Gen Z perfects the soft life

INSTA MOMENTS: SOLO DATES ARE BRANDED AS SELF-CARE - AND SHARED

- Hein Kaiser

The soft life may look effortless on TikTok and Instagram, but there is nothing gentle about how it's carefully curated.

Psychologist and medical doctor Dr Jonathan Redelinghuys said that for many Gen Zs, these habits are "about creating moments that feel intentional, even if they are small, as long as they feel authentic," and added that living the soft life, very publicly, is as much about self-image as it is about engaging in the actual activity.

It's smoke and mirrors a lot of the time, and it costs a pretty penny too.

Solo dates Whether it is a museum stroll, a park picnic, or coffee with a book captured on Instagram, solo dates are branded as self-care.

"Gen Z has normalized spending quality time alone in public, and it is a marker of self-sufficiency," Redelinghuys said.

Budget-wise, a single outing could set someone back R80 to R250 for coffee or lunch, and north of R600 if a workshop or museum or some other activity is added to the mix.

Shower all inclusively The five-minute wash and scrub has become a ritual. Hair masks, scrubs, powder puffs, multiple cleansers, and woo-woo has turned the shower into a spa.