Escaping the Hamster Wheel: Finding Freedom Within the System.

Is there a way to live authentically and intentionally without completely rejecting the structures that sustain us?

What is in, and what is out? What came first—the hen or the egg? Is the hand that feeds us also the hand that kills us? And who, exactly, is the hamster in this scenario, and who is the wheel?

I'm always drawn to stories of people who’ve “escaped the hamster wheel.” They fill me with hope, suggesting that there might be a life beyond endless drudgery, responsibilities, and the repetitive cycles of modern existence. But as I've grown older, I've become more skeptical. Is there really life outside the hamster wheel? And perhaps, should there be?

What resonates with me in these stories is that, often, we’re trapped in a wheel that isn’t meant for us.

We go to great lengths to escape it, only to find ourselves jumping into another wheel that suits us better—a bit like the teenager who rebels against conformity by dyeing their hair purple, only to find themselves in a new group of people, all with purple hair.

Picture credited to: the Ginkgo Club

Take the "van life" community, for example. Here, people pursue freedom and adventure, driving vehicles built by assembly line workers and roads paved by taxpayers. And also, it's reasonable to assume that the money spent on these vans came from the same “hamster wheel” jobs that fund the groceries we buy our food in and the healthcare we rely on.

When they arrive at a camp in the south of Europe, the sense of freedom is palpable, and the camper community feels like home. But then, by some twist of fate, the money runs out, and suddenly, they find themselves back in the wheel. This new wheel might offer sunshine and less pay, but it’s still a wheel—perhaps a more tolerable one, but a wheel nonetheless. And isn’t that the paradox? We go searching for something different, only to discover that it’s another form of the same thing.

What strikes me is that humans aren’t made to live in isolation.

We thrive within systems—systems that support us, allow us to grow, and connect us with others. The challenge is that, at the moment, the systems we rely on are powered by forces that don’t always have our best interests at heart. The very system that feeds us also contributes to our undoing.

Like many things in life, it comes down to definitions and values. Which parts of the system are essential to our well-being, and which need to be left behind?

How can we navigate life with the least amount of harm, while still chasing our dreams?

Art by Sally J Smith

I believe it’s possible to find a life that feels aligned within the system, without feeling trapped in an endless hamster wheel. Perhaps it requires slowing down, reconnecting with nature, and building a more meaningful community.

At the end of the day, it’s not about completely escaping the system or rejecting it altogether—it’s about finding balance. It's about learning to engage with the world in a way that aligns with our values, minimizing the parts that feel hollow or destructive, and amplifying those that bring us peace and purpose.

Maybe the hamster wheel isn't something to avoid entirely, but rather a framework within which we can carve out spaces of true freedom—spaces that nourish us, connect us, and allow us to live more intentionally.

It’s a journey, one that requires patience and self-reflection, but I believe it’s possible to craft a life that feels both grounded and expansive, even within the constraints of a system that doesn’t always have our best interests at heart.

Have you found your sweet spot in the system? I'd love to hear about it.

Ps. For the Swedish crowd I had a chat about this topic on my favorite Swedish podcast and you can listen to it here.