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Osnaživanje, stil i inspiracija spajaju se u svakom izdanju našeg magazina.
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December 22, 2025
If you are a woman in the prime of your working life, chances are you’ve made peace with hustle culture. The nine-to-five (and then some). The daily stress, the constant rush, the chronic exhaustion. The daily grind. Whatever we call it, the reality remains the same: we’ve been taught to work, work, work, work, work. It’s no surprise that some of the most searched terms online today are burnout, quiet quitting, and anti-stress.
More often than not, we don’t even have the time or space to reflect on the pace we’re living at—or the consequences of it. And then, new generations stepped in and asked a simple question: does it really have to be this way? Suddenly, we all paused and found ourselves asking the same thing. Does it?
In that atmosphere, a new trend was born online. Known as soft life, it refers to a lifestyle that prioritizes rest and ease—an idea largely lost in today’s culture of toxic productivity. But is living this way truly an answer to the chronic stress so many of us experience?
The term originated in Africa, within the Nigerian influencer community. It describes a way of life centered on enjoyment and comfort, with a conscious effort to reduce stress. Today, the hashtag has amassed more than a billion views on TikTok, with the number still rising.
For those who popularized it, soft life means choosing ease, joy, and alignment with one’s authentic self—putting personal needs first. Instead of centering life solely around career, success, and material achievement, the focus shifts to emotional, mental, and physical well-being.
That said, soft life does not mean abandoning ambition or avoiding challenges. It’s not about scaling back professional effort in the way quiet quitting implies. Rather, it’s about making joy a priority—sometimes by leaving a toxic job, other times by leaning into the parts of your work you genuinely enjoy. Soft life isn’t anti-work; it’s about setting boundaries where they’re needed—at work, in relationships, and at home—so life holds less stress and more ease.
At its core, the idea is simple: do what feels good to you—what brings you joy.
Rest is productive. Laundry, emails, and grocery shopping can wait. There will always be something demanding your attention or waiting to be checked off your to-do list, but the mind and body aren’t built to run on empty.
When you allow yourself to unplug, slow down, and truly rest, you become more productive and creative—not less. Soft life is about bringing balance and ease into every part of your day. To make that happen, treat breaks as non-negotiable, just like any work obligation.
One of the key principles of soft life is reducing stress. A constant state of alert seriously undermines well-being and often leads to migraines, digestive issues, and anxiety. Soft living means moving away from the belief that we must constantly push ourselves to the limit.
When the body isn’t perpetually on high alert, it’s easier to make healthier, more intentional choices. Since stress affects everyone differently, finding relief often requires experimenting with various techniques. Proven options include therapy, mindfulness practices, breathing exercises, walking, and quality sleep. Even taking more frequent breaks throughout the day can help you feel more grounded and stable.
Whether it’s work, relationships, or intimacy, boundaries are essential for maintaining balance and mental health. The first step is learning to feel comfortable saying no. Be clear about your needs and expectations. This may mean setting limits around working hours or intentionally carving out time for rest and connection. The result? Healthier relationships, greater trust, and deeper mutual respect.
Routines can simplify daily life, but when you’re operating on autopilot, how present are you really? Intentional living starts with clearly defining your values and envisioning a life in which you feel fulfilled. From there, it’s about consciously moving closer to that vision.
Perfectionism cuts both ways: it can drive growth, but it can also fuel anxiety, self-criticism, and a constant sense of not being enough. Soft life stands in direct opposition to perfectionism—it embraces imperfection.
How do you learn to be good enough rather than perfect? Start by asking for help when you need it. Soft living allows space for vulnerability and accepting support without guilt.
Traditionally, success has been measured by money, career, power, and status. We’ve been conditioned to constantly chase “more.” Soft life challenges that definition, reframing success as a life rooted in authenticity, personal values, and inner fulfillment.
Photo: Tanya Staton / dupephotos.com
