Does Romanticizing Life Help Us Or Fool Us?

A few years ago, a new word entered my life: romanticize. At first, it felt amazing. 

I felt like the main character in a movie. I listened to my favorite songs, checked off my goals and dressed up to feel good. 

However, as I worked to make everything look beautiful, my body and mind begged for a break.

One day, “I woke up on the wrong side of the bed.” My anxiety was through the roof, I cried about everything, and suddenly, romanticizing life felt like a burden. 

That’s when I realized that everything has a light and dark side. 

The idea of romanticizing life took off on social media, specifically during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

According to SELF, it helped fill people’s routines with comfort during uncertain times.

While everything outside felt chaotic, platforms like TikTok, Instagram and YouTube were filled with peaceful morning routines and aesthetic coffee-making videos. 

Hashtags like #MainCharacterEnergy or #RomanticizingMyLife exploded, and by 2021, the latter had more than five billion views.

Romanticizing life became a tool for boosting self-love and improving habits. But it grew into something with two dimensions: psychological and cultural.

Psychologically, it helps us be present and appreciative. Whether it’s a sunset, the smell of coffee, a skincare routine set to a Taylor Swift song, small moments can be grounding.

According to NiceNews, romanticizing can offset daily stress and promote a more optimistic outlook.

But, as with everything, there’s a darker side.

Critics warn that romanticizing can turn into a form of escapism. 

In an article for Psychology Today, Phil Reed states that the “main character” mindset can be about avoiding reality instead of embracing it.

Overtime, romanticizing can affect mental health and blur the line between what’s real and what’s not. 

Still, the appeal remains. You know that moment on a road trip, when you are listening to music on your headphones, staring out the window like you’re the lead in a 2000s movie? That’s romanticizing. 

Today, teenagers are comparing themselves to social media influencers, who seem to have everything figured out, viewing their depression as something poetic instead of seeking help.

For Gen Z, the behavior becomes part of our identity. Telling a friend they have “main character energy” is now considered a compliment. 

While this trend isn’t free of criticism, it has been adopted as a positive aspirational norm.

As  The Guardian put it, romanticizing encourages finding joy in the ordinary, instead of flaunting luxury or constant productivity.

In a post-pandemic era filled with anxiety and economic stress, romanticizing has sparked optimism, creativity and encouraged people to see daily life as an adventure.

Even authority figures like parents and educators have noted that, at its best, this trend can help youngsters practice gratitude and distance themselves from the social media negativity that dominated the early 2020s.

So, what’s the takeaway?

Social media influencer Emma Chamberlain said it best on her podcast— Anything Goes With Emma Chamberlain: “Nothing is ever 100% good or 100% bad.” We simply need to find balance.