Side hustle culture may be giving way to a new lifestyle trend: soft living. The movement is centred on slowing down, reducing stimulation and creating more space for rest, reflection and meaningful connections.

The trend is influencing everything from home interiors and colour choices to hobbies, screen time and socialising. Soft living interiors favour matte finishes, curved forms, warm lighting and materials that help reduce visual and auditory clutter. Warm whites, greys, olive greens and earthy browns are also becoming popular as people look for calmer and more grounded spaces.

The movement also encourages a return to offline and analog activities such as reading, knitting and gardening. Instead of constant scrolling and digital stimulation, people are deliberately making time for activities that involve touch, creativity and presence.

Soft Living Is Replacing Side Hustle Culture | Why People Are Choosing Slower, Calmer Lives

The Right to Disconnect Bill, 2025: The Right to Disconnect Bill, 2025 was introduced on the fifth day of Parliament's winter session which started on December 1. The bill proposes to give employees the legal right to ignore work-related calls and emails after office hours or on holidays. The private member’s bill was introduced by NCP MP Supriya Sule.


Are you working while on leave? What does it mean for work culture?

In some form or the other, at least 25 countries now have right-to-disconnect rules for workers. But India’s new bill faces scepticism as unpaid overtime and an entrenched overwork culture are the norm. Here is a global comparison

'Don't call, message or email me for work after office hours': People of 25 countries can say this, but not Indians. Right to Disconnect across world

Top performers in compnies are living after performance reviews seen as outdated and unfair. A Deloitte insigt report said 64 per cent of professionals find appraisals unhelpful, with only 29 per cent trusting evaluations. Whats the way to  retain talent and foster real growth?

The curse of the Bell Curve: Appraisals are making top performers leave firms, as they find it 'a complete waste of time'

Sunny Varkey, GEMS Education chairman, said success requires working 24/7, not just 8–9 hours a day. In a podcast, he admitted that balancing work and life is tough but stressed that hard work and passion are essential. He has ignited the debate around work-life balance again

'Must have ability to work 24/7': Indian billionaire reignites work-life balance debate

There are pretend-work offices in Beijing, Shanghai, Shenzhen and industrial hubs like Taiyuan, according to recent reports. These offices are being hosted in unused law offices, old livestream studios, and even farms 

In this country, people are paying companies so that they can 'pretend to work'

India News | Trending: The perception of a stronger work ethic in China suggests that this dedication might drive economic growth, influencing global market dynamics.

L&T chairman asks employees to stop 'staring at their wives' at home and work 90 hours a week. Internet is not happy