Living the soft life in your 20s: Is it possible or an unrealistic expectation?
The “soft life” has become a popular aspiration among young people, but is it possible or an unrealistic expectation?
Today’s society is fascinated by the idea of living the soft life.
Thanks to social media, many young people aspire to financial freedom, flexible schedules and a stress-free lifestyle from an early age.
Scroll through Instagram or TikTok, and you’ll see young people travelling the world, flying first class, staying at luxury hotels, carrying designer bags and driving the latest cars. For many in their 20s, the dream is no longer just about building a successful career, it’s about achieving the soft life as early as possible.
While there is nothing wrong with being ambitious, the challenge comes when expectations don’t match reality. The pressure to “arrive” early in life can leave many feeling like they are falling behind, especially when they compare themselves to what they see on social media. For some, this can lead to anxiety, burnout, low self-esteem and even depression.
However, Oprah Winfrey believes there is a misconception that success and work-life balance can be achieved immediately after graduating from college. Winfrey, 72, become the first black female self-made billionaire in the United Sates at age 40.
Speaking during a recent conversation with Keke Palmer , the media mogul said there is a season for hard work before one can enjoy the freedom that many people aspire to.
Oprah shared that she often speaks to young women in their 20s who have just entered the working world and are already looking for work-life balance.
“This is what I say to my girls who are graduating from college and starting their first jobs, and they’re talking to me about work-life balance at this point. I go, ‘Yeah… work-life balance at 22?’ It’s just not there. It’s not there. You’re not supposed to have it. You’re supposed to lean into the work.”
For Oprah, success isn’t measured by wealth or fame but by freedom.
She explained that she has reached a stage in life where she can make decisions based on what she truly wants because she spent years doing what she needed to do.
“I believe that, for me, it’s getting to this point in my life where my choices come truly from the purest part of myself. I only do what I want to do, and I’ve earned the right to do that because there were lots of times I had to do what I had to do. You have to do what you have to do, what you need to do, until you can do what you want to do.”
She added that many young people want to skip the difficult stages of building a career.
“A lot of people think, ‘I just want to do what I want to do.’ You’ve got to work to be able to do what you want to do.”
Greatest lessons
Oprah’s comments come at a time when the “soft life” trend continues to dominate social media, often portraying success as something that can happen overnight. While there is nothing wrong with wanting a comfortable life, her message is a reminder that lasting success is usually built over time.
Experience remains one of life’s greatest teachers. There are lessons that no classroom or textbook can fully prepare you for. Many of the skills needed to thrive in a career, business or leadership position are learned while showing up every day, solving problems and gaining real-world experience.
Over time, that experience builds resilience, confidence and the capacity to handle the freedom that often comes with success.
Another lesson from Oprah’s remarks is the danger of chasing shortcuts. Whether it’s overnight fame, instant wealth or quick success, skipping the process can leave people unprepared for the responsibilities that come with achievement.
In some cases, people find themselves overwhelmed because they never had the opportunity to develop the resilience and discipline that are often built through years of hard work.
The same principle can apply beyond the workplace. Whether it’s a career, a business or even relationships, growth often requires patience, commitment and a willingness to work through challenges instead of walking away the moment things become difficult.
Ultimately, Oprah’s message is not that young people should give up on work-life balance or living a softer life. Rather, it is a reminder that freedom is often the reward for years of consistency, sacrifice and perseverance.
Perhaps the bigger question isn’t how quickly we can achieve the soft life, but whether we are willing to do the work that makes it sustainable when it finally arrives.
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