How to Be a Bohemian
Updated: Feb 27, 2020
MYTH: You can't become a bohemian. You're either a bohemian or you're not.
FACT: You can decide to become whatever you want, whenever you want.
Bohemianism isn't about making macrame wall hangings, putting succulents in quirky containers, hula hooping, and drinking kombucha.
It's not a trend.
It's not an interior design theme.
It's not a fashion style.
It's lifestyle.
Learning how to have a bohemian mindset can truly free you, and you are never too young or too old to learn it
Be confident and don’t worry about what others think of you. There’s a great quote by Eleanor Roosevelt that I simply adore: "You wouldn't worry so much about what others think of you if you realized how seldom they do." We fear what others think about us because we feel that way about ourselves. You must first gain confidence in yourself and when you do, the opinion of others won't matter a lick to you. Please check out 12 Ways to Become a Bold and Confident Person.
Ignore trends. Fashion trends, hair color trends, tech trends, diet trends, lifestyle trends... ignore them and do whatever you want.
Stop keeping up with mainstream entertainment and discover your own. There is SO much more out there than what the mainstream has to offer that will fit your tastes much better than you know!
Get out of your comfort zone and explore! This ties in with rejecting the mainstream and not following trends. It’s so easy to let the majority tell us what to listen to, where to go, what to eat, and what’s en vogue because it’s safe and comfortable and you can’t go wrong if you’re doing what everyone else is doing right? But you’re not everyone else. You do you.
Don't be afraid of stares. I used to not wear whatever I really wanted because I was afraid of being stared at. Then I realized… so? Stares don't hurt me! Eyeballs literally cannot hurt me. Once I got over being offended by stares, I started to realize that most people are staring because they're simply noticing me, not being rude. They're just looking at me. I look very different from everyone else so it's kind of hard to not notice me. If I'm going to dress in a way that brings attention to myself then I might as well get used to the attention. Once I realized that, I was free!
Express yourself creatively. Don’t just get on social media and share memes to express how you feel. If you’ve got something inside, get it out by dancing, singing, playing an instrument, painting, poetry, anything! Don't have what you need to get started? (Here's another one of my favorite quotes) "Start where you are. Use what you have. Do what you can." - Arthur Ashe
If you want to paint right NOW and you have no paints then get in the kitchen and experiment with making some paint. Do you want to play an instrument but you don't have the money to buy one? Round up some junk and make your own!
Many years ago, I was very broke and so desperate to start tap dancing again, I stuck a bunch of thumbtacks to the bottom of a pair of sneakers! It sounded terrible but at least I tried!
Let your outsides match your insides: Become the walking work of art that you long to be. If you want to wear a rainbow tie-dye dress to church, then you wear that dang dress. Keep in mind though: being a bohemian isn’t just about looking like one. If you dress in a way that pleases you and makes you happy, then “the look” will just naturally come.
Take control of your happiness. If your job is making you miserable. Quit! If your friends are dragging you down with their constant drama and pettiness. Ditch 'em! If your landlord is lazy and crooked, don't you dare renew that lease! Sick of being lonely? Get out and mingle! It's YOUR life. Take control of it and always remember that YOU are in charge of your own happiness.
Be as hedonistic as you want. Life is short. INDULGE. "Life is a banquet and most poor suckers are starving to death!" Buy the plane ticket, go back for seconds, go to the festival, wear the yellow loafers and giggle like a school girl all the way to the office, do whatever you want as much as you want, whenever you want!
But keep in mind that being hedonistic the bohemian way doesn't mean allowing yourself to drown in debt to get what you want. Bohemians are clever and frugal as heck and they know how to have their cake and eat it too without breaking the bank. For more details, you simply MUST check out my posts over at my old blog Quirky Bohemian Mama: How to Live Frugally in Luxury Like a Bohemian: Part ONE & Part TWO.
