Hello!

Welcome to Life Unoptimized, a publication about consuming less and connecting more. It’s written for people seeking ease and adventure in a culture that values efficiency and productivity.

The topics reflect my attempt to balance a love of routine and domesticity with a craving for novelty and adventure. You’ll find reflections and ideas spanning a spectrum of life: slow travel, connecting with the natural world, raising outdoor kids, exploring hometowns, low-waste living, uncomplicated recipes and DIYs, and intentional style and design.

As my social media feed becomes increasingly overstimulating and disorienting, I find myself missing the grounded feel of blogs and magazines. If you do too, let’s hang out!

Who are you?

I’m Rachel Ward. I’ve edited travel, lifestyle, and city magazines, and worked as a brand storyteller and producer for national campaigns in The New York Times and on Madison Avenue billboards. Right now, I live in San Diego with my husband and two tiny kids.