Reflections & Obsessions

10 Things Newsletter #4

Who am I? I’m Inês Santos Silva. I'm a Co-Founder and COO of TejoMed and Core Team Member at AthenaDAO. I’m a passionate and accomplished advocate for diversity and inclusion in entrepreneurship, technology, health, and policy. Now and then, I send a newsletter about life, work, and random things.

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1. Every year, I have a tradition of doing a Year Review. There’s no strict template—I simply create a list of the year’s highlights, both personal and professional, and then dive into reflecting on what really mattered.

   I explore questions like:

   • What were the most important things that happened?

   • What lessons did I learn?

   • What did I struggle with?

   • What’s still bothering me?

   This exercise helps me pause, reflect, and reset for the year ahead. Last year, I spent about four hours on my review, sipping cappuccinos in a cozy café. It’s always such a rewarding way to close out the year and prepare for what’s next. If you’ve never tried it, I highly recommend carving out some time to reflect—it’s an incredibly grounding experience.

2. If you haven’t already, check out my most recent post about The Books I Read in 2024. This marks the 11th time I’ve written this annual article—I’ve been doing it since 2014! It’s always a joy to reflect on my year in books and share my recommendations.

3. I’ve been on a mission to eliminate fragrances from my home. Recent studies show that fragrances often contain Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals (EDCs), which can negatively impact our health. Replacing liquid soaps, laundry detergents, and even floor cleaners has been a challenge, but it’s worth it. House fragrances? Gone. The research is eye-opening, and I encourage you to look into it.

4. Another obsession of mine has been removing plastics from my food. Did you know that chemicals like phthalates (used to soften plastics) and bisphenols (like BPA, used to harden plastics) can leach into food? These chemicals are hormonally active and pose risks to both developing embryos and adults. While avoiding them entirely might be impossible, we must do something about it! Check the PlasticList Report for more on it.

5. I recently audited my time and realized I’m spending way too much of it on tasks where I don’t add much value. Enter the Virtual Assistant experiment. I’m trying to delegate more to focus on what truly matters. If you’re curious about boosting your delegation skills, this post is a game-changer: A Tactical Guide to Working with EAs.

6. Last year, I did something I never thought I would enjoy—I ran my first 10K! For the longest time, I believed I hated running. But as it turns out, I actually don’t. It was challenging, rewarding, and fun. This experience has inspired me to keep going, and I’m already planning three more races for 2025. It’s a great reminder that sometimes, you just have to give something a try and see what happens. Who knows? You might surprise yourself.

7. I’ve set some BIG health goals for 2025—the kind of goals that would have seemed impossible to me just three or four years ago. That’s why I love the concept of a health journey. It’s not about fixing everything on day one; it’s about small, consistent progress over time. My health journey started in 2019 when I began exercising with a Personal Trainer. In 2020, I made a tough but transformative decision to stop drinking Coca-Cola (I used to drink one or two cans daily!). Since then, I’ve lost around 18 kg, gained muscle, and now exercise 3-4 times weekly. More importantly, I feel full of energy and so much better overall.

8. One of the best things we’ve done at TejoMed is start a team book club. What started as a casual idea has turned into a core part of how we build our culture.

   So far, we’ve read:

   • Crucial Conversations – because communication is everything.

   • Unreasonable Hospitality – because great service is a mindset.

   • Liftoff: Elon Musk and the Desperate Early Days That Launched SpaceX – because resilience builds greatness.

   Let me tell you—it’s been game-changing. This isn’t just a “nice-to-have” activity. By reading and discussing these books together, we’re not only learning and growing but also aligning on values that matter most to us as a team.

9. At TejoMed, we have an InBody machine in our office that measures not just weight but also body composition. I’ve been tracking my results every two months, and let me tell you—it’s no easy task to make a noticeable impact.

   What I’ve learned? Strength training and proper protein intake are the keys to success. But here’s the catch: consistency is the real challenge. Progress doesn’t happen overnight—it’s all about showing up and doing the work day after day.

10. Every year, I choose a word to guide and inspire me—and for 2025, my word is Agency. To me, agency is about taking ownership of my choices, actions, and direction. It’s about being proactive instead of reactive, creating opportunities rather than waiting for them, and fully embracing my ability to shape my life and work. My first exercise: Doing The Big A## Calendar 2025 by Jesse Itzler (I’m a huge fan). Super fun exercise!

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Until the next one.

Inês