There’s been a huge rise in the trend of “living a soft life”. ‘Soft life’ is a term usually being used to refer to a life of luxury, where everything is aesthetically pleasing and holidays are seemingly endless.
An attractive female, with a lengthy self-care routine, a hefty number of instagram followers and numerous expensive ~things~ is the epitome of someone who may be considered to be living this cushty lifestyle. A simple youtube search of the term will leave you with countless videos offering practical tips on how to ‘live a softer life’.
For many of us, our reality looks like balancing a full-time job, with other commitments and responsibilities, while trying to maintain some semblance of a social life. Now, I can’t claim that this reality can always be classed as a a difficult or hard life. But over time, the day-to-day busyness of life can take its toll.
In my opinion though, there can be no prescribed way to live a good, fulfilling life. So, I don’t think it’s possible for us all to live a sOfT LiFeStyle in the way it’s presented online, but I do think it’s important to strike some sort of balance between work and rest, call me boss-babe and leisure-babe.
Here are some ideas on how joy, rest and relaxation can be incorporated into an otherwise hectic life.
1. Make time for rest:
I’m sure we’ve all gotten to a stage when you are SO exhausted from a particularly busy period that you feel pretty miserable, almost burnt-out. When I’ve worked myself to this stage in the past, I really start to think I might be wasting my life. Maybe a little dramatic. But still, there’s nothing that reminds you that life is tough than good ol’ fashioned hard-work. I’ve found that not only is rest important to keep your sanity, but also, scheduled down-time to just chill allows you to enjoy what you’ve worked for and to re-charge for what’s to come.
2. Practise some physical self-care:
I got my nails done for the first time recently, and I can totally understand why people get addicted to doing this. I just look so much more..put together, and it was nice to fell pampered. Honestly, I think a large part of “soft life” is the aesthetic; so if you’re into that sort of thing, then incorporate self-care costs into your budget and schedule time for some physical self-care (wax, haircut, nails, etc, etc).
3. Plan and reflect:
Apparently you can’t be broke and live a soft-life. So schedule time to reflect on what you want life to look like, what wealth and a happy life means to you, and try to work towards it. Being intentional about your time and your goals can help you ultimately build the lifestyle you desire.
4. Maintain an inviting & clean/clutter free space:
Nothing screams luxury more than a sleek, organised environment. A chaotic environment can accentuate feeling overwhelmed and disorganised. Surroundings can have a huge impact on mood and mental health, so making the effort to keep your space as inviting as possible can help create a sense of wellness abundance.
5. Practise gratitude:
Maybe people say this too often now, so you might be sick of hearing this. But truly, comparison and envy might make you overlook all the good that’s already going for you. Taking some time to notice what is good, and fully enjoying and taking advantage of what you do have can make a huge difference to the lifestyle you live. Unfortunately I can’t quit my job and go travelling indefinitely, but I can/will book trips as often as I can.
Twenty to a hundred 