How Women Around the World Are Designing Their ‘Soft Life’

May 18, 2025 dotcomwomen

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In an era that once celebrated the “girl boss” hustle culture, a quieter, more intentional movement has emerged—and women everywhere are embracing it. Welcome to the ‘soft life’: a lifestyle rooted in ease, self-care, and emotional wealth over material grind.

But what exactly is the soft life? And how are women around the world personalizing it to suit their cultures, priorities, and values? From Tokyo to Tuscany, here’s how the global sisterhood is redefining femininity and success.

🌸 What is the Soft Life?

The “soft life” is more than bubble baths and silk pajamas. It’s a philosophy of living with intention, refusing to glorify struggle, and prioritizing peace, pleasure, and emotional wellness. It’s about rejecting burnout and embracing abundance—not just financially, but emotionally and spiritually.

The movement started gaining popularity on TikTok and Instagram, especially among Black women who coined it as a form of resistance against societal pressures to be constantly strong, productive, or self-sacrificing.

How Women Around the World Are Embracing the Soft Life

🇫🇷 France – The Art of Doing Less

French women have long been soft-life pioneers. From long lunches to unapologetic time off, “joie de vivre” isn’t a hashtag—it’s a lifestyle. The French soft life is all about elegant simplicity: fresh flowers, good wine, unhurried walks, and sacred me-time.

Soft Life Hallmark: Leisurely café moments without checking emails.

🇯🇵 Japan – Mindful Minimalism

In Tokyo, the soft life takes on a Zen-like tone. Many Japanese women are finding peace in minimalism, focusing on harmony in home, work, and body. With rituals like tea ceremonies and onsens (hot springs), softness is found in presence, cleanliness, and calm.

Soft Life Hallmark: Decluttered spaces, quiet mornings, and slow-living traditions.

🇳🇬 Nigeria – Luxury in Stillness

African creators, especially Nigerian women, have popularized the “soft life” online with aesthetics of luxury, leisure, and no-stress vibes. But beneath the glam is a deeper message: “I deserve rest and gentleness, too.”

Soft Life Hallmark: Spa days, travel, champagne brunches, and unapologetic indulgence.

🇮🇳 India – Rediscovering Sacred Femininity

Indian women are designing their soft lives by reconnecting with traditional wisdom (like Ayurveda, yoga, and seasonal eating) and rejecting hustle-culture norms. It’s about ritual over rush and reclaiming peace in a rapidly modernizing world.

Soft Life Hallmark: Slow mornings with chai, journaling, and holistic self-care.

🇧🇷 Brazil – Body Joy and Community

For Brazilian women, the soft life often involves movement, connection, and outdoor living. Dancing, shared meals, and body confidence are part of the narrative. Wellness isn’t just solo—it’s social.

Soft Life Hallmark: Sunset beach yoga, communal meals, and rhythmic living.

🇺🇸 USA – Opting Out of Burnout

In the U.S., the soft life trend has taken root as more women exit corporate burnout culture. Women are embracing remote work, passive income, and solo travel. The American soft life is about reclaiming time, joy, and boundaries.

Soft Life Hallmark: Vision boards, skincare routines, and saying “no” without guilt.

Why the Soft Life Is So Powerful

Because it questions the narrative that a woman must sacrifice everything to be successful. It doesn’t mean avoiding ambition—it means aligning goals with emotional wellbeing.

Women across cultures are choosing:

Peace over pressure
Rest over reputation
Presence over performance

And in doing so, they’re redefining what it means to truly thrive.

How You Can Start Living Your Soft Life

You don’t need a private island or a designer wardrobe. Designing your soft life can be as simple as:

Setting digital boundaries
Saying “yes” to what feels aligned
Choosing nourishment over numbing
Creating space for beauty, calm, and joy daily

Whether you’re a homemaker in Jaipur, a digital nomad in Lisbon, or a CEO in LA—the soft life is yours to design.

Final Thoughts

The soft life isn’t about laziness or luxury—it’s about living intentionally, peacefully, and beautifully. And as more women across the globe adopt this lifestyle, a quiet revolution is taking place—one where ease, grace, and self-love lead the way.