The New "Soft Life" Way of Living

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The Hustle Culture

The hustle culture. The nine-to-five. The daily grind. Whatever you call it, we’ve been conditioned to work, work, work, work, work (cue RiRi). It’s no wonder quiet quitting took off and made headlines. Another viral TikTok trend is taking it a step further by renouncing the stress and hamster wheel of the traditional job called soft life.

Coined the “soft life,” the term refers to a lifestyle that embraces rest and ease, a notion that has gotten lost in today’s toxic productivity shuffle. So is living the soft life all that it’s cracked up to be? Read on to learn the ins and outs of the soft life’s MO and how to adapt it to your own life.

The soft life is all about slowing down and taking things easy. It’s about saying no to the hustle and grind and yes to more rest and relaxation. Soft life women believe that life is too short to be spent working all the time, and that we should focus on enjoying ourselves more.

They advocate for taking breaks more often, spending time with loved ones, and doing things that make us happy. While this all sounds great in theory, can the soft life really work in today’s fast-paced world?

Is It Possible?

There are some who say that the soft life is nothing more than a pipe dream – that it’s simply not possible to slow down when everyone else is moving at breakneck speed. Others argue that the soft life is a necessary response to our current culture of burnout and anxiety.

And while there may be some truth to both arguments, I believe that it is possible to live a soft life – it just requires making some intentional choices and changes. Here are a few suggestions:

· Soft Life: Make time for yourself

One of the best ways to live a softer life is to make time for yourself every day. This could mean taking a few minutes each morning for meditation or journaling, going for a walk in nature, or reading something uplifting before bedtime. Whatever you choose, make sure it’s something that brings you joy and allows you to relax body and mind.

· Soft Life: Simplify your schedule

Another way to slow down and take things easy is to simplify your schedule. Do you really need to be running around all the time? Can some of your commitments be let go? Is there anything you can delegate or outsource? By simplifying your schedule, you’ll free up some much-needed time for rest and rejuvenation.

· Soft Life: Connect with loved ones

When was the last time you had a good long chat with a friend or family member? In our busy lives, it’s easy to let our relationships fall by the wayside. But connecting with loved ones is crucial for our mental health – so make an effort to reach out regularly (even if it’s just via text or social media).

Don't Give Up Everything

Living the soft life doesn’t mean giving up everything and becoming a hermit – but it does require making some intentional choices about how we spend our time. It often means leaving corporate america or a full time job to create an easy living entrepreneurial lifestyle. A lot of outsiders to this soft life may question is there enough money in this lifestyle? A soft life means less stress, less sacrifice, and more mental health personal days.

There is nothing worse than putting sacrifice into your health because of lack of time, lack of enjoyment, and not being the woman you were meant to be! Hard work is overrated because it comes from an old patriarchal system. Self care is looked down upon in this old systemic belief system. Black women coined this soft life because a Tiktok influencer got many black women on the band wagon of choosing a better life; a soft life with positive culture and less struggle.

If we can find ways to slow down, simplify our lives, and connect with loved ones, it will enhance our soft life by experiencing less struggle and enjoyment of physical and mental wellness. This movement started with a Nigerian influencer community and has taken off as a full "live the soft life" movement! Thanks to one person, we just might be able to create our own little luxury oasis of calm in this hectic world with the soft life.

What the Soft Life Should Not Be

Luxury in the soft life should not be filled with laziness. There is power in making goals, stating them aloud, and following through on them. That takes determination. That takes focus, and leads to a better soft life. Colleagues trust you and you build community when your word is kept.

Prioritize Joy and Balance in the Soft Life

Soft living is about more than just taking it easy in your own life – it’s a lifestyle choice that prioritizes joy and balance and a better life. In a world that is always on the go, the soft life is a much-needed breath of fresh air. It’s about setting boundaries and making time for the things that matter most.

The soft life is not anti-work – it’s simply about being aware of what brings you joy and making time for those things. It’s about being intentional with your time and your choices. The soft life can look different for everyone, but at its core, it’s about cultivating joy in every aspect of your life.