Soft Life In Singapore: Why Living Stress-Free Is Surprisingly Possible
From micro-joys to boundaries, the soft life is about choosing calm over chaos.
POV: You’re scrolling TikTok, and the algorithm keeps serving you videos of people indulging in soft life with slow mornings, peaceful routines, and living seemingly unbothered. Then you look up, and reality hits. You’re on the MRT, squished between commuters, thinking about deadlines, rent, and whether you should’ve taken Grab instead.
Singapore has long been labelled one of the most stressful cities in the world. You may even wonder if you’ll ever escape from stress, like Heidi Fong, 23, who doesn’t think it’s possible to live stress-free in Singapore: “We live in a hustle culture and standards of living is really high.”
Heidi enjoying matcha while hustling.
Vera Lau, 27, shared the same sentiments: “I think due to how our country and society are structurally, unless you are extremely affluent (and even so) I am of the opinion it is very difficult to live a stress-free life here. Sure, there can be pockets of time where you prioritise peace and embrace a “soft” life, but that’ll [just] be a couple hours on a Saturday or day off.”
The same goes for Low Siew Yan, 27: “I have tried to have a better work-life balance, but I often struggle to achieve it. To help myself feel better, I will try to avoid touching my laptop and spend more time with my family or loved ones over the weekends. I will either wake up earlier or stay up later after work to clear my tasks.”
Siew Yan spending the weekend with her family for her sister’s housewarming party.
Despite the negative outlook on living stress-free in Singapore, enjoying a soft life is possible depending on how you choose to deal with stress.
What soft life means
At its core, the soft life is about choosing peace over pressure. It’s rejecting the idea that success has to come with constant exhaustion. For some, that looks like slow mornings and cafe dates. For others, it’s drawing clear boundaries at work, or investing time in self-care.
It’s not laziness, and it’s definitely not running away from reality. Instead, the soft life is about being intentional and living lightly on your own terms, such as knowing your limits and saying no before you burn out; prioritising well-being in a way that feels sustainable; spending wisely not just on bills, but also on small joys that recharge you; and choosing community that uplifts instead of drains.
The joys of good company.
Don’t confuse soft life with “tangping”
While the soft life is about choosing calm and balance, it’s not the same as “tangping”, the Chinese trend of “lying flat.” Tangping is essentially opting out, rejecting hustle, career milestones, and societal expectations altogether. It’s about surviving with the bare minimum, as a form of quiet resistance against burnout culture.
The soft life, on the other hand, doesn’t mean giving up on ambition. It’s about reframing success so that your well-being stays intact. You can still pursue your goals, but you do it with boundaries, rest, and joy built into your lifestyle.
Stress is everywhere, but you hold the power
Here’s the catch: Stressors aren’t going anywhere. Deadlines, MRT crowds, family obligations, housing costs… They’ll still be there, even if you migrate to another country. The key lies in how you respond.
Lifestyle influencer Daisy Anne shared with us: “Whilst your environment does contribute to stress, it also comes down to the individual on how they manage it, so I don’t think it necessarily means that being in Singapore = stress, and not being in Singapore = not stressed.”
Two people can face the same stressor. One sees it as unbearable, the other as a challenge to manage. The situation is the same, but the outcomes are worlds apart. When you realise that, “stress-free” doesn’t mean a life without problems. It is a life where you stop letting problems dictate and affect your peace.
Nadiah Farwizah, 23, demonstrates this: “My approach is to set aside moments of ‘softness’ amidst the daily grind. My non-negotiables are my gym sessions after work that also help to clear my mind. On weekends, it’s about creating connections with my loved ones, whether it’s trying a new activity with my partner, watching a movie with girlfriends, or something as simple as ticking off my “To-Try Matcha” list with my little sister.”
Trying out matcha spots is one of the ways Nadiah adds softness into her life.
How to live stress-free in Singapore
To get started on your soft life era, here are some things you can consider:
Shift your mindset: Instead of “why is this happening to me?”, try “how can I grow through this?” It sounds small, but it rewires how stress shows up in your body.
Embrace small joys: You don’t need an expensive spa day to relax. A long kopi break, beautiful weather, or even watching your favourite show guilt-free can reset your mood.
Protect your boundaries: Stress often comes from overextending yourself. Mute the WhatsApp work group after hours. Leave your weekends for rest. Saying no is self-care.
Make money work for you: Set aside a budget for things that make you happy, even if it’s just $20 a month for bubble tea or a blind box. Financial peace is also emotional peace.
Choose your circle wisely: Surround yourself with people who celebrate you, not compete with you. Good energy is contagious.
Find stillness in nature: Despite being a city, Singapore has its calm corners. MacRitchie Reservoir, Botanic Gardens, or even a quiet park near your home can give you that reset button.
Nadiah takes morning walks on the weekend at Rifle Range Nature Park and Coney Island.
Stress-free living is about what you choose. Every small decision builds towards a softer, calmer way of being.
Daisy told us what she thinks it takes to embark on a soft life: “Actually putting your needs before others, and actually taking time to be with yourself. To me, a soft life = a slow life. Intentional, grounded, safe. In Singapore, the pace of living and the expectation to hustle contradict that notion, so I ask myself what I can do in my own means to move toward my idea of a soft life. I just want to enjoy living, not suffer to live.”
Vera also added, “It is great that this generation is embracing a softer existence and [rejecting] pure “hustle culture”. For me, I try to slow down from time to time and remind myself to take time. This movement of a soft life has given me the comfort to rest. Admittedly, I still struggle with this and find that I am still constantly striving, but I feel in recent years I am becoming more aware and trying to slow down in pockets of time.”
The soft life is in your hands
Singapore may be fast-paced, but stress doesn’t have to be your lifestyle. You can’t control COE prices, MRT breakdowns, or your boss’s mood, but you can control how much of your peace you let those things steal.
Living the soft life here is possible, not because Singapore is stress-free, but because you can be. Stress will always exist, but how to react is your choice.
It’s just like what Nadiah said: “I believe it’s not about eliminating ambition or stress, but about intentionally weaving moments of peace, joy, and connection into the fabric of a purposeful life I’ve defined for myself.”
And when you consistently choose calm over chaos, softness over struggle, you’ll realise that stress-free living isn’t a fantasy reserved for countries like Finland. It’s a practice, one you can build right here at home.