In 2023, the expectation to live your very best life at all times doesn’t seem to be limited to our smartphone screens. We’ve evolved from just posting pictures of our carefully filtered and edited lives to feeling a huge sense of overwhelm when it comes to our realities.
We can no longer hide behind our social media feeds. We’re expected to grind and hustle in a 9-5 whilst having multiple other sources of income, because one is absolutely not enough. And the 9-5 is never just a 9-5… because if you’re not starting early and working until late, then apparently you’re not working hard enough. Boss babe burnout is the new black.
And when you finally finish work, it’s time to squeeze in a full wholesome healthy girl routine (#hotgirlsummer). It’s time to exercise, cook our evening meal from scratch (we’ll just about allow a Hello Fresh or Gousto, but only if you film a reel and post about it) and don’t forget to food prep for the next day… Oh and have you stayed hydrated and had your five-a-day whilst sticking to your daily calorie limit?
We’re also expected to cultivate the best relationship (#couplegoals), the best friendships (#myfriendsarebetterthanyours), and have close knit family dynamics that make the Kardashians look like distant cousins. We should be following the perfect social timeline… engagement, marriage, children – not necessarily all in that order but it must all be picture perfect and should preferably happen pre-30!
We’re supposed to fill our lives with the very best of everything. Our homes should be decorated to match the most on trend aesthetic, and kept in show home condition. Our holidays photos should be ready to be published in the pages of the next luxury travel brochure. Our wardrobes should be reel ready at all times (#zarahaul)
When are we going to realise that living like this, or even trying to live like this, is unobtainable and it’s definitely not sustainable. The pressure of perfection will only lead to a life of sadness and depression. Burnout is not aspirational.
We need to start living our lives authentically, and honestly. We shouldn’t feel the need to be on point all of the time, that’s not real. Let’s stop pretending life isn’t hard, because it is. It’s messy and unfiltered, grainy and out of focus but that’s what makes it beautiful.
Let’s make life realistic again.
and she said 