meat.

When I arrived in Lyon, I was still omnivorous. That said, I never really enjoyed meat.

I mostly ate it because everyone around me did.

Then I started having recurring digestive problems.

One day I simply thought:

Enough. Not because I knew it was the issue, simply because I stopped liking it.

To my surprise, many of my digestive problems disappeared.

At the time, I became pescatarian.

Years later, that decision eventually led me to veganism, but that’s another story for another day.

So whenever someone asks me about Lyon’s famous cuisine, I smile a little.

Most people remember Lyon because they discovered French food.

I remember it because I discovered I didn’t want to eat red meat anymore.

Funny how life works.

Cost of living

Lyon isn’t cheap.

Then again, compared with Paris, it almost feels affordable.

Housing was my biggest expense, just like it is for most people.

Finding an apartment wasn’t always easy either.

French administration loves paperwork.

Sometimes it feels like you need paperwork to prove you have paperwork.

If you’re moving from abroad, be prepared.

You’ll probably hear words like garant, dossier and justificatif more often than you’d like.

Once I got through all of that, everyday life became much easier.

Public transportation kept transportation costs low.

Walking was often faster than driving.

And because I wasn’t someone who spent every weekend partying, my student budget stretched surprisingly well.

My favorite places

Even years later, certain places immediately come back to me.

Fourvière

If you only visit one place in Lyon, make it Fourvière.

The basilica dominates the city, but honestly, I remember the view just as much as the building itself.

Standing up there, Lyon suddenly makes sense.

You can see how the city grew around the Rhône and the Saône.

It’s one of those places where you naturally slow down for a few minutes.

Vieux Lyon

Yes, it’s touristy.

Yes, you should still go.

I never got tired of wandering through its narrow streets.

Sometimes I’d intentionally take a different route just to see where I’d end up.

That’s usually the best way to explore old cities.

Parc de la Tête d’Or

I’ve always believed every city needs somewhere people can simply exist without spending money.

Parc de la Tête d’Or is that place.

You can walk.

Read.

Exercise.

Sit under a tree.

Or do absolutely nothing.

Cities need spaces like that.

Probably more than shopping malls.

Along the rivers

The Rhône and the Saône quietly became part of my routine.

Sometimes I’d walk for no particular reason.

Sometimes I’d stop and watch people cycling past.

Other times I’d just sit there.

Not every memorable place has to be spectacular.

Sometimes it’s enough that it makes you slow down.

Football

Anyone who knows me knew this section was coming.

Olympique Lyonnais was impossible to ignore while living there.

Watching matches at Gerland became part of my time in Lyon, I truly loved it.

Football has a way of connecting you to a city, even when you know you won’t stay forever.

What I didn’t love

As much as I appreciate Lyon today, I never felt a strong desire to stay.

Part of that had nothing to do with the city itself.

Even in my early twenties, I knew I wanted to keep exploring the world. Lyon was never meant to be my final destination. It was simply the next chapter.

The weather didn’t always help either.

If you enjoy long, sunny summers and mild winters, Lyon might disappoint you. Winters often felt gray, and snowy, and after a while I found myself craving the ocean.

That’s one of the reasons I eventually fell in love with southwest France.

I also never developed the emotional connection I later felt with other places.

Some cities grab you almost immediately.

Lyon never did that for me.

It earned my respect long before it earned my affection.

Looking back, those are two very different things.

Would I move back?

Probably not.

Not because there’s anything wrong with Lyon.

Simply because today I know what I’m looking for.

I need nature close by.

I prefer smaller cities.

I love being able to reach the ocean within minutes.

I enjoy quieter places where life feels a little slower.

Lyon doesn’t pretend to be that city, and I wouldn’t ask it to be.

That doesn’t make it worse.

It just makes it different.

So, who is Lyon actually for?

If you’re a student, I think Lyon is one of the best choices in France.

If you enjoy public transportation, you’ll probably love it.

If you like having concerts, museums, football matches and weekend trips all within easy reach, Lyon has a lot to offer.

If you enjoy hiking or skiing, its location alone is almost enough to convince you.

If you’re looking for your first experience living away from home, it’s a city where it’s relatively easy to become independent.

On the other hand, if your dream is living beside the sea, spending every weekend at the beach or escaping into nature within a few minutes, there are probably better places.

And if warm weather is essential to your happiness, Lyon’s winters may eventually wear you down.

Three years that changed me

When I moved to Lyon, I thought I was moving there to get a degree.

Looking back, I learned much more than what happened inside a classroom.

It’s where I learned how to live alone.

It’s where I started managing my own money.

It’s where I stopped eating meat after years of digestive problems and eventually began the journey that would later lead me to veganism.

It’s where I realized I cared more about freedom than status.

More about experiences than possessions.

More about discovering the world than settling in one place.

Lyon didn’t turn me into the person I am today.

But it helped shape that person.

For that, I’ll always be grateful.

Verdict

Would I recommend Lyon?

Yes.

Without hesitation.

Not because I think it’s the greatest city in France.

Not because it’s perfect.

No city is.

I’d recommend it because it’s a city that works.

It offers opportunities without the intensity of Paris.

It has excellent public transportation.

It’s beautiful without feeling like an open-air museum.

It’s surrounded by incredible places to discover.

And if you’re willing to make the effort, you can build a very good life there.

Would I choose to live there again?

No.

My life has taken me in a different direction.

But every time I think about Lyon, I remember the city where I became independent, where I challenged old habits, where I grew up, and where I quietly started building the life I live today.

Some cities become your home.

Others become part of your story.

For me, Lyon will always be the latter.

Thanks for reading.

Teekay

Update (2026): I lived in Lyon over a decade ago. While things like housing prices, bike infrastructure and vegan options have evolved since then, this article remains an honest account of what it was like to live there and the lessons I took away from those three years.

How minimalism and slow-living can enhance your happiness

December 1, 2021 — 1 Comment

Yo, another article about minimalism ?

Well, not exactly. Instead of going at this in a classic post, Imma try a different way: bullet points.

EVERYONE’s got time to read bullet points !

So, here’s a breakdown of my philosophy:

On a practical level,

Less stuff usually means
Less money spent, which also means
Less time spent shopping, which in turn means
Less need for MORE money.

Less stuff also means

Less time looking for stuff (phone, wallet, keys..), which leads to less decision fatigue. It also means
Less time spent on maintenance and cleaning (Floor, closet, doing laundry, washing piled up dishes and utensils)

Owning less stuff quickly translates into more fulfillment and appreciation:

You start enjoying what you have a lot more (less choice = more appreciation for what we have, ask your grandparents), it also means
More space, because your home now feels more spacious, cleaner, comfortable..notice how the best spas, hotels, yoga farms all have one thing in common: a minimalistic look and feel? It’s no coincidence, clutter wears us out.

Having less stuff also means

You now can be more lazy, since there’s nothing to clean up, declutter or “take care of”.

Furthermore,

The stuff that surrounds us is often a distraction to our peace. Achieving inner peace starts with decluttering the spaces we spend most time in. Get rid of all the junk sitting around and you’ll literally feel like a weight has been lifted off your shoulders.

On a personal level, owning less translates into:

Seeking less validation from others. When you stop filling voids with stuff and addressing your problems and insecurities, outside validation stops making sense and becomes irrelevant.
The less you own, the less you’ll feel the need to compare yourself to others.
The less you compare yourself to others, the less you care what others think of you.
The less you care what others think of you, the less you need to boast.

Besides,

The less you own, the more time you have to pay attention to your loved ones and their wellbeing. Caring for other is important as it helps us find balance and steer clear of narcissism and self-absorption.
Owning less also means you can focus on more. Now that you have more time off, you can start conquering new grounds, getting out of your comfort zone and experiencing new things.

On a practical level, owning less and shopping less will leave you with:

More free time to do whatever you want and
Your home is now ~~almost~~ always ready to receive guests !

On an ethical and moral levels,

The less stuff you consume, the less exploitation and waste, which is great for the environment
Extra points if you love thrifting and vintage clothing !

Last but not least, on a neurological level,

Less stuff, decluttered and organized spaces boost creativity and productivity
Owning less also increases mental clarity, hence my podcast btw (shameless plug)

All in all, marketing (and most importantly neuromarketing) and advertising are two extremely powerful tools, tools that can make ANYONE act irrationally.

Been there, done that !

The yearning for validation, acceptance and gratification is addictive and can easily degrade your mental health, your financial situation and your overall wellbeing.

Slow Living and minimalism, aka eco-essentialism, will save you from overt consumerism and all its rather evident pitfalls.

What to get a minimalist on a special occasion ?

November 29, 2021 — Leave a comment

Gift-giving used to be fun.

Used to.

Gifts became customary as an expression of friendship, neighbourliness and peace between nations. It used to be a meaningful exchange of ~~somewhat useful~~ stuff.

Things’ve changed though.

Gift-giving quickly became something many of us dread. Even more so if you’re a mindful-eco-essentialist, aka a minimalist.

When I first became a minimalist, I became so much more aware of all the things I was buying.

I refrained from buying so many things that used to feel “essential” but weren’t at all.

As I eased into this lifestyle, I learned how to make minimalism my own.

As time went buy, being a mindful consumer became second nature. Buying stuff wasn’t part of who I was anymore, quite the opposite actually.

Just like veganism, most people think minimalists deprive themselves from the things they once loved.

WRONG.

We just refocused our attention and energy on the things that truly matter, things that bring us happiness and FULFILLMENT.

Consumerism is an addiction, a way we all use to fill the void in us.

As a minimalist (or mindful-eco-essentialist), I don’t need to fill that void with stuff anymore, cause it ain’t there.

Instead of packing my life up with shit, I now deal with my problems at face value.

Grown up shit.

Anyway, so as I eased into minimalism, I stopped feeling the need for excessive shopping, excessive eating, excess in everything.

My minimalism soon turned into mindful consumerism, and then into mindful-eco-essentialism.

I still call it minimalism, but like I said in this post, the current terminology doesn’t do this exceptional movement and lifestyle justice.

Anyway, back to the main topic. Here’s a list of gift ideas for your minimalist friends:

Minimalists (myself at least) love experiencing new things and adventures. Take your minimalist friends and/or loved ones somewhere they’ve always wanted to go. It could be a trampoline park, a museum, a hike, an amusement park, whatever. Minimalists collect memories so this would defo make their day(s)
Get them tickets to an expo, museum, spa. Entertaining a minimalist ain’t that hard, just do your research
Food. Everybody loves food, so find what the giftee’s food preferences are and surprise them with their favorite snacks/dish/cakes/fruits
Plane/train/boat tickets. We all love going places so if you’re about that life, a plane ticket could go a long way
Money. The safest choice of them all. We can all do with a bit of extra cash
A replacement for something they’ve been complaining about. It could be a pair of socks, an ergonomic beanbag, a set of AirPods, a leakproof travel tumbler (or lay-flat water bottle), it all depends on your means and what said person truly needs
Plants. I’d swap all my stuff with plants if I could. Plants add life to a room, they’re like cute, SILENT and barf-free little babies. Plants are awesome dawg !
Printed photos of your adventures together. In the age of digital, some minimalists love being analog. Classic prints are awesome
I love lectures and conferences, so if anyone were to get me free tickets to a lecture about a topic I care about, I’d be over the moon !
Gas gift cards: gas is so expensive nowadays so if your minimalist friend owns a car, you know what to do !
A handwritten note. The best gift I ever got from the wifey was a handwritten note expressing her love towards me. Works for friends too
And on that same note (pun unintended), postcards. Extra points in you live abroad 🤩

Last but not least, do not, and I repeat, DO NOT UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES gift a minimalist clothes, utensils, shoes, trinkets, decorations or ANYTHING they haven’t asked for.

We hate stuff, really, we hate stuff more than anything.

WATCH: 18 Documentaries That Will Change the Way You Eat (with trailers)

November 8, 2021 — Leave a comment

Updated on December 31st 2022

This may come as a surprise to some, but prior to going vegan, I’d only met ONE vegan person in my entire life.

I was 25 years old when I went vegan.

The one thing that’s helped me (and many other vegans) learn about this lifestyle is documentary film.

Veganism was so underground back in the day. Before the Internet and Social Media, access to untampered data was quite a task.

People weren’t catered to, unlike what we’re seeing today.

So therein lies the importance of filmmakers and content creators, who are, IMHO, the real game changers.

I went vegan thanks to the first vegan documentary film I’ve ever seen. Cowspiracy was IT for me!

Thank you, Kip Andersen ! You’ve literally changed my life.

Below is a list of 15 eye-opening documentaries exposing the harms (and war) of animal agriculture, meat, dairy and fishing industries on the animal kingdom, on our health, culture and planet as a whole.

Let’s dive right in.

Dominion.

Probably the best one of all, Dominion shows the many ways in which animals are regularly abused. It thoroughly exposes the dark underbelly of modern animal agriculture through drones, hidden & handheld cameras. Available on Youtube.

Cowspiracy.

My personal favorite, along with next two on this list. Available on Netflix.

Seaspiracy.

Seaspiracy is the groundbreaking documentary which seeks to expose the fishing industries impact on the world’s oceans and overall environment. It tackles forced labor and animal rights in a never-before seen manner. A must watch ! Available on Netflix.

What The Health.

This film examines the link between diet and disease, and the billions of dollars at stake in the healthcare, pharmaceutical and food industries. Another must watch especially if you’re a health geek like me. Available on Netflix.

Forks Over Knives.

Forks Over Knives empowers people to live healthier lives by changing the way the world understands nutrition. Another masterpiece for health-conscious geeks. Available on Prime.

The Game Changers.

A documentary about plant-based eating, protein, and strength. Presented by James Cameron, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Jackie Chan and many more. Available on Netflix.

Eating Our Way to Extinction.

A cinematic feature documentary, narrated by Kate Winslet (2021). A masterpiece.

Milked.

A feature documentary that exposes the whitewash of New Zealand’s multi-billion-dollar dairy industry.

Kiss The Ground.

Narrated and featuring Woody Harrelson (I love that guy!), Kiss the Ground is an inspiring and groundbreaking film that reveals the first viable solution to our climate crisis. Available on Youtube.

Earthlings.

An animal rights documentary by activist and Oscar-winning actor Joaquin Phoenix.

Plantpure Nation.

A documentary that highlights the importance of a plant-based diet for a health life and longevity.

Eating You Alive.

A documentary about curing chronic disease with a whole food plant based diet. Features James Cameron.

The Milk System.

This documentary sheds light on one of the filthiest industries and the harms of dairy on our health.

Land of Hope and Glory.

A documentary that features never before seen undercover footage of what goes on behind closed doors, by Earthling Ed.

HOGWOOD: a modern horror story.

“Through careful marketing and misleading labels, we are led to believe that farmed animals are well cared for and that eating meat is natural, normal and necessary. It’s time to uncover the truth.”

Vegan 2022 – The film (full).

Meat The End (full).

Land of Hope and Glory.

Bonus: Rotten. (Netflix Series)

A series that exposes what goes on behind the scenes to cater to our selfish culinary needs. Absolutely worthwhile.

Are you vegan? Have you ever considered going vegan? Do you understand what veganism is all about?

Drop me a line below, I’d be more than happy to help you transition and answer all your questions as best I can.

This is a judgment-free zone, allow yourself to learn and grow.

The most valuable lessons I’ve learned since becoming a minimalist

March 1, 2021 — Leave a comment

Minimalism made me reevaluate what time means to me and how much of it is wasted doing essentially nonsense.

Minimalism makes you wonder, do I enjoy spending all my free time cleaning and doing maintenance? Do I like spending so much time in stores? Do I enjoy working so many hours and/or side jobs to pay for stuff that is mostly wants or impulse buys instead of needs?

The beauty of minimalism is that it doesn’t force us to do anything, it’s all about the freedom to choose and the power that comes from making decisions based on awareness instead of being ruled by unconscious impulses and societal conditioning (hello neuromarketing).

I don’t know why it took me so long to realize this, but having fewer dishes or less clothes doesn’t allow it to pile up. If you want a clean plate or outfit, you have to keep them clean.

About that, here’s a short and yet perfect story on how to deal with laundry, by Matt d’Avella.

To take this a step further, since becoming a minimalist, I noticed that I now need less self-discipline, since there is no other option than to wash whatever is dirty, and since there isn’t much to maintain and keep up with.

This could be summed up in an extremely simple reasoning: minimizing entails having less work to do.

How ? A simple equation:

Less stuff = less work = less stress

When my go-to isn’t buying more or calling anyone for help, I become more resourceful and creative with what I have.

The other amazing thing about minimalism is that the momentum of enthusiasm created by downsizing/organizing one area of your physical life carries over into others. You want to experience the thrill of accomplishment again and again.

Moreover, as a minimalist, I’ve stopped ignoring my problems, and instead started focusing on them, and minimizing them.

Less stuff also means less decisions, which undoubtedly leads to less decision fatigue.

Once you do not use up your decision making power in non-essential things (such as what to wear or which cup to use) you have more energy in making more important decisions.

A personal uniform could be the answer for some, not necessarily something that works for me though ^^

Last but not least, I think minimalism promotes self-mastery.

Minimalism helps you question everything and consider how temporary the ecstasy of (insert thing) will be.

I think that’s deep.

What is “pattern interruption” and how does it help enhance your fulfillment in life ?

February 1, 2021 — Leave a comment

Patterns are part of our lives.

Positive patterns are seemless and necessary.

For instance, our bodies follow millions of patterns to keep functioning.

Breathing, sleeping and the beating of our hearts are some of the most vital patterns of our bodies.

That being said, this blogpost is more about exploring negative patterns and explaining how breaking said patterns can enhance our quality of life.

You see, negative patterns are just as easy as bodily ones to repeat.

Life patterns vary in severity, but they all have a commonality: they tend to recur.

Here’s a list of negative patterns many of us are familiar with:

Procrastination
Constant struggles with weight (emotional eating, weight loss..)
Porn addiction (👈 podcast episode)
Relationship conflicts
Financial burdens
Issues at work
Heavy drinking
Drug addiction
Smoking
Falling for the same toxic people in our lives

The problem with patterns is that at times, it may seem like the problem is gone, but then it repeats after some time, hence making it a pattern.

If you notice negative patterns in your life and if said patterns have occured far too many times to be a coincidence, something is definitely up.

That said, the good thing about patterns is that some of them will keep repeating themselves until you learn the lesson associated with it, which then breaks the loop.

Here’s the point of this blogpost:

Pattern interruption is key to help you prolong your perception of time.

Let me explain.

When we interrupt or break out patterns, the mundane things of our lives start disappearing.

As they disappear, our perception of time starts changing.

It’s pretty simple, our brains love patterns because they usually allow us to be on autopilot.

Living as such may preserve your energy, but boredom is a silent killer. It’s not just physical but psychological suicide.

Here are a few extremely easy habits you can adopt to give life to your life:

Meeting new people. Meeting new people is a fun challenge cause you never know who you’re going to stumble upon. People are funny, surprising, sometimes mean but some other times extremely kind. People are intriguing, and meeting new ones give us life, because shared experiences are the only way you can give something without losing anything.
Taking different routes to work, training, school. It might sound very simplistic, but there’s evidence from the world of psychology that suggests doing could increase your creativity and ability to innovate. Small changes make the biggest difference, remember that !
Learning a new language. Languages are the window to the world. Language learning can seem challenging at first, but once you start picking it up, everything changes. Your whole perception of the world, and YOUR WORLD, changes. You’re now going to be able to connect with more people, to grow your knowledge, to better understand another (or several other) culture. Language learning is easily accessible to everyone. Multilingualism has been shown to have many social, psychological and lifestyle advantages. Moreover, researchers are finding a swathe of health benefits from speaking more than one language, including faster stroke recovery and delayed onset of dementia. There’s a plethora of cognitive advantages of multilingualism.
Working from a different office. Working from a different office or spot will add some flavor to your daily life. You’re also more likely to connect with other people, or see things that you wouldn’t have otherwise.
Trying a new coffee shop in your hometown. Be a tourist in your own town. Take a stroll on a monday morning, talk to people like you would if you were visiting. Being stiff and uptight is the best way to speed up aging. Ain’t nobody got time for that !
Exploring a new area on a hike. Hiking is the perfect way to challenge yourself, your cognitive senses and physical shape. It’s also the best way to disconnect from everything and reconnect with nature, and yourself.
Switching up your workout routine. The reason most people struggle with fitness is because they tend to stick to one workout routine for far too long, switch it up already fam !
Seek out awe inspiring experiences. Those usually take place away from home. It’s almost always the case. Go out, stroll around, pick up your car and drive somewhere you’d never been. It’s by seeking new adventures that we find ourselves. (bro let’s be honest, I’m killing it with these quotes !!)
Learn about something you never thought you would. I’m considering taking up knitting, cause why not ? The yearning for new experiences is what makes me feel fulfilled and alive. That’s how I got into podcasting, blogging and how I picked up hiking in the first place.

I think you get the point.

My life is all about avoiding the status quo and COMFORT. Yours should be too.

New experiences and pattern interruption reverse engineer aging.

Let’s get it !

Food and supplements checklist before going vegan

November 2, 2020 — Leave a comment

No fluff, just facts.

1. Vitamin B12

Can be found in: tempeh, cremini mushrooms, nutritional yeast, and supplements (which are very highly recommended).

Vitamin B12 helps keep your body’s blood and nerve cells healthy. You need B12 to make red blood cells, which carry oxygen through your body. It also helps prevent dementia and reduce birth defects.

Vitamin B12 also helps prevent megaloblastic anemia, a blood condition that makes people tired and weak, so signs of B12 deficiency usually include tiredness, fatigue and dizziness.

A lack of vitamin B12 can cause neurological problems as well, which affect your nervous system.

2. Proteins

Can be found in: seitan, quinoa, natural soy (tofu, miso, tempeh, edamame, soy milk), lentils, beans (black), chickpeas, nutritional yeast, hemp seeds, green peas, spirulina, chia seeds, nuts and nut butters (also contain antioxidants), artichoke, sweet potatoes, asparagus, spinach broccoli, blackberries, guava, banana.

Proteins are a critical part of the processes that fuel your energy and carry oxygen throughout your body.

Proteins also help make antibodies. Your antibodies are there to fight off infections and illnesses. Besides, proteins also keep your cells healthy and create new ones.

3. Iron

Can be found in: lentils, red bell peppers, spinach, mushrooms, soybeans, carrots, broccoli, quinoa, oatmeal, sunflower seeds, leafy greens, dried raisins, chickpeas, tomatoes, potatoes, corn, beats, seeds and nuts.

Vitamin C helps better absorption. Vitamin C can be easily found in citrus, red peppers, broccoli.

Iron is an essential element for blood production. About 70% of our body’s iron is found in the red blood cells of our blood called hemoglobin and in muscle cells called myoglobin.

Hemoglobin is essential for transferring oxygen in our blood from the lungs to the tissues.

About 6% of body iron is a component of certain proteins, essential for respiration and energy metabolism.

Tea and coffee decrease iron absorption.

4. Iodine

Can be found in: iodised salt, navy beans and baked potatoes.

Iodine plays a vital role in thyroid health. The thyroid gland, located at the base of the front of our necks, helps regulate hormone production. These hormones control our metabolism and heart health.

Deficiency causes goître.

5. Calcium

Can be found in: fortified tofu, rice, oat and soya drinks, sesame seeds, tahini, dried fruits (raisins and prunes).

Calcium is a mineral that is necessary for life. In addition to building bones and keeping them healthy, calcium enables our blood to clot, our muscles to contract, and our heart to beat.

Every day, we lose calcium through our skin, nails, hair, sweat, urine and feces. Our body doesn’t produce its own calcium.

Deficiency causes cramps, insomnia and low bone density.

6. Vitamin D

Can be found in: sun exposure and/or supplements, extremely important for calcium absorption.

2000UI/day is a health dose, some take up to 4000UI/day.

A healthy dose of vitamin D can prevent mild Covid-19 symptoms and lower risks of death.

7. Zinc

Can be found in: lentils, green peas, white beans, corn and oatmeal. Needed for proper immune system function, antioxidant, wound healing.

Zinc is used by the body in COUNTLESS ways. It is found in cells throughout the whole body. It helps the immune system fight off invading bacteria and viruses. The body also needs zinc to make proteins and DNA.

You must get a constant zinc supply through your diet. Supplements during cold season are highly recommended.

8. Riboflavin (B2)

Can be found in: whole grains, almonds, sesame seeds, spirulina, mushroom, quinoa, nuts, broccoli, brewer’s yeast, Brussel sprouts, wheat germ, wild rice, mushrooms, soybeans, green leafy vegetables and whole grain and enriched cereals and bread.

It plays a huge role in energy production in the body.

It helps the body break down carbohydrates, proteins and fats to produce energy, and it allows oxygen to be used by the body.

It is flushed out of the body daily, so it must be restored each day.

Hemp seeds, dates, figs, grapes, granola bars, garlic and turmeric boost your immune system.

Drinking water first thing as well.

Minimalism: removing things that remove you from your life

April 5, 2019 — 2 Comments

From owning 51 pairs of shoes to less than 40 overall clothing items, how did I get here?

I could write a whole book about the many benefits of minimalism.

I talk a lot about minimalism and mindfulness on my podcast.

I truly and wholeheartedly believe this lifestyle can spark a change in the world, help people feel happier, lighter, achieve financial stability, work less and live more.

There are no good arguments against minimalism, just like there are none against veganism, but that’s another story.

That said, lately I’ve been exploring a different terminology. I felt as though the term “minimalism” wasn’t impactful enough.

Hear me out.

Most of us think we know what minimalism is, or what it entails. We don’t, not really.

The word “minimalism” is somewhat self-explanatory, which, IMHO, doesn’t do it justice.

This really got me thinking, so I decided to come up (or explain further) my own ~~work-in-progress~~ minimalism, which is a bit extreme, so I call it mindful essentialism, or just essentialism.

Why “essentialism” you ask? Simple: because I own the bare minimum, or rather, essentials only, no extras.

As an essentialist, one of the main focuses of my lifestyle is protecting the environment.

Consuming less leads to cutting down waste and living with a smaller ecological footprint. Simple.

I obviously still own and need some stuff, but the things I own and buy (when need be) are 100% environmentally friendly, and absolutely necessary. I also live frugally, and try to repair and repurpose all my belongings.

I’ve talked about this time and again on my podcast, but consuming less helps reduce the harmful impact of mindless consumerism on our planet. This makes essentialism a pro-environment and anti-consumption mindset and philosophy above everything else.

From shopping second hand and eco-friendly to investing in quality products (that last longer), my new shopping habits (close to nonexistent nowadays) help me reduce my carbon footprint significantly.

For instance, mindful shopping and making sure I don’t bring any unnecessary things into my life is the first thing on my mind when I’m out looking shopping;

Having the preservation of the planet in mind, essentialists like myself usually follow a vegan lifestyle as the two philosophies go hand in hand.

My other focus as an essentialist is to experience the world without getting tied down to a permanent place and financial burdens.

Instead of embracing materialism, I believe creating memories of my experiences is one of the two most important aspects of my life, the other one being giving (time and money) to charity and NPOs.

Travel-wise

As a lifelong traveler, I’ve always had trouble finding the right amount of things to pack up, so I always ended packing way more than I needed.

Since embracing this philosophy, I’ve noticed how traveling with fewer distractions allowed me to be more present and get the best out of each and every experience. It’s the little things, right?

For some nomadic minimalists, this lifestyle is just a practical way of moving around. For me, it’s challengingly fun to experience how little I (and now WE) can live with.

The mindful part of essentialism

As an essentialist, peace of mind is an integral part of why I chose this life.

Owning fewer things automatically reduced mental clutter for me, which is the number one cause of stress and anxiety for most people.

Owning less also reduces distractions and gives me the ability to focus on self-reflection (hence this post), self-love and personal development (once again, hence this post).

As a mindful essentialist, owning less possessions and being more present in the moment with my thoughts, my loved ones, my feelings and emotions has increased my quality of life in a significant manner. It’s made my life more meaningful and fulfilling.

Now, I’m not there yet, and I will keep working on shaping a better version of myself, pursuing excellence (a religious principle in my case) and adding value to other people’s lives.

I started my essentialist journey to escape the suffocation of stressful and expensive lifestyles, but I ended up finding a whole different facet of myself, a more relaxed and positive one.

In short:

Cutting down on “stuff” helped me become more mindful about self-care and my core values as well.

Essentialism has become a powerful tool in my journey of developing a better me. It’s helped me become more thoughtful as well.

Thank you for stopping by!

Here’s a short list of my favorite minimalists:

Leo Babauta from Zen Habits
The minimalists
Sorelle Amore
Colin Write
Youheum from Heal your Living (personal fave)
and of course Matt D’Avella