Will You Be Prepared For The Next Great Vibe Shift?
Some People Say A Vibe Shift Is On The Horizon, But What Exactly Does That Mean?
One phrase that I kept seeing pop up over and over again in the past two years is vibe shift. From my conjecture of things, a vibe shift is a tonal or mood shift in the environment that indicates something big is coming that can shake up and change our lives along with our perspective on the world and ourselves.
It can be an undercurrent, or a big bang. They can sometimes be unpleasant, but they don’t have to be. They are subtle, but they are also something that doesn’t always seem like they can be avoided. From my perspective, some paradigm shifts that have occurred in our lifetime might be like the 2008 recession, which altered the trajectory of many and also altered how people think about money, finance, and jobs.
Another major vibe shift was the evolution of the big tech industry coinciding with the girl boss era, which brought about some of the major companies like Airbnb, Uber, Lyft, WeWork, Instagram, Vine, and more that we still use and celebrate today. But there are some vibe shifts that are more subtle. For example, a revival of young people moving to smaller cities after realizing how expensive it can be in bigger ones More people are getting in touch with nature instead of just wanting to be inside all the time. Other vibe shifts are present in the clothes people are wearing or the music that people are listening to.
Several news outlets in the past (including this one, this one, and this one) have written about vibe shifts and their impact on our daily lives. Vibe shifts are perceptible, but not everyone notices them, which can cause anxiety or a bit of fear of missing out. They also touch multiple industries, from fashion to entertainment to tech to banking. Plenty of people are subconsciously aware of a vibe shift even before they have the language to describe it or to point out what’s happening.
It can be detected by the cultural conversations people are having. It can be detected by what people are talking about on social media. It can be detected by the price of something either increasing rapidly or decreasing rapidly. It can just be how the air and energy feel when walking downtown, going to the supermarket, running errands, or just going on about your day. This is all to say that a vibe shift can be noted if one pays close attention to it.
So the question begs to be asked: what are some signs that a shift might be occurring now as we speak?
Recession Talks And Layoffs
There are several things happening all at once right now, locally, nationally, and globally. Focusing more on social media and pop culture, you can notice some shifts occurring naturally and others that might not be so natural. One thing that seems to be on everyone’s mind is the talk about the impending, upcoming recession and the mass layoffs that have been occurring regularly now. There has been ‘recession talk’ in some capacity for almost a year now.
There have been more TikToks than ever talking about the recession, the rising costs of goods, layoffs, and the precarity that surrounds them. It doesn’t help that there have been several mass layoffs from very well-known and notable companies such as Google, Meta, Spotify, and more. There are plenty of people being open and candid about the fact that they too were impacted by the layoffs and that they are trying something new or going in a different direction in life. There are more people than ever before willing to talk about how the layoffs have negatively impacted them instead of just being "grateful" for having the opportunity to work at a large company. There are people talking about how their job offers were pulled at the last moment and how more and more companies are implementing hiring freezes and restructuring teams.
Those who were not physically impacted by the layoffs were still affected, mainly psychologically. There are people preparing for the worst. More talks about upskilling or reskilling More people are considering getting a second, third, or even fourth degree. More people are urgently talking about having multiple streams of income and making sure their 9–5 is not their only source of money and funds. College graduates are scared for their future. Internships seem few and far between. More people are delaying entering the workforce or are dipping out after only being in it for a year or two. And these transgressions do not seem like they are slowing anytime soon.
GoFundMe and Inflation
There is also a sense of desperation in the air. There are more people willing to do GoFundMe campaigns. You see GoFundMes for a whole variety of reasons, not just health or medical. There are GoFundMe pages for people who have recently been laid off. There are GoFundMe pages for people needing help to pay bills, make rent, make a life change, move back home, etc.
Tangentially, there are also talks about inflation creeping back up. Inflation was high last summer, but there has been a rebound and resurgence of prices again. The price of eggs went up in America by almost twofold and the price might creep up again soon. The price of groceries is creeping up just in general and many can barely afford their food. Some say that the crisis is masked by buy now, pay later apps like Affirm or Afterpay. There are many concessions being made to pay a car payment, pay insurance, or pay at the pump. Rent prices have steadily increased and haven’t come down for the most part. Wages are stagnant for many individuals, including blue-collar and white-collar workers.
For those in creative fields, many people feel underpaid for the value they are delivering. People are getting paid late for creative projects or being fired in favor of cheaper freelancers or offshoring. Some freelancers are not getting paid at all. More people, just in general, are reporting that they are living paycheck to paycheck, even those who say they make over six figures. Sentiments of anxiety and frustration regarding work, and its meaning are becoming commonplace.
Influencer Rage
Additionally, there is a growing anger towards influencers and content creators. There have been recent pile-ons for the influencers who went to Dubai on a trip sponsored by the makeup brand Tarte. Many questioned whether this was the time or place to showcase this luxury trip that featured an unattainable lifestyle. Some people argued that that was the point. It is hard to argue if they were right or wrong because so many people are feeling disillusioned with the influencing as a career, and are over of grandiose displays of wealth overall.
Adding to this, there is a great feeling of resentment and burnout brewing. There are a lot of people feeling the pressures of the past three years, and it is taking a toll on people’s mental and physical wellbeing. There is a lot of fear and anxiety. That anger is being redirected to those that we perceive as having it ‘easy’ or look relatively more comfortable than not. Road rage is more common. Internet rage is also very common. That anger and resentment is seeping into many people’s daily lives.
Taking on Multiple Roles
In other instances, you might find yourself taking on three or four roles in both your personal and professional lives. Everyone is stretched so thin, and systems aren’t always quite in place. You might have to triple check everything before you purchase something, including airplane tickets, hotel accommodations, food at restaurants, etc. Customer service may or may not be there, as companies have an increased reliance on chat bots and short answers. One thing is that it is best to read the fine print on everything involved. There aren’t as many protections once you spend something, and it might be difficult to get it back, or get a hold of someone who will actually try to rectify or attempt to rectify the situation. In general, there might be a need for increased vigilance about everything, including money habits, spending habits, saving habits, etc.
Scams Abound
The same thing goes with applying for jobs and other opportunities. Scams are becoming more prevalent. Job scams have increased, and even the smartest people have been tricked into thinking they are applying to something legitimate and missing key details that would otherwise alert them.
Even legitimate jobs are getting odd. Recruiters are spread thin and are ghosting clients. People are going through multiple rounds of interviews for entry-level and mid-level positions, only to find out last minute they didn’t get the job. You have to double- and triple-check the job you are applying for, and keep in contact with multiple recruiters and hiring managers. In many cases, it is best not to quit or leave a position unless you have an offer letter signed and have a date that you are starting with certainty.
Additionally, in the freelance world, clients are paying freelancers and small business owners sixty to ninety days late. If you are interested in influencing, influencers are seeing fewer sustainable brand deals and are seeing more pay cuts across the board. It might be best not to sign onto a brand deal unless you have hammered out the specifics and are okay with all that is included in the terms of the agreement. Most people will have to be proactive and sure that the individuals that you are working with are real and legit before signing onto anything with them. In general, it is best to stay on top of industry and niche specific news.
Staying Vigilant and Proactive
People are going to have to be more vigilant as these odd practices become more common. Being proactive and being over-prepared is the name of the game. Unfortunately, everyone is burned out, so in many cases, you can’t expect people to work with you or even want to work with you. In general, most people will have to come to terms with having their guard just slightly up in order to function, and have to get better at anticipating changes before they happen. It might seem like doing double duty, but the price of letting your guard down might not be so pretty, depending on the circumstance or the consequence.
So overall, what are the vibes?
I would say it is a bit chaotic, a bit intense, a bit of an undercurrent of anxiety, and a bit of everything. This vibe shift is going to require patience. It is not going to be easy to get through. Having a community, no matter how small or tight, is going to help. There is going to be an emphasis on trimming down both in public and in private. Big grandiose and ostentatious displays of wealth or good fortune are not the move at the moment—or if you do so, do so at your own risk. Being more selective and private is probably the right move. Centering around wellness and taking care of your own wellbeing is also a move.
All in all, it’s a weird time, and it might get weirder before it gets better. Things might stay like this, in flux, for a bit before we see another shift occur. It’s good to stay up-to-date and mindful and try to get through this time period with your head down and keep plugging away the best way you know how. It is important to remember that this is temporary and not a reflection of you. You might also not experience any of the vibe shifts occuring, and things for you might just stay the same with minimal disruption.
Overall, it is good to be mindful of your interactions with others, both online and offline. It helps to be a friendly face when you can and pass along kind words if you can. Ultimately, things are cyclical, so even if it doesn’t feel like it now, the vibe will get better in the long run.