My Morning Ritual with Guillaume Coutheillas
-Founder of frenchCALIFORNIA
Guillaume Coutheillas is a Paris-born branding and luxury expert based in San Francisco and New York. With more than ten years of experience in consulting for top-tier, household names in the real estate, hospitality, lifestyle and medical sectors.
frenchCALIFORNIA, founded by Coutheillas in 2016, is a marketing and design house that works with brands to elevate their identity, propel public awareness and drive sales.
We sat down with Guillaume in the gorgeous Fifteen Fifty and asked him a few questions about his morning ritual, see below:
What is the first thing you do when you wake up?
I am lucky to have a yard, so every morning, as I let the dog out, I try to medicate and clear my mind for the rest of the day. I look at the sky and hear the wind in the trees, birds and noise of the city slowly starting their day and it helps me to ground myself and set myself up for success and productivity.
What actions and rituals do you focus on to keep you grounded?
I make it a point to immerse myself in nature even if that means just going into the backyard for just a few minutes every day. Keeping a connection with nature by spending time with animals, mostly my dog, is important for my overall well-being and helps separate "me" time from work time, especially now that we're largely working from home. I also try to keep up with my Yoga practice.
Can you list five things you are grateful for in the morning?
The fact that every morning is different in some way, whether it be the light coming from outside, the temperature, the breeze, etc. Very grateful for my dog who keeps me active and in nature. My yard, filled with growing flowers and plants, helps bring nature to me. The radio, mainly NPR, to keep me informed and entertained while at home, and my quiet come which gives me some time just for myself.
A good technique to start your day is to read for 5 minutes, write for five minutes and meditate for five minutes. Suggest what would you read and what would you write about?
I read anything but the news these days, as i've been trying to "news fast" for the last year for the sake of my mental health. I read the daily essays my dad sends me from Paris.
What morning ritual would you like to impart to others?
I recommend people spend 5 minutes by their window, on their stoop or fire escape - anything, however small if may be, that gives them access to the outside in some form.
How do you think Sorate will fit into your morning ritual?
I'm trying to cut down on my caffeine intake and now mostly drink decaf coffee. I can foresee Matcha becoming a great replacement as I continue this practice.
