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Why can it feel so uncomfortable to relax—even when you're completely exhausted?

If you've experienced burnout, chronic stress, anxiety, or the feeling that you're constantly “on,” your body may have become accustomed to operating in a state of high alert.

In this episode of Wildly Unplug, Lauren Connolly talks with Jelena Tesanovich, a Somatic Experiencing Practitioner, National Board Certified Health and Wellness Coach, mindfulness and meditation teacher, and nervous system health specialist, about what chronic stress can do to the body—and how we can begin working with our nervous systems instead of constantly pushing ourselves harder.

Jelena shares her own journey from the health and wellness world into nervous system work and explains how she eventually realized that eating well, exercising, meditating, and seemingly “doing everything right” weren't addressing the whole picture.

Lauren and Jelena explore the experience of being high-functioning while chronically stressed—answering emails at all hours, thriving on urgency, juggling endless responsibilities, and becoming so accustomed to adrenaline and constant stimulation that you may not realize how exhausted you are until you finally stop.

So what happens when you do stop?

They discuss why slowing down can initially feel uncomfortable, how to recognize signs that you're stuck in patterns of fight, flight, or freeze, and why nervous system regulation isn't about building enough resilience to tolerate an unhealthy lifestyle all over again.

The conversation also explores Somatic Experiencing, setting boundaries at work, technology and overstimulation, meditation, restorative rest versus numbing, perimenopause, caregiving, and why spending quiet time outside can be one of the simplest ways to reduce stimulation and reconnect with yourself.

Jelena also offers an important reminder for anyone who hasn't truly relaxed in years: start small.

You don't need an hour-long meditation or yoga class. It might begin with 30 seconds of noticing the room around you, five minutes of stretching, washing the dishes without another source of stimulation, or stepping outside and simply listening to the birds.

In this episode:
• Burnout and chronic stress
• Nervous system regulation
• Why relaxing can feel uncomfortable
• Fight, flight, freeze, and functional freeze
• Somatic Experiencing
• High-functioning burnout
• Technology, smartphones, and overstimulation
• Setting healthier boundaries
• Meditation for people who struggle to meditate
• Rest vs. numbing
• Nature and nervous system regulation
• Perimenopause and listening to your body
• Starting small when learning to slow down

Whether you're recovering from burnout, struggling to slow down, constantly checking your phone, or wondering why rest doesn't seem to make you feel rested, this conversation offers a different way to think about stress:

Maybe you don't need to become better at pushing through.

Maybe you need to learn how to feel safe slowing down.

Wildly Unplug explores what happens when we step away from the noise, reconnect with nature, and make room for creativity, curiosity, and a more intentional life.

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What if imagination isn't just for artists—but one of the most powerful tools we have for navigating life?

In this episode of Wildly Unplug, Lauren Connolly talks with mixed-media artist and writer Sarah Bush about creativity, imagination, nature, technology, and what happens when we begin trusting our own ability to create again.

From her studio in New Mexico, Sarah grows plants for natural dyes, works with indigo, rust, pressed flowers, and other materials, and explores the connection between the creative process and the natural world.

But this conversation goes much deeper than making art.

Sarah believes creativity and imagination are human abilities—not artistic talents reserved for a select few. Every time we solve a problem, change plans, comfort someone, envision a possibility, or figure out what to make for dinner with three missing ingredients, we're already using our imagination.

So why do so many adults insist they're “not creative”?

Lauren and Sarah explore what happens to imagination as we grow older, why perfection and social media can make people afraid to create, and why learning something new requires being willing to make something imperfect.

They also dive into the growing influence of artificial intelligence on human creativity. Can AI expand our imagination—or could it slowly discourage us from drawing, writing, experimenting, and making things ourselves?

The conversation explores how technology can either disconnect us or become a tool for genuine human connection, why boredom may actually be good for creativity, and why embracing imperfect human-made things may become even more important in an increasingly AI-generated world.

Sarah also shares her experiences creating with nature: growing Japanese indigo, making natural dyes and inks, gardening in New Mexico, noticing seasonal changes, and treating plants and the landscape as creative partners.

Whether you consider yourself an artist or insist you “aren't creative,” this conversation is an invitation to notice something you may have forgotten:

You already have an imagination. The question is whether you're willing to use it.

In this episode, we explore creativity and imagination, reconnecting with nature, natural dyes and Japanese indigo, overcoming perfectionism, learning through experimentation, social media and creativity, boredom and imagination, AI and art, technology and human connection, creativity as a spiritual practice, and why imperfect human creativity still matters.

Sarah Bush writes about creativity as a spiritual practice and how imagination can help change the world through her Substack newsletter, The Pink Teacup. You can also explore her mixed-media artwork through Sarah Bush Artworks.

Wildly Unplug explores what happens when we step away from the noise, reconnect with nature, and make room for creativity, curiosity, and adventure.

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**CONTENT WARNING**

The following episode of *All Night Breakfast at the Midnight Owl* is a work of fiction intended for mature audiences. It contains graphic descriptions, disturbing imagery, unsettling themes, and moments of psychological horror. Listener discretion is advised.

Welcome to Eden Falls, a sleepy mountain town in the Pacific Northwest where the locals are friendly, the mist never seems to lift, and something very strange is happening at the hospital.
Join paranormal investigator Ruby Reed as an anonymous message leads her down a rabbit hole involving miraculous recoveries, mysterious rituals, a rather inconvenient ghost, and something extraordinary hiding in the Northern Lights.
This fictional audio adventure was created through All Night Breakfast at the Midnight Owl, a solo RPG journaling game.
With nothing more than a journal, a deck of cards, and a little imagination, I followed the prompts and let Ruby's story develop one unexpected discovery at a time.
It's a little different from my usual Wildly Unplug content, but it's also a perfect example of why I love stepping away from screens and making room for creativity.
Grab a cup of coffee, settle into your favorite booth, and enjoy your stay at the Midnight Owl.

Where to buy: https://tabletopbookshelf.com/products/all-night-breakfast-at-the-midnight-owl?srsltid=AU7gw4V-q2-cHLYDDNelfmkUQf8xGx2uAk_qxCXlqJs1x_53qMnVCw-A

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