Its.Jasmin.Elliott

13/09/2024

Week 13 ~ parting with my travel friends and adjusting to being alone again, little bit disappointed and exhausted by tourist traps like Aid Ben Haddu, tons of driving

08/09/2024

Week 12 (after a bit of a posting break into my did it Al diary, we travel back in time in the next couple of days⏳) ~ Sahara sand storms, desert camping, hot springs at night, meeting „El Mabruks“ - the funniest hosts in all of Morocco, finding hidden waterfalls, admiring camels, insanely happy about great Internet almost everywhere to male my job (and life) possible) and driving through the Taugdra Gorge

04/09/2024

06/04/2024

Week 10-12 | work in progress
No driving in these weeks because I didn’t have lights anymore. Or a license plate. Or - for two nights - not even my car🫠😅
But instead I was stuck in what is most likely the painting garage with the best view in the entire world and a camp for stranded crazy campers who became my second road family🥹
So much has happened in these weeks that could’ve filled an entire soap opera (we already established the working title „News from Garage Tafraout“) - these memories will live in my head rent free for ever.

This time has taught me two very important things:
1️⃣ „mashi mushki“ =no problem; or otherwise translatable as „at least it won’t be a problem in the end. Until then, get distracted, don’t worry about it and surround yourself with people that go through the same thing, so you can go through the different stages of grief together😅
2️⃣I desperately need solar. This was the first time I stayed in a place for so long. In combination with not having the correct adapter for my electric plug, I completly emptied my battery. It's still alive and recovered. But I don't need that thriller again any time soon🔋

04/04/2024

𝕎𝕖𝕖𝕜 𝟡 dump | dealing with being alone
from 📍Marrakesh >>> Tamraght >>> Grand Canyon Morocco >>> Tafraout

After my little camper family that made my first two months of living in the van so much more special, we all had to go separate ways.
This was always my biggest concern: will I be lonely? How will I meet people and not be by myself all the time? (Felt a bit like the night before the first day of school😅)
Turns out, it took two months to be completely alone for the first time. Foreshadowing: and also just stayed like this for 3 full days😅
Still, there were moments when I felt so alone and very tiny but also super joyful in being by myself - the struggles of an introverted extrovert 🫠

01/04/2024

𝕎𝕖𝕖𝕜 𝟠 | talking contrasts 🐍🐍🐍
📍Imlil >>> Marrakesh
That week was bursting with doing stuff around the van while exploring, eating and having so much fun:

🗻from waking up to the view of the highest mountain in North Africa - Djebel Toubkal (4.167m) - to getting lost in the narrow streets of the Marrakesh medina

🚍 from giving starting help (in funny socks) to fixing things around the van on a parking lot in Imlil to spending hours at a laundromat in a gas station in Marrakesh- AND hanging all my clothes, including bed sheets, all across the van as the dryer didn’t dry🥲

🐍 from Mulis carrying the equipment of hikers in the High Atlas to cobras and monkeys still existing for tourists’ amusement at Jemaa el-Fnaa

🪩 from dancing in a bar because a Berlin resident DJ was playing a set (little plaster on missing this place) to entering the rooftop bar of a 5star-hotel to hang out and have fun being the most underdressed on the floor - bet they thought we were crypto millionaires
IYKYK💅

🍟 from enjoying traditional Moroccan breakfast - mini tajines, hellooo🥹, to eating our way through the street food of the souk.
And okay, okay, also spoiling us with McD (don’t tell me you wouldn’t do it after surviving driving through mountain roads and buzzing city traffic?!? Let the one who is without hangry-ness cast the first French frie😈)

All in all, it was a typical week of van life, baby

29/03/2024

𝚆𝚎𝚎𝚔 𝟽 | I love it when my road trips look like pic 8🛣️
from Tamraght >> Taroudannt >> Tizi n Test >> Imlil
🚍About 300km driven
🧗‍♀️from 5m above sea level to 2.092m

This part of the trip was a transition - it was tim to say goodbye to life at the coast and getting back into the driver’s seat and explorer mode.

My learning? I need that mix! ☯️

Feeling kinda stationary and homy at the coast on the one hand:
Friends, daily routines, favorite coworking space, best spot for an orange juice, knowing where to go for sunset on Fridays… this stability is what felt so comforting and easy

On the other hand, getting back into the car, quite literally not knowing what’s behind the next corner. Seeing if the bus can handle the different road conditions (and the altitude). Hoping for sufficient Internet connection as I worked in both of those phases. But speaking of work: planning when to drive around meetings and deadlines… you can probably tell, jumping into the unknown was a lot more thinking, planning and adjusting.
Especially when you drive through an area that has been heavily affected by the earthquake from last summer.
It’s stress. But good stress in my opinion. Finally, It’s these trips in the trip that will be most memorable for me. Seeing the snow covered Atlas mountains for the first time, drinking a glass of wine and watching the sun set at a camp spot in the middle of nowhere and answering work emails while quickly parking next to a narrow serpentine street where you just manovered around goats that were crossing the street.

In the end, my bus did great - no hikups of any sort (even with the worst tires of all time🥲)
I had best Internet and no calls were missed😮‍💨👩‍💻
Seeing the people living in tents as the earthquake destroyed their villages while rebuilding their homes. and yet experiencing only warmth and hospitality from the locals there🧡 very inspiring - another important reminder to set my own struggles into perspective

18/03/2024

Week 5+ of van life & remote work shenanigans
~*~*~
Days of making new friends that feel like old friends, establishing new routines and figuring out my new work-life-routine (fighting FOMO 👋),
Cuddling with puppies and chasing sunsets🥹

15/05/2023

Perfection kills progress!
In today's digital age, having a solid online presence is essential for freelancers. Your online presence is often your first impression on potential clients, so ensuring you're sending the right message is crucial. But remember, you don't need to wait for a fancy website or a sleek-looking logo to get started.

So start with what you got and refine it as you go. (I'm exactly in the middle of this process myself 😘 )

Here are five tips to help you begin:

1. Invest in your personal brand 💼: Your personal brand is an extension of your professional identity, so take the time to create a consistent look and feel across all platforms, including your website, social media, and online portfolios. Remember, it doesn't have to be perfect from the start.

2. Share valuable content 📚: Regularly sharing informative and engaging content that showcases your expertise and interests can help you establish yourself as an authority in your field.

3. Engage with your audience 🗣️: Respond to comments, answer questions, and interact with your followers to build relationships and foster community.

4. Collaborate with others 💡: Partnering with other professionals on projects or content can expand your network, increase visibility, and help you learn new skills.

5. Optimize for search engines 🌐: Use SEO best practices to ensure your online content is easily discoverable by potential clients.

By investing time and effort into building a strong online presence, you'll attract more clients and create a lasting, positive impression in your industry. Don't let perfection hold you back; start now and improve as you grow.

➡ Contact me if you need help! We'll get your word out there 🌼

11/05/2023

📆 Why Establishing a Solid Workflow Is Crucial for Freelancer Success

After just one year of freelancing, I found myself on the verge of burnout. Sleepless nights, tinnitus, and the feeling of being constantly overwhelmed were taking a toll on my mental and physical health. That's when I knew something had to change.

I learned the importance of setting boundaries and creating a sustainable work routine. Here's what I did to turn things around:

1. I defined my work hours and made them known to clients, learning to say no when necessary to protect my well-being. Extra tip for all those remote workers and digital nomads: Create one browser window per client or project AND CLOSE IT AS SOON AS YOU'RE DONE! No notifications, no nothing – neither on your phone nor on your laptop. This helped me a lot!

2. I embraced the "Pomodoro Technique": Breaking my work into focused 25-minute intervals with short breaks in between to recharge and maintain productivity. There’s a great free app for this. (Write me, and I’ll send you the link to the one I use). And then go for a walk (around the apartment, the block, or the next park.

3. I nurtured a support network: Mentors, coaches, fellow freelancers, and entrepreneurs who understood my challenges and offered encouragement.

These changes didn't happen overnight, but they have made a world of difference. I'm sharing my story with you because I believe it's possible to balance professional success and personal well-being. So go ahead, and take that step toward a healthier, happier freelance life! You've got this! 💪💖

08/05/2023

Embarking on the freelance journey has been one of my life's most exciting yet overwhelming experiences. As the first person in my family to study and own a business, I didn't have a network or mentors to guide me through this process. However, I quickly learned the immense value of mentorship and accountability. Here's how they transformed my journey:

🧭 Guidance and direction: As a digital nomad and freelancer, having a mentor provided me with invaluable insights and advice that helped me navigate the freelance world and avoid common pitfalls.

🗣️ Objective feedback: Getting lost in our thoughts is easy, but my mentor offered objective feedback, helping me stay on track and make informed decisions.

👥 Expanding your network: My mentor and fellow freelancers introduced me to new contacts, increasing my visibility and opportunities for collaboration.

🌱 Personal growth: Regular check-ins and discussions about my progress helped me grow professionally and personally.

🏃‍♀️ Staying motivated: Having a mentor and an accountability partner kept me motivated and focused on my goals, even during challenging times.

Mentorship and accountability have played a vital role in my freelance success. If you're starting or growing your freelance career, consider finding a mentor or joining a support network. What are your experiences with mentorship and accountability in freelancing? Share your thoughts in the comments below, and DM me if you need suggestions!

05/05/2023

My Digital Nomad Journey: Tips for Successful Freelance Work on the Go

💭 Ever since I was 19, I've dreamed of being a digital nomad, exploring the world while working remotely. And now, I'm living that dream! 🌍 Embracing the digital nomad lifestyle is possible when you're a freelancer, and it doesn't always mean jet-setting from one tropical paradise to another. It's about having the freedom to choose where you want to work – in a gorgeous coworking space in Bali or in your parents' basement to spend more time with your family. Like I do at the moment to help my grandparents while my mum is on a health cure.

This is digital nomad life for me: the freedom of choice.

Living as a digital nomad has been rewarding and challenging, but with careful planning and discipline, you can successfully manage your freelance business while fulfilling your travel dreams. Are you a digital nomad or considering this lifestyle? Shoot me a DM if you're looking for specific tools. I have a loooong list. 🌼