To combat hustle culture, TikTokers are popularizing 'soft evenings' focused on self-care and relaxation

• Some TikTokers are prioritizing "soft evenings" instead of hyperproductive daily routines.
• They're filming their relaxing evening activities, such as reading and gardening.

TikTokers are filming themselves in relaxation mode after a long day as part of a new trend they're calling "soft evenings."

A typical video of a "soft evening" might feature snippets showing a creator lighting a candle, drinking a warm cup of tea, and doing an evening skincare routine to unwind.

"Soft evenings" are also sometimes referred to as "gentle evenings" or "slow evenings" and the idea appears to have evolved out of an internet subculture called "soft living," which refers to a lifestyle that prioritizes self-care and wellbeing. This broadly seems to be a counterpoint to hustle culture, which idealizes working long hours and a lack of free time.

The term "soft life" originated in the Nigerian influencer community, as a way to "imagine what life can feel like apart from the realities of Black women's labor," according to Andscape, a Black-led media outlet. It is now relatively widely used across TikTok, and some creators have said they decided to quit their jobs or move abroad to a less stressful environment after adopting the lifestyle.

"Soft evenings" appear to be a way for some TikTokers to make a claim to a relaxing "soft life" on a micro-level, choosing to prioritize their wellbeing for a short period of time on a regular basis.

A number of creators have been filming themselves constructing an evening routine for unwinding after work, opting to do something relaxing, like being out in nature, instead of being what is generally considered "productive" for an evening, without making an entire lifestyle change.

"What a blessing to have the time to take care of myself in this way," one creator, @elsa.evelyn wrote in a caption which belonged to a series of "gentle evening" videos from this year.

Another TikToker, @catvolcy, who posts about wellness and beauty, shared a clip of her spending the evening doing gardening, reading, and other activities, in May. She said in the video that the luxury of "soft evenings" feels "surreal" to her.

"Three years ago I would see an easeful evening like this as far-fetched. I would see it as something I only did on vacation," she added.

Commenters underneath "soft evening" videos often say that watching the clips makes them feel peaceful and encourages them to aspire to spending more time focusing on self-care.

"Soft evenings" aren't the only way that TikTokers are trying to combat hustle culture on a regular basis. Other micro-trends have also emerged on the app over the past few years, including "bed rotting," a term that describes lying in bed for hours or even days at a time.

Simlarly, "Miley Stewart Summer" is a trend used to refer to TikTokers who are spending the summer months disconnecting from busy city life to relax in the countryside, an idea borrowed from the plot of Disney's 2009 film "Hannah Montana: The Movie."

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