Embrace the ‘soft life’ in 2026

Dear Money Lady Readers,

The ‘hustle culture’ is something my demographic (ages 50 to 65) and our parents have been used to all our lives — living by the motto that you can’t be successful unless you “work really hard and show up every day ready to overcome any obstacle, with a no-limit attitude.” We quickly passed judgment on anyone who didn’t seem to be working hard, and everything in our lives had to come second to our all-encompassing careers.

Sound familiar? There are tons of books out there printed in the 1980s, ’90s and early 2000s pushing the hustle culture. Suggesting you should create your own vision board; telling you to not limit yourself, and to (this one I love) “never settle for less than what you truly deserve.”

My generation was always told to “suck it up buttercup – stop complaining and get out there, get over it, work harder, and do more.” Well, that’s not the way life is now.

Today’s young millennials and the vast majority of Canadian and American Gen Zs are adopting ‘soft life’ culture, the complete opposite of their parent’s belief systems. They don’t want to live to work. They want to enjoy their lives, focusing on balance, ease, self-care and personal fulfillment through intentionally enjoying the small wins.

Parents and older generations are having a tough time making this mental shift and many have written me about their troubles. They believe their kids are unmotivated or ungrateful for the monetary assistance from their parents. While I can relate, I also think the hustle culture generation should adopt the soft life mantra, too.

Now, before you throw down this paper in disgust – keep reading, please. When we were young, life was all about proving “you could do it.” But to what end? I’ve seen co-workers, family and personal friends hit their late 40s and 50s still pushing, only to be silenced by a single tragedy. Was it worth it? Maybe, but only you will know. I never thought I would ever say this, but I’m glad this next generation is pushing back on the hustle mentality. Good for them to want more out of life than just their careers. It’s been tough for all of us oldies to deal with the micro-managing bosses, back-stabbing coworkers and peers who have accomplished more in less time.

The so-called soft life is not about having a lot of money, but more about treating yourself to be happier. This could mean buying a name-brand grocery product instead of a generic one. Burning a scented candle on your desk while you work from home. Treating yourself to a special coffee drink, spending the afternoon curled up on the sofa with a good book and a plate of home-made cookies, or working on a quiet task, like a puzzle. The trend is to slow down, enjoy the little things and stop pushing for more. This movement rejects the idea that a difficult life is the only path toward an enjoyable one. It’s all about a life designed for calm, less complexity, sincerity with people, and finding time to unwind, pursue hobbies or spend time with the ones we love.

Could we be entering an age of more traditional values? Maybe. Choosing to reject the old narrative can’t be that bad. We would all be better off if we could stop and put our mental and physical health first for once, not just for a day or a weekend, but for our whole lives.