Soft Life, Remote Work, and the Audacity to Rest

I’ve been watching With Love, Meghan, and it got me thinking.

The show is soft, cozy, and full of simple joys—Meghan Markle..ahem is spending time at home, making tea, arranging flowers, hosting friends, and prioritizing her peace. There’s no drama, no chaos, no big revelations. Just a woman living gently.

And yet, the reactions have been… a lot.

People are calling it boring, out of touch, or unrelatable—as if watching someone find joy in their everyday life is offensive. As if seeing someone prioritize ease feels wrong.

And I won’t lie—I wasn’t entirely comfortable watching it at first, either.

Because even though I work remotely, even though I should have more balance, even though I technically could lean into a softer way of living... I don’t. I still find myself pushing through exhaustion, struggling to set boundaries, and feeling guilty for wanting rest.

So I started asking myself:

• Why do I feel the need to justify rest?

• Why does ease make people uncomfortable?

• And why do I—someone who actively wants a better work-life balance—still resist it?

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The Beauty of Choice

If there’s one thing feminism has given us, it’s the ability to choose.

Some women find fulfillment in the hustle—the fast pace, the ambition, the drive to do more. Others are choosing ease, softness, and work-life balance.

Neither is better than the other. The beauty of choice is that one person’s version of happiness doesn’t have to be yours.

And yet, we still see a collective discomfort around women who choose softness.

We’ve been conditioned to believe that success = struggle. If you’re not grinding, pushing, or sacrificing, are you really working hard enough?

This mindset shows up in subtle ways, even in remote work:
🚩 Feeling like I need to answer emails immediately, or people will think I’m slacking.
🚩 Logging off but feeling like I should “check in” one more time.
🚩 Filling every open moment with something productive, because being“busy” feels familiar

I say I want balance, so how am I showing up for myself to achieve said balance?

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The Remote Work Dilemma: More Flexibility, Still Tired

When I first started working remotely, I thought, Okay, this is it. My life is about to feel so much softer.

Spoiler alert: That didn’t happen.

Because flexibility doesn’t automatically equal ease—especially when you’ve been conditioned to equate busyness with value.

So even though I don’t have a commute, I still:

• Feel bad for stepping away from my desk, even when I need a break.

• Constantly replay the events of my workday

• Catch myself over-explaining why I’m taking time off.

Remote work should be the gateway to soft living. But only if we actually allow ourselves to embrace it.

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Meghan Sussex and the Discomfort of Seeing a Black Woman at Rest

That’s what makes the reaction to With Love, Meghan so interesting.

The show itself is light and warm—she’s spending time with family, hosting friends, making tea, and enjoying life at home. And yet, the reviews have been... intense.

But when I take a step back, I wonder—isn’t that what so many of us want?

To be able to live gently. To work, yes, but to also have space for the things that make life feel full. To have the ability to pause without feeling guilty.

The conversation around Meghan’s show isn’t just about her—it’s about the broader discomfort we seem to have with rest, with slowing down, and with choosing softness when so much of the world demands urgency.

And that sits heavy with me…especially this year.

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I’m Trying to Unlearn Hustle Culture and Embrace Rest

Remote work has given me the opportunity to embrace a softer way of working. And honestly, I’m still learning how to do this.

But, I’m actively working on:

Taking Breaks Without Guilt

I don’t need to “earn” rest. I need rest because I’m human. If I were in an office, I’d step away for coffee or chat with coworkers. I’m allowed to do that at home, too.

Romanticizing the Small Stuff

I used to think soft living meant luxury. But really? It’s about small, intentional moments.
✅Making my morning coffee feel like a ritual, instead of rushing through it.
✅ Working in a spot with good lighting and a cozy setup.
✅ Logging off fully instead of carrying work stress into my evening. (As a chronic overthinker, this is a big one, y’all).

Setting Boundaries and Keeping Them

• No more “one more email” after hours

• No more letting Teams notifications disrupt my off days

• No more explaining why I deserve rest

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Softness Is an Act of Rebellion

I’ve been thinking about about ways I can embrace a soft life in this stage of life—especially while still working.

Because the reality is, that we still have responsibilities—jobs, deadlines, bills, and goals. But within that, we also have choices.

We can choose to romanticize the small joys.
We can choose to set boundaries.
We can choose to let go of the idea that rest is something we have to earn.

So now I’ll throw it back to you. Does remote work help you embrace softness, or do you still struggle with rest? Let’s talk.