How to Be a Bohemian

How to live a more bohemian lifestyle. How to be a bohemian. Modern bohemian lifestyle. Bohemian personality traits. How to be more bohemian. Am i bohemian. Modern bohemians. Bohemian lifestyle blog.

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.

Adopting a bohemian mindset can truly free you and you are never too young or too old to adopt 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." - Eleanor Roosevelt. 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 my post 15 Ways to Become a Bold and Confident Person.

How to live a more bohemian lifestyle. How to be a bohemian. Modern bohemian lifestyle. Bohemian personality traits. How to be more bohemian. Am i bohemian. Modern bohemians. Bohemian lifestyle blog.


► 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.

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► Don't be afraid of stares. I used to not wear whatever I really wanted because I was afraid of being started 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 the 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 once so desperate to start tap dancing again, I stuck a bunch of thumbtacks to the bottom of a pair of sneakers!

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► 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” just 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 happiness.


► Be as hedonistic as you want. Life is short. INDULGE. "Life is a banquet and most poor sucksers are starving to death!" Buy the plane ticket, go back for seconds, got 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: How to Live Frugally in Luxury Like a Bohemian: Part ONE & Part TWO.

How to live a more bohemian lifestyle. How to be a bohemian. Modern bohemian lifestyle. Bohemian personality traits. How to be more bohemian. Am i bohemian. Modern bohemians. Bohemian lifestyle blog.


May I recommend a book?
Bohemian Manifesto: A Field Guide to Living on the Edge is a great read! It's not a real manifesto, it's mostly just for entertainment but there is so much truth in it about bohemianism that it's actually a great way for people to better understand it! The author breaks down her idea for the five different types of bohemians, how they dress, decorate their homes and even what they eat. She also has recommended reading, an absinth recipe, and fun "case studies" of real bohemians at the end. The artwork is AWESOME and the book under the cover is gold. Can't beat that.




4 comments

  1. I love this and it's very on point.

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  2. Hey Hollie,
    This is a great post!
    I'm Cindy, creator of DIY Bohemian https://diybohemian.com/ . I've actually seen you "around," and found you again today on Boss Girl, as you replied to my comment and plea for help. :-) Thnx girl!
    As I read this post, I have to say, I'm probably not what might be considered a "full-fledged bohemian," but, I realize I'm certainly part genuinely bohemian. :-D I believe this, because through the last couple or three decades, I've learned that I can dress the way I want and not worry about what others think, or how they stare, or whatever---I ignore the current fashions, unless what is popular is my style (like now).
    I dressed in my own style long before I discovered, "hey! I'm in style now!" Lol. Though I truly love most so-called "bohemian" outfits and clothes, to me, bohemian means unconventional, not a particular style or trend. I dressed unconventionally before the bohemian rage, and I'll still be unconventional after the rage subsides...it's simply me! Lol. But, as for lifestyle and beliefs, I'm pretty conservative. I love my Father God, my Lord and Savior Jesus, and his precious Holy Spirit, live with my husband, and am not very politically minded, but am generally conservative. As finances allow, my dream is to travel a lot, but I must have a home base.Another point you made: I'm very frugal and create my stuff from just stuff. I don't buy craft things from the craft store, I make up my own crafts. I like to tear up clothes and remake clothes I don't really like any more to make something I love. Ok...enuf! Lol.
    Blessings,
    Cindy
    P.S. I would like to "comment as" diybohemian@gmail.com, but it won't let me.Argh!

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  3. That was a fun read! And I have the book at the end of the article! It is an awesome read, too! I bought it once I saw that the artist is one I follow on IG. I was happy to see that I am on track per your article. Thanks!
    Jeff

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