Tips for living life slow and low

I am slowing down

I am in the season of slow and low: slow life and low cortisol levels.

For the past several years, motherhood, moving, job changes, and family obligations were consuming me in a way that was unsustainable. I was a juggler with too many balls.

Being productive and busy seemed like a badge of honor. I was smiling and making it look easy… but the truth was that I was exhausted.

I know I am not alone in this fast- paced competitive culture. I don’t want to “keep up” with the Joneses or the Kardashians. I want to slow down and be happier.

Games are woven into the fabric of my life. I "play" in outdoor adventures and hobbies. I am also rethinking digital use, breath work, bedtime routines and adding more connection to my life.

I am on a path to live a slower life and savor more awe- inspiring moments.

These are the tips I have for living life slow and low:

Nature hikes are proven to reduce stress.

Finding awe in nature

I love a dip in the lake, a hike through the trees, working in my garden and stargazing. I know it sounds simple, but it is a guaranteed way to relax my body.

Have you heard of forest bathing? Dr. Cindy Conlon, my friend and neighbor in Lake Geneva, is a forest-therapy guide. Recently she helped Wisconsin get its first certified forest bathing trail. With promises to lower stress levels, I’m planning a trip to Eagle River, Wisconsin to try it myself.

Rethink digital use

We can’t change the reality of the times. Phones and devices are here to stay. It is up to us to use it in a healthy manner.

I am happier off social media.

For me, Instagram doesn’t make me feel good. The little “likes” don’t outweigh the negative comparison that accompanies social media. I will never have the perfect body, the perfect home, the perfect family or the right outfit if I spend time on Instagram. I deleted Instagram off my phone and only occasionally check it and post from my laptop.

The Facebook group Mahjong, that’s it! used to serve as a great network for me. But now, it is a network of angry people fighting over rules and publicly commenting on bad table behavior.

Social media is the first thing to spike my cortisol levels. This doesn’t give me a purposeful or playful life, so I choose to use it sparingly. Although I love to see my friend’s photos, I prefer a phone call or meeting for a cup of coffee IRL.

Needlepoint is a great distraction from the scroll.

The scroll is addictive and breaking the habit was tough. What worked for me? I picked up needlepoint. Instead of using my hands to scroll, I started making family heirlooms (my kids are rolling their eyes at that comment). I used my mahjong network to find some excellent needlepoint tutors.

That said, I love my NEWSletter and I love to read other blogs, Substack and editorial pieces. I also appreciate an inspiring session on Pinterest.

My favorite way to use my phone right now? Audiobooks and podcasts. Just like kids like to be read to, I love to be read to. While I am deadheading my roses or watering the garden, I’ll put something in my ear. I just finished Theo of Golden on audio, and my guilty pleasure is the Dateline podcast narrated by Keith Morrison.

The light choices for my daily infrared sauna.

Breath work

I have a membership to the Pure Sweat and Float in Brentwood, TN. I canceled my membership to BodyRok and decided I’d rather spend the monthly on meditation. I am OBSESSED.

Dr. Cindy Conlon was my breathwork guru in Wisconsin (yes, she is also a doctor, lawyer, professor AND forest therapy guide). She taught me the building blocks to breathe effectively and regain control of my mind and body during COVID. Armed with her basics, I take them to my meditation sessions to sweat and float.

I try to do 40 minutes in the Sunlighten infrared sauna three times a week. My mahjong friend Karen manages this location and always has my sauna set to perfection. I like to sweat in silence with a cool eucalyptus scented washcloth.

Once a week, I float in the magnesium bath for another 40 minutes. I lay on my back, floating and meditating. My creativity is boosted and my cortisol levels drop.

I am going to try to incorporate early morning yoga stretches this year. I know I need it… I just haven’t committed to the sun salutations like I should. I need to relax my body more and listen to all of my tips for living life slow and low.

Bedtime routine

Admittedly, I love an early bedtime. I don’t stay up past 9pm.

The Nodpod is the best sleep accessory.

This one is already something I have always been pretty good at for stress relief. I need to improve my bedtime routine by putting the phone away. Reading the latest news before bed is a bad habit I need to break.

My latest addition to my bedtime routine is a game changer. I bought a Nodpod and it may be the best thing I bought all year. Essentially, it’s a weighted sleep mask. It uses the gentle pressure to help make sleep magical. It’s comfortable to sleep in. This may be my new go-to gift for everyone. You haven’t slept well until you have slept with the Nodpod!

Connection

Okay, games are always my favorite way to connect. Other ways I love to connect? Walk and talks, volunteering and the bar.

Walk and talks and lending a hand are classic ways to connect. These methods reduce stress.

Now… I know what you really want to know is about the bar. How can the bar reduce cortisol levels and build connection? Okay, I do love my dirty martinis, but this has nothing to do with the alcohol at the bar. The aspect of bar I am referring to is the bar seating.

Owl Tavern in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin.

My favorite place to sit at any restaurant is the bar. I like meeting other people sitting at the bar, I’m so close to my husband or friend that I can actually have a great conversation, and I can see what everyone else is ordering. This is about connection!

In Wisconsin, there is this dive bar called Owl Tavern. Every day at 4pm, you can find a hodgepodge of people gathered around the bar. We have the farmer that comes in for his afternoon coffee, the contractors coming in for an after-work hangout and the families come in to grab dinner.

Owl Tavern is not about alcohol, it’s about connection. The bartender introduces everyone and is always such a great host. We often watch the local news or a hometown ball game. These are not the people I’d normally gravitate towards, but these are characters I LOVE getting to know. There must be something about communal eating and drinking that has nothing to do with drinking beer. The bar is special.

(Side note: Owl Tavern is SO special that if you are watching Ransom Canyon, you will know why one of the lead actresses mentioned it in her latest interview with Town and Country Magazine.)

I’m living my life slow and low. I am not keeping up with anyone else and I am reducing my cortisol every day. I want to lead a purposeful and playful life… slow and low.

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