If you’ve spent any time on social media, you’ve probably noticed the rise of the “sweet life,” a relaxed, simple way of life that values peace and quiet over tension and hectic culture.
The term “soft life” originated within the Nigerian influencer community and has since spread globally, largely through social media platforms. This movement emphasizes comfort, relaxation and the prioritization of personal well-being over relentless productivity and societal expectations.
“I don’t know who wants to hear this, but this totally strong black woman narrative doesn’t apply to me. I live a sweet life. I am a sensitive princess. I will fall at the slightest inconvenience,” lifestyle blogger Brittany said in a TikTok posted in March 2022.
While Brittany comically exaggerates the needs of a soft life enthusiast, there are real benefits it promises. Here are key insights from the soft life movement, should it spark your fancy.
Many people, especially millennials, grew up immersed in the philosophy of #hustleculture and “get up and grind” intellectuality, equating good fortune with hard, hard work. This intellectuality promotes the maximization of productivity even at the expense of physical and intellectual well-being. be.
However, the trend of maximizing production and making sacrifices to “earn more money to live longer” is going out of fashion. Increasingly, other people recognize that living your life is not only explained by immense achievements or social norms.
According to a recent KeyBank survey, Americans are rejecting hustle culture and moving toward smart living in the face of emerging life burden. 72% of respondents prefer to describe smart fortune through the lens of smart living, emphasizing happiness, satisfaction and fulfillment. Meanwhile, 54% of respondents said hustle culture, which measures intelligent fortune based on wealth, prestige and achievement, can lead to burnout.
The #softlife movement, which has amassed millions of views on TikTok, emphasizes creating physical barriers and prioritizing wellness. This way of life rejects the concept that good fortune requires compromising one’s well-being and instead promotes a balanced approach to work. and life, ensuring that personal health is not sacrificed for good luck.
Living an intelligent life involves prioritizing physical and intellectual health. This can come with normal self-care routines and activities that bring joy and relaxation. This technique counteracts the constant pressure to perform and succeed.
According to the 2021 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, over one in five U.S. adults (57.8 million) live with a mental illness, with a higher prevalence among females and young adults aged 18-25 years old. This underscores the urgent need to prioritize mental health and develop effective strategies for managing mental well-being.
A systematic review conducted in 2023 found basic self-care concepts that are considered highly applicable to young people experiencing intellectual aptitude issues. You or someone who enjoys and is suffering can use the following list as a list to assess the quality of your intellectual aptitude:
Gentle living is about being intentional with your time and energy. It encourages you to make conscious choices that align with your values and bring you peace rather than succumbing to external pressures and expectations.
Living a sweet life doesn’t mean avoiding everyday jobs or being frivolous. Instead, it’s about honestly sensing your limits and committing to what you can do, rather than overcommitting and stressing yourself out.
Establishing barriers between work and personal life is a part of living a smart life. According to a December 2023 study published in Frontiers of Psychology, when the barriers between work and family life are blurred, people experience greater emotional exhaustion and lower happiness.
A healthy lifestyle can mitigate those effects, but those with blurred barriers struggle to maintain healthy behaviors, further deteriorating their emotional well-being. Setting undeniable barriers can look like this:
The quiet life trend is more than a fleeting phenomenon on social media; It represents a fundamental change in the way other people approach their lives and work. It focuses on inner peace, well-being and prioritizing what actually brings joy and satisfaction. For those who are catching up or are too tired to do anything after work, it is possibly time to start your era of quiet life.
Is your self-care routine serving you well or does it need work? Take the Self-Care Inventory to learn more.
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