At some point, the term “aesthetic” transformed from a simple word into a massive lifestyle goal. It creeps into all corners of your life — from your apartment to your outfits and even your Instagram feed. Suddenly, it feels like your entire vibe has to match a standard.
What begins as harmless inspiration can quickly turn consuming. You stumble across a photo that gives off super chill vibes, leaving you thinking, “Wow, that looks nicer than my current place!”
From there, you find yourself rearranging shelves, picking up trendy candles, or swapping out those comfy throw pillows. Before you know it, you’re pinning images with names like “coastal neutral” or “warm minimalism,” believing you’re just finding your style. But wait, has it turned into a full-on performance?
The transition is sneaky. You might not even notice it at first; it all subtly shifts to how things look, often before considering how they feel. Your favorite cozy sweatshirt gets tossed aside because, let’s be honest, it’s ruining your aesthetic. Suddenly, you’re hesitating over practical purchases just because they clash with your color scheme.
You might even keep a book on your nightstand for the perfect aesthetic rather than any intention to read it, or light a candle simply to create a cozy look, even if you don’t actually want one.
This obsession doesn’t stop there — it spirals out. Your meals are arranged for the perfect photo, your wardrobe becomes a tone-coordinated masterpiece, and your mornings seem to require an aura of tranquility.
Without you realizing, even your fridge needs to look Instagram-ready. This isn’t just about luxury; it’s about trying to control every aspect of your life to create this ideal image of yourself, no matter how chaotic your reality might feel.
Here’s the kicker nobody mentions: Changing your life to fit an aesthetic can quickly become exhausting. Keeping up with the “perfect” look takes so much energy.
You find yourself pausing in the moment — should I make sure it looks nice before fully enjoying this space? Should I snap a shot before I dig into this food? It gets even crazier; suddenly, regular diddly-squats in your day now require photo editing!
Now, loving beautiful things isn’t the issue here. Appreciating aesthetics isn’t a crime, nor is having a keen eye for the finer details or enjoying luscious colors and textures.
But when chasing the aesthetic blurs the lines with contentment, joy, spontaneity — it might be time to reflect on who you’re really trying to impress.
Your life doesn’t need a full feature!! No one’s going to judge you if your bookshelf has character, your bathroom might not qualify as an Instagram model, and sometimes frozen pizza is all you need for dinner.
The universe won’t implode if your laundry basket sneaks into that snapshot. In fact, there’s an air of honesty in letting things be a bit messy and real.
You can still curate your space and have a defined style, but ditch the need to perform. The best aesthetic is the one that wraps you in comfort and invites you to truly stay, not the one that keeps you at arm’s length, scared to make a mistake.
