Quitting The Rat Race And Not Get Sucked Back In
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 8 ก.พ. 2025
- This is why I quit the rat race.
If you're thinking of quitting the rat race,or you already have and wonder how to never get sucked back into it, this video may resonate with you.
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How I Quit The Rat Race
There's an old saying that goes “The only thing certain in life is uncertainty.”
But there's one thing I'm certain of:
I'm never going back to the rat race. Ever.
If you're thinking of quitting the rat race,or you already have and wonder how to never get sucked back into it, this video may resonate with you.
Years ago, while commuting to a toxic job, I saw a meme that said, “Are you still commuting to a job you hate just to pay for the house that sits empty while you are at the job you hate?” Passive aggressive, perhaps? But it deeply resonated with me.
People have different ways of defining a rat race. But for me, I see it as a hedonic treadmill of chasing after one new achievement or possession to the next. It's overworking as a badge of honor, living the default life and seeking “success” based on what we observe from others.
The rat race is a hamster wheel, an endless path to nowhere. And I was in so many of these races in the past, yet not even aware of it.
Whether it’s one milestone after another on social media, a shiny new thing, a fixation on numbers, a job promotion, it’s the endless pursuit for perceived happiness through status, material possessions and hustle.
I was hyper focused on scaling up nonstop, and I burned out. It was only when I started seeing the rat race for what it truly is that I realized I didn't want to be part of it anymore.
Don't get me wrong. I still have goals, I still work, and I don't just sit around doing nothing all day. But what's different now is defining my why behind every intention instead of just blindly following the status quo.
It's no longer living life on autopilot, but about living on purpose. After all, life is too short to waste spinning in a hamster wheel.
Getting out of the Rat Race is challenging, especially when bombarded by ads, the media, and social pressure.
Simple living helped me to quit the rat race and never get sucked back into it.
But living simply does not necessarily mean following an ascetic lifestyle where you're not spending anything or owning nothing. Not everyone fits that stereotype, and I honestly think it's not for me
However, my husband and I integrate simple living in 3 realistic ways. By minimizing unnecessary expenses to avoid financial stress. This eliminates the need to take extra work just to pay endless debts
Making smart investments with money saved from not buying meaningless things. This way, we can retire when the time comes and not slave away at jobs for the rest of our lives.
And most importantly, rejecting the societal pressure to keep up with others in terms of wealth and status.
By spending wisely, saving and investing consistently and maintaining a simple lifestyle, this opens up more freedom to pursue a life that has more time for what matters - hobbies, relationships, and personal development.
As we keep these 3 things at the forefront of our lives, we don't just walk away from the rat race now but avoid getting sucked back in.
As the 14th Dalai Lama once said “Man sacrifices his health in order to make money.Then he sacrifices money to recuperate his health. He lives as if he is never going to die, and then dies having never really lived.”
I don’t see myself nor my life as anything extraordinary. Like most people, I have a job, a family, my occasional struggles, needs, and wants.
But I no longer see myself part of the rat race as my intentions and actions are no longer driven by the search for a new high or to comply with the status quo
It's liberating to stop feeling like we had to live up to people’s expectations, or to check similar boxes that they do.
Simple living helps us to stay away from the rat race by fostering a lifestyle that values time, relationships, and personal fulfillment over material success and societal expectations.
Because In the end, these things matter most:
How well did you love?
How fully did you live?
How deeply did you let go?- Jack Kornfield
Havinga a minimalist kind woman who can cook is blessing
Yes.
I don't do all the cooking, but when I do, I usually 'hit it outta the park', and my wife and son really appreciate my efforts.
That in turn, makes me want to cook more often - but certainly not every day!
when you marry them, they stop been minimalist.
Society will deeply misunderstand and despise you for quitting the rat race. I stopped caring about it.
I agree with you, and yes, each to their own 😊
Some, maybe all, admire you for it.
@hannesRSA income is definitely important, just as it's important to use it wisely and save and not get caught up in societal pressure 😊
@@hannesRSA One can create an income without participating in the rat race.
Thing about the rat race is whether you win or lose you're still a rat !!
So true ...i was a mechanic ( fixing refrigerators ) but i knew that i had a talent in drawing ....so at 26 i quit and starting a hippie life drawing portraits and caricatures around Europe ....be free . Live now !
❤
You wouldn't be able to do that without the rest of us working. We all work for and help each other indirectly.
@@mx500a4how would he not be able to do that that’s not how that works
Thats my life. Live the moment and don't hurry.
How many times have I heard in our society that all good things come from hard work and struggle.
Yes, that may be true. And maintaining balance in life. 😊
@@ASlowSimpleLife I agree. Sounds a lot like the rat race we want to avoid.
Both positive and negative struggles exist.
Growth comes from tribulation, but that's not where everything comes from. If you were just some spoiled brat handed everything and you never had to suffer, you wouldn't be able to appreciate taking a break or retirement etc. humans are very susceptible to perception anchoring in this way. God knows it.
@@ASlowSimpleLife And so how do you pay your bills? TH-cam? A husband?
Many channels talk about slow living but your videos are always the best.
That is so kind of you, Carole. Thank you - it means a lot. Have a beautiful weekend ❤
Beautifully-made. ❤ I can totally relate to this. I quit a very demanding, high-paying job more than a year ago exactly because of the reasons you have shared. Thank you for sharing your experiences.
I'm glad to know that my message was relatable for you. And happy that you are living the life you've always wanted. Thanks for stopping by ❤
I did the same few years back.. now i have time for family , friends , me time and healed from burnout that causes me numb to feel the freshness of nature.. now i am very close to nature and living every second with joy and bliss. ❤
Such wise - and beautifully spoken words - being 'content' is so important - and you sound as though you are!
I appreciate your comment ❤
You speak clearly?are Thai or Filipina?
@@Florence-i7sFilipina
Thank you for sharing your journey and how you quit rate race. Your voice is so soft and you speak so calmly, I think this only comes when you have so much stability and clarity of thoughts.
Thank you ❤🙏
I just discovered your videos today.... I have made similar changes in my life, you are blessed with a partner who understands this concept... and I am sure this simple life keeps you busy in a way that's not mentally or physically exhausting.. I will watch your videos every day, they are very calming... Good luck
Thank you for your kind comment ❤ I agree with you - a simple life can be busy but it is definitely a different kind of busy, like you said. Wishing you all the best and I am grateful for your support. A beautiful weekend to you ❤
Greetings from California. A quality video with valuable content. Slow living is my conscious choice for many years.
Thank you so much, Dipa. And I agree with you ❤
Thank you for this video, it’s a perfect reminder to stay in this simpler life. I recently quit my teaching job and want to stay grounded in simple values. Your channel has really helped me during this time ❤
I'm so glad to hear that, Alison. Sending light and love your way ❤🙏
Very enlightening and so true! I sacrificed my life at different jobs for many years, then one day I could not take it anymore, because I would get physically ill before driving to work everyday! I put in my notice, then walked away for good. Best decision I ever made and I wish I would have done it earlier in my life!😊
I'm so happy for you 😊❤
It's so interesting, I was thinking this only this morning, that we spend most of our lives working towards something that we don't know how to just stop and enjoy it. It took me a long time to realise that I don't have to be continuously searching for something or moving on to the next "thing" if I don't want to. When I feel lost I remind myself of what I have, what I need to make me feel happy and content and that I don't have to fit into a box society deems me to be in.
You are so right, Helen. There's an old saying "You have to get lost before you can find yourself" and this one resonates with me. I got lost in the race and thought I should be doing what everyone was doing for fear of missing out or not having enough or whatever anxious thoughts.... And while it's true we need material objects, for me, I think we can all live a happy life with less but not many people are okay with that. In the end, we decide the quality of life we want, work towards it and the tradeoffs that come with it. 😊
Thank you for posting this Suzy I am currently at a crossroads between going back to my usual work even though I don’t feel I have the mental bandwidth to do it anymore or take a PT job in a retail store. I’m leaning toward the latter it won’t be easy but I think my life will be better 😊
Hello Debbie 😊 I'm glad to hear from you - and I agree with what you said - when the tradeoff is worth it, then it's a good decision. ❤
Lovely ❤ a slow and simple life is the way to go for me too. Have a great weekend. Greetings from Norway ☕️✨
Hello Ana, I'm glad to hear from you. Thank you for your kind comment and I agree with you ❤ Wishing you a beautiful weekend ahead 🙏🌸
Cheers to you Claudia! Your story is such an inspiration. I'm slowly taking small steps to getting there. :)
Nobody ever gets to their deathbed and wishes that they had worked more.
Absolutely.
You have the best videos. I look forward to them every week . Thank you
Thank you so much, Elise. I'm glad to hear that and so grateful 🙏
Ps. I'm in the process of working on the video about patience that you mentioned in the community tab. Thanks again for your suggestion ❤
There's always a calm and positive vibe which i love in your videos.❤
I'm so glad you feel that way. Thank you so much ❤
Thank you for the kind reminder and inspiration. ❤
Thank you for your kind comment ❤🙏
I am very grateful I have found your channel, thank you for sharing.
I'm so glad. Wishing you well ❤️
Highly appreciate your approach n attitude towards life! I n my wife are trying slowly but firmly in this direction.. 😊
That sounds wonderful. I am happy for you and your wife 😊🙏
@@ASlowSimpleLife 🙏👍💐
Best video to date; my favorite. 🙏🏼
Thank you so much, Roger. 🙏
Very nice jackfruit bread and story, thanks for sharing!
Thank you for stopping by and I appreciate your comment ❤
everyone around me is in the rat race and i’m just chilling doing my thing working and relaxing and love my simple little life i love making goals as much as the next person i just don’t NEED TO GET IT DONE NOW
I can relate, I quit the rat race a little over 2 years ago and my focus is to continue living intentionally and not return to the rat race. That bread recipe looks really good!
That sounds wonderful. And thank you 🙏
Beautiful statement! Thank you!🙏
Thank you ❤
I recognized the country you are living in while looking at the numberplate of your motorbike. I also lived there and experienced so much freedom and peace
That sounds wonderful. I'm glad to hear that ❤
Totally agree with you. Well done
❤
In the Bible the the book of ecclesiastes, chapter 4 states it is better to work just enough to live rather than working overtime/not working at all.
That is true.
😮simplicity is the greatest quality 👌🏻
Not matter anything
Only matter what philosophy of my life
Am I living my life
Or other's life
Yes, I agree. Thank you for your comment 🙏
You are truly blessed
Blessings to you as well 🙏
Happy to have found your channel
Thank you so much ❤
what a smooth voice
There is a lot of vision and wisdom in your transcript. It's encouraging for those on a similar path as you to hear how you've connected with your inner voice and intuition and trusted your higher power to arrive exactly where you want to be…Here…Now...Awe - Inspiring writing ✌🏼
Thank you for your kind comment. I'm grateful 🙏🙏
An inspiring video. Saludos cordiales desde Sombrerete, Zacatecas México. You got a new subscriber.
Gracias 🙏
Mexicoo!!
We've been practicing minimalist, like no to shopping for things (cloths, shoes, etc...) we don't really need.
So, almost two years now for no shopping for *new* shoes, as it's just added to a new collection and space. Hehe.
It feels so good for the success of trying Minimalist.
Thanks for sharing, Demi - I agree with you 100%! You have a beautiful, abundant life ❤
Thank you for Indonesian subtitle💕
You're welcome ❤
Witaj Suzy🙂 piękny relaksujący film, miło się Ciebie słucha 🤗 cudowny wazon w kształcie butelki. Pozdrawiam cieplutko i życzę milutkiego weekendu...Ewa z Polski❤
Hello Ewa- I am glad to know that you enjoyed this video. Thanks for your kind comment and wishing you a beautiful week ahead ❤
❤loved the message
🙏
If you have Jesus Christ, anything you do can be joyful.
I have Jesus but I will have to disagree on this.
100% agree, Jesus is our saviour 🙌
Please explain.
"Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend. Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today and creates a vision for tomorrow.." (Melody Beattie.)
Lovely and so true ❤ Thank you for sharing.
Love your ❤ beautiful art❤❤😊
❤
I always thought it strange that we're born into this insane system, sacrificing our entire life to it, instead of living lives on our own terms as we should be.
Hi Suzy thank you so much for your perfect video your msg never fails hope all is well my friend love your amazing channel 🌻🌾🕊️
Hello Margaret - it's always great to hear from you! Thank you for being here and I hope you are doing well, my friend ❤
@@ASlowSimpleLife hi Suzy thank you I’m facing a stressful situation ATM but this to shall pass ‘ it’s caused me to take my eye off the ball in regards to my slow living but I’m going to get back on track as much as possible I’m so much happier when I’m on track with minimal and slow living it’s like my happy place to be 💓
@@margarettownsley9500 I think what you just said was so beautiful and so true. Wishing you gentler days ahead ❤️
@@ASlowSimpleLife thank you so very much my friend you help me so much with your channel I’m forever grateful 🪴
@@margarettownsley9500 I'm so glad to know that ❤❤
Greatest video on youtube!
🙏
Simplicity is the Key!
😊
Simplicity is the new luxury lifestyle
This is 💯 truth ❤
❤️
How many commenters WANT this kind of life but will NEVER do it?
Think you are quite privileged to choose this option but I do respect your ideals
Thank you for your comment.
I quit the race of rats a year ago, and moved to the Cayman Islands. You can do it too. (But research it first, you may not like the prices - which is the tricky part about quitting rat races).
Thanks for sharing!
Great video. Btw, what part of VN are you living ? It looks so peaceful.
Thanks. We lived in Vietnam for a year, in Hoi An 😊
The race is real! Glad to be out of it too!!)
❤
Good for you
🙏
HOW MUCH BETTER TO ACQUIRE WISDOM THAN GOLD! TO GAIN UNDERSTANDING RATHER THAN SILVER! PROV:16:16 ! SEEK THE LORDS KINGDOM & HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS FIRST & EVERYTHING WILL BE ADDED TO YOU ! GOD BLESS YOU ALL 🙌 🙌🙌
It’s very tempting to quit. But you gotta make money some way. If you don’t have the skills to make money to support yourself, you’d miss the rat race real soon after you quit.
💯 agree
I understand where you’re coming from, but I’ve found that stepping away from the rat race can also open up new opportunities and bring unexpected joy. It’s definitely a risk, but it can also be a chance for growth and a more fulfilling life. I hope you find a path that feels right for you.
Thanks & good job!
Thank you 🙏
Just the house is enough to keep hooked
I wanna quit the rat race!
I burst into tears while watching.... Yes it's a rat race. It's a box that doesn't exist that everyone is fighting and fitting in. I am a boy in Singapore
Yes, it's a box... But thankfully, I think it's a box with an exit door. 😊❤
How did you do the switch in your mind?
The mind is the problem. Always want more, always compere to other people
Thank you for your comment! It’s so true-the mind can often be the biggest challenge. For me, it was about shifting focus from what others have to what truly brings peace and fulfillment in my own life. It’s a practice of contentment, and it takes time, but the rewards are worth it. 😊
It's a lot easier to quit when you have a partner or in your case a husband. Dual versus single incomes.
Thanks for sharing and you may be right. I also believe that it's easier to quit whether alone, with a partner or with a family, when living below one's means. 😊
Young Lady... This is wounderful. Thank you for this Video. You are amazing... I Hope, I find courage and strength, to quit my toxic Job, too...
It's not easy... But easy is boring, right? :-)
Love from Germany ❤️
Sani
Thank you, Sani. Wishing for the fulfilment of what you hope for. 🙏❤
Totally agree, I saw money early on as acquiring it to buy my freedom from the hamster wheel. It’s hard to find a woman with a slower more simple outlook on life though. 🙏
Hi. What job do you do? 😊
And true, half of our life is preparing to work, other half is working.
I do part time work online as a motion graphic designer. And that's a beautiful quote you shared. Thank you 😊
When you say you have a job, do you mean TH-cam or something different than a 9-5? Thank you so much for sharing this.
It's not a 9-5 job. I'm an online contractor doing motion graphic designing for a client. TH-cam is not my job. I only post a couple of times a month or whenever inspiration comes. 😊
Cake looks lovely, what is in it?❤
Thanks! It's jackfruit bread - gluten free flour, jackfruit puree, coconut milk and coconut sugar. 😊
@@ASlowSimpleLife
Do you 🏍️ deliver?😁
Those are just yummy Jack fruits Bread and Jam 😋
Thanks, Demi! Maybe I can bring jackfruit bread for you on our next meetup! 🙂
@@ASlowSimpleLife Ohh no, Suz. Looks like you're going to bring me a lot 😁😘 thanks in Advance, but plz do not bring too much :) I appreciate everything with or without ♥️
@@minnymacky9317, it's always a treat to enjoy good food - but even better to enjoy it with good friends 😊❤
Wow. Where did you manage to get the Korean earthen pots?
I'm not sure I understand what you mean...
@@ASlowSimpleLife0:18
, our landlord gave that to us. Not sure where she bought it from...
where is this beautiful place?
In Northern Thailand 😊
Yes, and to get away from the shallow celebrity culture.
Absolutely.
woowwww the fruits from your trees😃
Mango and jackfruit season 😊
@@ASlowSimpleLife those 2 are top 💛😋 on my list! Visiting CM and tho I'm in the busier old city part, I can definitely feel the different pace of life here from the frantic life of living in the⚙️ US. Glad you've unplugged.
Good choice adding in the bunny! 😊
Some cuteness is always a nice add-on 😊
@@ASlowSimpleLife absolutely!!
Fascinating discussion. Thanks for sharing your inner thoughts. Much Blessings to you. 🙏 Lord-Jesus-Christ ✝c✝o✝m
Thanks for watching and blessings to you as well 😊
Biking means a lot 😊
🙂
I moved out the rat race, bought land and owe nothing, debt free and living life!!
❤❤
♥
❤
Never give up
❤
So you retired with a significant nest egg?
I'm not retired, as I said in my video, I still work. But I no longer have the rat race mindset where I was caught up in an exhausting and competitive struggle for wealth and instead live within my means.
👍
Even when one wins the rat race, one is still a rat!
Well it‘s easy to leave the rat race if you have enough money. I work part time in the nuclear industry..thats nice. Lots of money and max 32 hours of work per week. Since I dont have much to do, i play chess or bass guitar during work and still am financially quite relaxed.
I agree. And from my experience, quitting the rat race involves a mindset shift, living within one's means and stop keeping up with the Joneses. But not everyone is willing to do this, nor do they think it's possible because of social conditioning. Quitting the rat race doesn't mean quitting work entirely but it's moving towards purposeful work while making time for what adds value to one's life. 😊
@@ASlowSimpleLife absolutely true. I would have never done a 32 h work week before i got my mental illness (anxiety disorder). I was socially conditioned to work full time, and working less is despised. Now i know that working around 30 h per week is an extremely good decision (if your salary is still high enough)
@@a.g.4843so true - and can't agree with you more on what you said. I'm happy for you and the life that's aligned to your values. 😊
Good
❤
Extrovert here, I know I'm probably the only one. I can only agree with *some parts* of this philosophy. Yes, it's good to be intentional, it's good to keep your life simple and it's good to make sure we live life in the present. All good principles. However, work is part of life and believe it or not, gives it meaning, and can be very rewarding. It's even in the Bible. Sitting at home all day watching the birds outside seems kinda lazy to me. I'm a Husband, and a Father: I have responsibilities. I can't just quit my job and move out to the country. To each his own.
Purposeful work is definitely enriching. It's something I do, as well (as I mentioned in some of my videos). wouldn't want to sit at home and do nothing all day either, as I mentioned in the video. It's not realistic 😅
But yt earning is better than rat race life😊. No tension 9 to 5.
That may be true for others, but I wouldn't know personally, for my income comes from my designing career. 😊
👋🙂
🙏😊
People mistakenly call the "rat race" a job they hate. Not sure what to call it when people are in a job they love. Adrenalin Junkies?
I guess doing a job one wants would mean... mission? I'm not sure, this is just what first comes to mind. 😊
THE VIEWS XXXXXXXXXXX
I don’t mean to offend, but do you realize how privileged a « simple » life you seem to live ? You have a lovely house, apparently stunning neighborhood, beautiful nature around, good clothes, etc. etc. Most of these things are unimaginable for many people in many countries, even in Europe, where housing for instance is super expensive, or health insurance, etc. Many of us might be minimalists by choice AND necessity combined, but very few people’s lifes will look like yours.
I understand where you are coming from. And I also understand that what we see from others is never the complete story as we are only outsiders. We don't see their personal struggles as they choose to keep them personal, yet we may assume they are doing well in life all the time. I tend to think that way, too, sometimes.
However, I hope you would permit me to share these lines with you that struck me from an article I read some months ago:
"Escaping the rat race isn’t just about quitting a job-it’s about building a life that sings the song of purpose and balance."
Like I shared in this video, I still have a job and we have expenses but we choose to never inflate our lifestyle. For me, quitting the rat race is a mindset shift - from running the race with others to living true to my values.
Wishing you a good day 🙏
@@ASlowSimpleLife thank you for this reply. I am very much aware of all this and have not implied you don’t have a job and struggles and living costs etc. And I also understand what leaving the rat race means as I have done it myself with the mindset shift you mention. I just meant that what you seem to consider simple living, given the exceptional surroundings you benefit from to experience it, would/can seem rather luxurious to many people. Just a gentle reminder that « simple » is a very relative concept :)
@@annerougemont no offense taken. I understand that people have varying ideas/ opinions 👍
@@annerougemontLiving in Thailand is less expensive than say the U.K. where we live simply and have quit the rat race after years on
the hamster wheel. Everyone needs to really think about what they are trying to achieve whilst living on this planet…..
It’s all about abandoning capitalism, to me.
and i think i might try budhism as well.
I envy your life and wish i could do the same.
How do you make money then? I think that’s what everyone who clicked this video is wondering.
I make money through my part time freelance work as a motion graphic designer. Since we live below our means in a country with a low cost of living, my minimal income is more than enough to live on - and then some. I don't feel compelled to make so much money as I am content with the simple and frugal life my husband and I are living. It's no longer about making more money to feed unending desires but working to do something I genuinely find meaning in.
You are on the right track sister, those who will survive this current apocalypse will be the ones living a simple life. 🙏🙏🙏
🙏
Good
❤