Gen Z’s “soft life” trend is the full-day extension of their viral soft mornings. The “soft life” has racked up over 1B views on TikTok, showcasing the aesthetic of candlelit mornings, followed by afternoon cozy mugs of tea, and evening guilt-free rest. Once again, it’s a direct rejection of Millennial girlboss hustle culture and Gen Z feeling that constant hard work doesn’t guarantee the stability it once did. With 83% of 18-24-year-olds experiencing burnout according to YPulse data, the appeal makes sense. But don’t mistake the aesthetic for a full lifestyle overhaul they’re all adopting. As one 21-year-old job seeker put it, softness shows up “in brief moments between job stress,” not as a total transformation. And despite the dreamy posts, many Gen Z are still grinding: the great “lock-in” content from the fall outpaces soft life content with millions of posts to the new trend’s 460K. (Parents)
👀 Read more from YPulse: 5 Ways Gen Z is Rebranding Their Everyday Life
