Soft Life, Hard Reality: The Luxe Lifestyle That’s Breaking Indian Wallets

There’s a new dream in town—and no, it’s not one of climbing the corporate ladder or owning a 3BHK before you turn 30. It’s the soft life. Like: sipping coffee slowly on a Monday morning, working remotely from a hillside Airbnb, investing in therapy, skincare, solo dates, and saying “no” to burnout culture. The soft life lifestyle is hot, but for many Indians, living it is like chasing a dream draped in silk and behind a designer price tag.



The soft life is about choosing peace over pressure, joy over judgment, rest over grind. It’s not lack of motivation; it’s living on purpose. Born from Black creators and now a global flex, this lifestyle is saying: “I choose ease, even if the world worships grind.”
Psychologists and social thinkers are supporting this shift. So empowering, in fact, that Psychology Today calls the soft life trend “empowering” for being a cause to keep mental health at the heart of everyday choices. Whereas exhaustion is worn like a badge of honor, the soft life welcomes balance, pleasure and boundaries.

So now let’s discuss the soft life in India — or rather, why it is not at all soft.



Let’s face it—India is not built for soft living, socioeconomically speaking. The soft life trend 2025 is a global phenomenon, but adopting it here can feel like a luxury for the few. From sky-high rents in metros to inflation that renders avocado toast a luxury, to the constant pressure to “prove yourself,” vocations of choice in India come at a steep price — financially and emotionally.

Opting out of toxic jobs (but can you afford that gap year?),
Having to choose wellness (hello, ₹4,000 therapy sessions),
Surviving hustle (in a hustle society)
And spending money on things like skin care, time away from home and self-improvement (which isn’t always in the budget).



While Gen Z and millennials everywhere are reworking lifestyles across the world, the soft life in India faces an additional obstacle: culture. Success here has long meant long hours, stable jobs and self-sacrifice. To choose calm in a time of chaos is to rebel.
Imagine telling your parents that you’re quitting a job with a major brand to take a “soul sabbatical.” You’re likely to be told, “But what about your career?”
And there is the heart of the struggle — living softly in a country that still lionizes the grind.



And so, the soft life trend throughout the world is booming in 2025. People are reframing what success means—not in terms of salary or likes on their LinkedIn posts—but rather, how much peace they can hang onto each day. Dates burn, in cities like Mumbai and Bangalore you will find early adopters of this mindset, often freelancers or creators or startup folks who are experimenting with flexible work and intentional living.
But can this way of life take over Instagram and be more within reach for the masses?
Yes—and no.



The good news? You don’t have to be wealthy to live gently. What is needed is intentionality. Here’s how:

It’s not always about luxury. A soft life might entail “10-minute walking” or unfollowing people who cause you to question your value or shaking off a tree unless it’s free of toxic fruits or saying “no” more.

Here is an approximate break-up of how much the same would cost in India when you prepare for a soft life. Therapists are overpriced, and so are emotional breakouts. Focus on what gives you serenity.
India is full of simple pleasures. Cheap yoga classes, staycation destinations, community cafes, peaceful parks, spirituality — softness doesn’t have to come with a price tag.

Be with the people that understand why you rest, grow and slow down. A soft life flourishes in soft conditions — people are a priority.



The soft life lifestyle is more than just a trend—it’s a mental overhaul. But within India, it remains a struggle against the tide. Financial limitations, cultural reluctance and systemic deficiencies create barriers to fully embracing this movement.
And yet more and more young Indians are giving it a go. Not because it’s easy. But because they’re weary of being weary.
So if you’re joining for the soft life in India — you’re not alone. And you’re not unrealistic. You’re just brave enough to pick peace in a world that rarely honors it.

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