To think there's no such thing as a "soft life"?

Dostoevsky said exactly the same. It's a problem.

@TheBestThingthatAlmostHappened ah OK, I get you. Yes that's absolutely concerning as a parent. I guess it's too easy to say the teens should stay off social media. If I was that parent then I guess you'd have to give your opinion then leave them to it but not support them financially once they hit adulthood. Working PT doing something pleasant leads to a low income but for some that's worth the trade off. For others (most) they quickly realise it's not worth it and retrain and start over. Maybe people need to go through that learning curve. Also, many parents are very money focused and obsessed with higher education, they need to open their minds to the possibility that their children may be happier with a more frugal simpler life with more focus on self fulfilment than career progression. I hope and pray my kids are strong enough to see through SM trends and follow their own paths.

Speak for yourself, Anna Wintour.

I personally can confirm I am now Amish, entirely due to such.

As with everything else with social media trends it's all absolute bollocks. And only people who lack critical thinking / maturity go along with it / believe it's true. If young people are getting into this trend then they'll regret being so basic later on in life.

I know this at age 40, because when I was 18 I honestly thought marrying a man with a good career and being a SAHM was everything / a dream come true. Realised I was batshit in my 20s and saved myself.

No such thing as luck either. Life is just a series of choices and decisions.

People grow and change when theyake mistakes and have regrets (including moi)

Is this like when all those tradwives accounts were prolific and then we all gave up our jobs to get up at 5am and churn butter? Oh yeah, that didn't happen.

There's bullshit all over the internet though, especially on Instagram and tiktok. This is just one example of it.

Which teenage girls? Your own? Then expose them to something else. It's your job as a parent.

I haven't seen one thread like that.

@CoastalGrey I think most people do - but I think some people decide to share it online to counteract the constant videos about girl bossing / corporate girl trends / climbing the ladder and give other views. I think it’s just one of those things people do to bring awareness to it! Otherwise it can seem like everyone in life is loving the 9-5, going above and beyond to progress at work being a “corporate baddie” etc like the trends show. I think it’s nice to have a balance of different lifestyles being shown, especially when I have an evening scroll 😂

Eh, while I wouldn’t describe my life as “soft” I feel incredibly lucky to be able to work part-time, running my own business that I love. DH is also part-time self-employed and earns well and we don’t struggle for money or for anything, really.

We both have health issues but overall we’re incredibly fortunate and neither of us feel overly pressured to work hard. We average around 25/30 hours a week each.

@NewYearNewMee Perhaps you're right but why can't they just get on and do it quietly?

I'd suggest you start following the accounts of local food banks, pressure groups, homeless shelters, suicide prevention charities, MH support etc etc, so that your algorithm reorients itself away from total idiocy.

Why are you questioning a dumb trend on social media? I certainly have never heard of it. If there was a real change in our society then absolutely it's worth exploring but not something you heard an influencer say. Honestly i think the type of people who alter their behaviour because of a SM trend are so vacuous and stupid they probably don't contribute much to society anyway so I don't think it really matters what they do.

There are jobs which, if you’re good at and enjoy, may require time and effort but aren’t unduly stressful.

The whole “soft life” social media trend isn’t just about employment, it’s about the time you have outside of work and other obligations - it’s about making those parts of your life soft, like making your morning coffee, an afternoon snack, decorating your home, practicing mindfulness, taking some time to read, baking etc.

It’s people going back to analog ways - turning down the constant consumerism of modern trends and trying to enjoy the joy in little things, like physical media, hobbies that involve your hands, that sort of thing.

@Rosecoffeecup Oh God this is all over my feed, so many people saying they're stepping away from screens to pursue 'cute' hobbies like cross stitch and colouring not realising the irony of announcing that on social media!

I suspect the soft life bollocks is much the same, they'll all be banging on about something else next week. This rebranding of perfectly normal life choices really does my head in.

Yabu to take any phrase invented by people who film themselves drinking matcha tea as a viable starting point for sensible discussion.

I think life is hard generally because every decision you make, good or bad, catches up with you in the end.

Some people who live very pampered, comfortable insular lives, protected from harsh realities, can end up feeling physically unfit, mentally woolly, and unfulfilled.

And some people who have strived all out to earn, and consistently prioritised work above family, may not have close relationships.

Those are obviously very extreme examples. Most people aim for somewhere in the middle.

I think you do need a certain level of income to live comfortably and for life not to be a constant source of struggle and stress though. I think to suggest otherwise is insulting to people living below the poverty line and in constant fear of eviction or deciding between paying the heating bill or buying food.

But beyond that point; its swings and roundabouts.

I saw some bollocks on insta recebtly about living an analogue life. Is soft life the same parlance?