My Soft Life Era — and What It Actually Looks Like in Practice

You may have come across the idea of a "soft life era." When I first heard it, I immediately felt that this concept is actually something very familiar to us — because living a calmer, more intentional life is already deeply rooted in our faith.

Here is what entering my own soft life era currently looks like — and which small, concrete changes have made a real difference in my everyday life.

1. Going more analog

One of the first things I started changing was returning to a more analog way of living. Instead of spending almost all of my time in a digital world, I began choosing simple, physical activities again. And interestingly, I am not alone in this. There is a growing movement — especially among younger generations — where people are consciously choosing to spend less time on their phones and more time offline.

For me, one of the biggest steps was deactivating my Instagram account. I did not expect how much of a difference it would make. I suddenly felt calmer. Less stressed. More present in my own life. In the beginning, I would pick up my phone almost automatically and my finger would go straight to where the icon used to be — again and again, without even thinking. That honestly scared me a little. Because it showed me how deeply the habit had become embedded in my daily behavior.

There is growing scientific evidence showing that too much passive screen use — especially scrolling social media or binge-watching — is associated with higher stress levels, more emotional overload, and even memory difficulties. And when people reduce their screen time, many of these symptoms improve almost immediately.

Going more analog naturally led me back to reading real books, spending more time outside, and looking into the distance instead of always focusing on a screen a few centimeters from my eyes. Our eyes were never designed to spend most of the day focusing only on nearby objects. And being more intentional with our time online is one of the most powerful first steps toward a calmer life — one that protects us from burnout in the long run.

When did you last learn something new simply because you were genuinely curious? Maybe that means taking a course, picking up a craft, or reading a book that challenges the way you think. These are the activities that nourish us.

2. Walking instead of rushing

Another important shift has been, quite literally, walking more. This is coming from someone who has relied on running for most of her life. I did my trainer license in track and field when I was still in school. Running was always how I cleared my head — during university, during my first pregnancy, even in my third trimester. For a long time I believed running was the one and only way to stay in shape.

But after two pregnancies, my anatomy changed. My daily routines changed drastically. And running stopped serving me the same way. So I began replacing parts of that routine with something softer: walking.

4,000 → steps/day already reduces risk of early death, in a study of 220,000+ people

Zone 2 → the pace where your body switches to burning fat as its primary fuel

Walking is deeply underestimated. It supports your cardiovascular system, your metabolism, your focus, and your mental clarity. And what makes it especially powerful is that it is sustainable — it does not exhaust your nervous system, which means most people can repeat it almost every day. Consistency is the strongest predictor of long-term health improvement.

Walking also adapts to your life. If you need connection, walk with a friend instead of sitting for coffee. If your life is already full of people, walking can become your quiet time. And if going outside is difficult — postpartum, working from home, caring for small children — even a treadmill or walking pad can make a meaningful difference.

If you want to enter your soft life era, walking is one of the easiest and most powerful places to start.

3. Minding my own business — truly

In concrete terms, this means: not being overly focused on other people's lives, not being noisy, and not constantly talking about what others are doing. One of the healthiest decisions I have made is learning not to think too much about other people's choices. Because I noticed that when I spend too much time interpreting someone else's behavior — assuming motives behind what they do — it becomes much easier to start talking about them as well.

This is something I personally struggled with. Especially in social settings, I can be someone who jokes a lot. About myself, about the people around me. That was just how I engaged in conversation when I felt comfortable. But over time, I received feedback — more than once — that some of those jokes had actually hurt people's feelings.

I used to think: if I can joke about myself, then others should be fine if I joke about them too. But that is not how people work. Everyone has insecurities. Everyone has soft spots they do not show openly. And sometimes, even a small joke — something that feels harmless — can cross a line without us realizing it.

And even beyond jokes: sometimes it is not what we say, but the questions we ask. A question can seem innocent in the moment, but open the door to conversations that slowly turn into talking about people in ways we should not. In Islam, this is something we take seriously. So for me, part of my soft life era is this awareness: less talking about others, less curiosity about things that do not concern me, and more focus on my own actions, intentions, and growth.

There is a saying I often remind myself of: small minds talk about people, average minds talk about events, but great minds talk about ideas and visions. When we spend too much time talking about others, we lose time and energy that could have gone into building ourselves. A soft life also means this: a quieter tongue, a more mindful mind, and a more focused heart.

4. Learning to sit with silence

I noticed something about myself: as soon as my children are asleep, or when my husband has a night shift and everything becomes suddenly calm — my first impulse is to turn something on. A podcast. A lecture. A video in the background. It is almost as if I feel uncomfortable with the stillness. Like silence is something I have to fill immediately.

But over time I began asking myself: why? Why is it so difficult to simply sit with our own thoughts?

When I think about the lives of the prophets, something stayed with me. Many of them were shepherds. And if you think about what a shepherd's life looks like — it is quiet. It is slow. It is removed from constant social noise. Long periods of time alone in nature, watching, observing, thinking, reflecting. I believe there is deep wisdom in that.

Our brains and nervous systems need time without input. Time where thoughts can develop naturally. Time where emotions can surface. Time where we can understand what is actually happening inside of us.

These quiet moments help us process the past, reflect on our relationships and priorities, and create space for the most important relationship of all — our connection with Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala. Because if we are always surrounded by noise and distraction, when is the time we actually speak to Him? When do we listen to ourselves honestly?

One small practice: after prayer, instead of immediately standing up and moving to the next task, try staying seated a little longer. Just a few minutes of remembrance and reflection. I truly believe these small moments of stillness can change the way we experience our days. A soft life is about creating space where your heart and your thoughts are allowed to speak again.

5. Putting health at the center

This is, for me, the most important part of the soft life. Our health influences almost everything — our energy, our mood, our relationships, our ability to care for our families, and our ability to live the life we actually want to live. That is why I believe we should make our health a factor in almost every important decision we take.

One aspect that is often underestimated is the quality of the medical care we accept for ourselves. Good care is not only about the country you live in or the insurance system you have. It is also about something much more personal: trust. The relationship between you and your doctor should be built on genuine understanding.

In the clinic, I often hear patients say they are not happy with their general practitioner — that their symptoms are brushed off, or that they do not feel fully taken seriously. And that is when I ask: why are we staying with a doctor we do not trust? If you feel your concerns are not being heard, it is completely reasonable to look for someone else. Sometimes that means meeting more than one practitioner before you find someone who truly understands you.

This matters especially for women — and particularly for women with a migration background. Research shows that symptoms in these groups are statistically more likely to be interpreted as psychosomatic or stress-related, especially when the diagnosis is not immediately obvious. You deserve to be taken seriously. Finding a doctor you trust is part of protecting your health.

Taking care of our health proactively is a very important part of living a soft life. Because when we protect our health early, we create the foundation for a calmer, stronger, and more intentional life.

May Allah swt bless our efforts — and may we all find our way to a life that is a little softer, a little slower, and a little more true to who we are meant to be.

The content on this website is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Please consult a qualified healthcare professional for personal medical guidance.