Soft Living (adopting decisions that leave you stress-free)…….the buzzword for a more relaxed way of life which is making it’s way from Tik Tok into the mainstream, but what is it and how could it work for us? Mental health & mindfulness experts, Elle Mace & Tara Lee Oakley give their advice on implementing the idea into our lives, how to fully embrace it and the potential benefits.

Why has 'soft living' become an attractive way to tackle life?

Naturally, our bodies get more tired as we get older and our brains can start to slow down combined with 40+ years of experiences you have had to process through, some wonderful and others more challenging and potentially traumatic we need a calmer life to manage the internal stress. Being able to honour your body’s needs is a crucial part of life, many people have spent years working, parenting, hustling and just surviving which isn’t sustainable. If you slow down your life, life slows down for you.

Why is setting boundaries so important as we get older?

Setting boundaries is an essential life skill and a form of self-care, it will increase your self-worth and self-esteem. It can be mistaken for being selfish but it is far from it. It may feel a little uncomfortable at first especially if you have been someone that hasn’t had boundaries before (a people pleaser). It helps not only you but others know your limits and gives clear guidelines which benefit everyone. Setting boundaries increases happiness and general mental health and well-being, therefore this is even more important when you are older to support having the best physical and mental health.

Why is self-care so important and how can we incorporate self-care into our daily routine?

Self-care goes hand in hand with “soft living’ and what it represents, increased health. Self-care can reduce stress, improve energy and increase happiness so extra important for older persons as that will help reduce the risk of heart disease, strokes and cancer. Also having a spiritual approach to life when getting older can be very beneficial to help you appreciate what really matters in life, practice forgiveness and give you purpose in life. Write a list of everything that gives you pleasure and makes you feel good it could listening to your favoutite song, reading a book, seeing a special someone, exercising, having a massage or a bath, listing a candle and meditating, treating yourself to a favourite food. It doesn’t have to cost money or be anything too expensive, go through your list and see where you can add them into your daily life without feeling stressed about doing it. Make sure it's achievable so perhaps 1 thing a day in the morning before you do anything else and then build it up.

Why is exercise a good way to tap into the 'soft living' trend and how can we implement this?

Looking after your body through exercise is a form of self care. Enjoying exercise is key, set time each week to include fitness and movement that brings you pleasure. Rather than squeezing your fitness into a tight routine and feeling like you have to push yourself with goals and rigid time constrictions, find space for play and joy. Soft living is setting aside time for a beautiful refreshing walk, enjoying a belly dance class, taking up playful movement like roller skating, time out in a relaxing yoga class or mindful pilates. It's not about achieving something, or forcing yourself to burn calories or be in perfect shape, instead focus on enjoying movement and prioritising active rest and relaxation. - Tara Lee Oakley, Personal Trainer from East of Eden

Why is diet a good way to tap into the 'soft living' trend and how can we implement this?

Diet is a crucial part of our health; food is the reason we are alive and it fuels us each and every day so making sure you are eating lots of nutritious food will help increase your energy levels so you can be active and balance your hormones. You need nutrients for growth and repair all important in older adults and prevent diet-related illnesses. All it’s also important to enjoy foods and not stress about eating certain less nutritious foods therefore intuitive eating will be key. Essentially this is eating when you feel hungry or need to eat and stopping when you are satisfied and enjoying less nutritious food without the guilt and shame afterwards. Get clear on how foods make you feel for example sugar, caffeine and alcohol how does it make you feel and what is your limit? Find all the foods you need and like then plan them into your week leaving room for spontaneous fun moments. If you have a clear list of everything you want to get in during a week or month, plan the recipes then you’ll know you are getting what you need.

Why is mindfulness a good way to tap into the 'soft living' trend and how can we implement this?

Mindfulness increases awareness, and self-reflection and fosters a more self-accepting attitude, especially in older adults. When you practice mindfulness, you will improve your self-care habits which leads to higher self-worth and better relationship with yourself and others and reduced stress, anxiety levels, lower blood pressure and improved coping skills for chronic illnesses. You can incorporate mindfulness with simple exercises such as mindful breathing, sitting or lying comfortably with your eyes closed and bringing awareness to your breath as you inhale and exhale. Notice how your body feels as you breathe in and then out. Redirect your mind back to the breath if you find it wandering and ask yourself these questions: How am I today? What does my body need? What do I need today? Where do I feel any anxiety? Asking these questions gives you an opportunity to process them rather than living with them within the body.