Most netizens in South Africa strive to live the ‘soft life,’ a modern concept centred on ultimate comfort, which has been explored by TikTok users from all walks of life
While the soft life trend feels as though reserved for the wealthy with much money to spare, author of The Art of a Simple Living and educator with over 30 years of experience, Portia Sithole, shares a unique perspective on the topic
The writer of the self-help book Art of a Simple Living shared her wisdom about how anyone can achieve a soft life beyond the material by using the resources already available
What does ‘soft life’ mean on TikTok?
A casual scroll on TikTok shows that young women are keen to escape lives of back-breaking work in favour of a life of leisure and oftentimes luxury.
What qualifies as a soft life has largely been associated with brand luxury goods such as Prada, Coco Chanel and luxury getaways from Bali to Europe and, ideally, not working a 9 to 5. The rise of the stay-at-home girlfriend has also fueled more young women’s desire to live these luxury lives.
Creator @trullyzoe_, a stay-at-home girlfriend, shows the ideal life many aspire to that got a massive reaction online, as reported by News24.
Watch the video below:
How to be a soft babe?
Reality demands that luxury/ a soft life must become subjective. Understand that what qualifies as a soft life is entirely dependent on you. This means a soft life is essentially one of maximising ease, relaxation and convenience with whatever is at your disposal.
An important step is to appreciate what you have already that can give you a life of leisure. Gratitude is necessary for anyone to recognise their fortune and avoid the rat race (continuous fierce competition for more money). This helps one focus on the now instead of anticipating the future, which is oftentimes elusive.
One creator, TikTok @lyneldamaharaj, explained that she does not think a soft life begins and ends with the material. She argues working on inner peace can grant one a life of soft living.
Watch the video:
How do you live a soft life?
A soft life life all about taking what’s within your reach to make your life easier/ enjoyable.
For example, if your goal is to get a high-rise luxury apartment, the idea is not to despair until the day you get it, Whatever space you are in now can be the starting point of your soft life.
In Art of a Simple Living, Portia Sithole writes:
“Any place can be home sweet home as long as you maintain a positive attitude. Cultivate a passion for farbric and seasonal interior decor to refurbish your home with an economic sense.”
Embracing what you have at the moment to live that goal life is the first step towards always maximising luxury.
This TikTokker @godbutler went viral after showing people his day living in SA townships. For this young man, his luxury is being able to get access to his preferred hot drink every morning: Jacobs’ Coffee.
A soft life is on a spectrum and can mean; affording to spend time with yourself uninterrupted, having time to have leisurely walks in a scenic neighbourhood or even the luxury of spending time with family whenever you wish without work getting in the way. Whatever you find yourself revelling in, find a way to maximise doing it, and you can have yourself an achievable “soft life”.
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