Success has long been linked to the hustle culture of endless hours of work, ambition, and the notion of productivity over personal happiness and health. This is how previous generations have gone about their career paths. However, something is shifting with the Gen Z generation, and many young people today are actively challenging the traditional grind and leaning towards what is being referred to as the ‘soft life.’
A soft life does not refer to the avoidance of work; rather, it is the growing desire among young people to place the importance of mental health and personal time alongside that of career success, especially in these uncertain economic times and with the rise of the ‘burnout epidemic.’
Understanding the ‘Soft Life’ Mindset
The soft life concept took off on Instagram and TikTok as young people began posting about how to live a purposeful life, how to set boundaries at work, and how to avoid unnecessary stress. To Gen Zers, success is no longer measured by how far up the corporate ladder you can climb or how fat your paycheck is. Rather, it’s about having a clear mind and a good quality of life.
While previous generations saw glory in grinding hard to reach the top, Gen Zs are now advocating for a balance in life. The era of COVID-19 has changed the way people think and approach things in life. Due to the uncertainty of things, the loss of jobs, and the health risks associated with it, many young people began to wonder if all the hard work in the daily grind is worth it for long-term stability and true happiness in life.
Burnout and Mental Health Awareness
However, a change of heart regarding Gen Z’s attitude toward hustle culture seems to be directly related to the emergence of a new concern: mental health.
Riya Das, a 21-year-old college student clearly states, “Our parents worked so hard and sacrificed a lot but we’ve also seen how stressful their lives became. I want a career, but I also want time for myself.”
Arjun Aggarwal, a 26-year-old corporate employee, states, “People brag about 12 or 14 hours a day as something to be proud of. To me, that just sounds unhealthy.” This, of course, is a common concern that has been going on between generations regarding the setting of boundaries at work, as well as the glorification of overwork.
The Rise of Flexible Careers
One of the major contributing factors to the soft life movement is the emergence of flexible career options. The rise of remote work, freelancing, and the gig economy has created opportunities for young professionals to create their own schedules to some extent. Rather than choosing to be rigidly aligned with corporate ladders, Gen Z workers are opting for jobs that provide flexibility and autonomy in their lives.
Another 23-year-old final year design student, Barnali Sen, says, “Flexibility is a necessity for me. I need to be flexible in both my life and my career. I don’t want to be in a job where I feel exhausted all the time. If I’m able to work from home or be my own boss, then I feel like I will be able to enjoy my life.”
Redefining Success
At its heart, the soft life movement is a symbol of a broader shift in the way society thinks about success. To Gen Z, success isn’t just about the money, but rather it’s about mental well-being, meaningful connections and self-improvement.
Social media has helped bring the dark side of hustle culture into the spotlight—burnout tales, bad workplaces and the need for absurdly high productivity rates, which have many young people questioning the true value of it all.
However, others have cautioned that ditching the concept of hustle culture entirely has its own set of dangers in today’s competitive and tight labour market. They argue that hard work and spirit are essential for career advancement. Whereas Gen Z takes on the matter implies that success and well-being are not at odds with ambition.
A Generational Shift in Perspective
The world seems to be shifting in favour of a softer approach to living and working and this is exuding down to how we perceive work. Rather than embracing burnout as a badge of pride, the younger generations are embracing balance and flexibility in life.
As the nature of work continues to shift and change, there is one thing that is evident: the younger generation does not buy into the idea that in order to be successful, they need to sacrifice and hustle all the time. To them, living well and working hard are not two opposing ideas.
Views expressed by the author are their own.
