“Why does it feel like we’re running faster than ever, yet we’re still standing still?”

That question used to rattle around my mind during sleepless nights. And if you’ve ever felt like no matter how much you earn or achieve, you’re barely making a dent in your long-term goals, know this: you’re not imagining it.

The rat race, as many call it, isn’t just a metaphor. It’s a carefully designed system that can trap even the most ambitious professionals in a cycle of survival, not success. But here’s the truth no one tells you: you don’t have to play the game the way it’s always been played.

In this article, I want to pull back the curtain. I’ll walk you through how the system works, the mindset traps that keep us stuck, and most importantly, the strategic steps I’ve taken, and that you can take, to move from average to autonomous.

1. Recognise the System Isn’t Built for You, And That’s OK

Let’s start here: the rat race is real.

You can have the degrees, the certifications, the accolades. You might even be the highest earner in your friendship group. But it still doesn’t feel like enough.

Remember when earning six figures felt like a dream? In the UK, that might mean £100k – £150k. Yet, with lifestyle inflation, higher taxes, and an economy that seems allergic to wealth generation, that figure barely scratches the surface.

I’ve spoken to professionals earning well above that range who are still living paycheck to paycheck, overdraft to overdraft. Why? Because the system rewards compliance, not creativity. It feeds you just enough to stay comfortable, but never enough to break free.

Actionable Step: Start by reframing your experience. It’s not a personal failure. It’s structural.
Accepting this doesn’t make you a victim; it empowers you to look for real solutions.

2. Understand the Hidden Costs of Staying in the Game

One of the biggest traps I fell into early on was deferred happiness.
“When I get the next promotion, I’ll slow down.”
“When I hit £X, I’ll feel secure.”
It never came.

And I’m not alone. A recent FCA study in 2024 found that 43% of UK adults reported chronic stress due to financial uncertainty. But what’s more alarming is the erosion of self-worth, creativity, and joy that happens when we tie our value to productivity.

I used to pride myself on being “time-poor”, a badge of honour. But all it really meant was I was missing out on life. 

A rugby teacher once said to me “You’re more successful when you’re busiest.” I once thought that was sage advice. I now realise it is the worst thing to tell a growing teen entering the adult world.

Ask yourself: Are my current efforts moving me closer to freedom, or just deeper into fatigue?

3. Master Financial Literacy (It’s More Than Budgeting)

Here’s something I wish I understood earlier: Financial freedom isn’t about earning more, it’s about managing what you keep.

I remember sitting down one evening, frustrated with how fast my income seemed to vanish. So I listed every outgoing expense. Delivery apps. Subscriptions. Little purchases that seemed harmless but added up to hundreds each month.

That was my turning point.

I realised I wasn’t being financially intentional, I was just surviving.

Actionable Steps:

• Audit your outgoings: Use an app or just pen and paper.
• Separate your expenses into ad hoc, regular, and unnecessary.
• Question every cost: Does this add value to my well-being or goals?
  

And once your expenses are in order, think strategically about income.
Ask: Do I need a new role? A side hustle? A contracting opportunity?

Personally, transitioning into consulting gave me not just more income, but more control. Yes, I had to fill my pipeline and manage my own clients, but I could finally breathe.

4. Invest in Protection and Possibility

If you want to build wealth, you have to start thinking like someone who has something worth protecting. That means (but not limited to):

• Life and health insurance
• Income protection
• Housing and contents cover
• Wills and legacy planning
  

When I finally got serious about these things, it wasn’t just about financial preparedness; it was about mental peace. You can’t make high-impact decisions when you’re constantly on edge…

Then there’s growth. Whether it’s putting money in a Cash ISA, a Stocks & Shares ISA, or a small business venture, your money should be working while you sleep. And if you’re stepping into business, invest wisely: in people, in tools, in systems that scale with you.

Bonus Tip:
Always get sound financial advice from a financial advisor when needed. It’ll cost you less than trial and error in the long run.

5. Shift From Hustle to Strategy

Breaking free isn’t about working harder; it’s about working wiser.

Too often, we idolise the grind. We wear stress like a medal. But the truth is that mindset leads to burnout and regret. You don’t need to sacrifice life to build a career. What you need is alignment, a symphony of purpose, income, and impact.

That’s why I regularly review my strategies. I ask:

• Am I investing in what matters?
• Do I still enjoy what I’m doing?
• Where can I simplify or automate?
• Is this direction aligned with the life I want to live?
  

Actionable Step: Schedule a monthly “CEO Day” for your personal life. Review finances, goals, priorities, and energy.

You’d be surprised how much clarity this brings.

Final Thought: The Exit Isn’t Sudden, It’s Strategic

I’ll be honest with you. I’m not completely out of the rat race.
I’ve just chosen to design a different game board.
When I moved from a traditional 9- 5 to contracting, it was a massive mindset shift. More freedom, yes, but also new responsibilities. That said, the agency it gave me was worth every challenge.

So no, there’s no “magic bullet.”
But there is a path, one paved with intention, strategy, and belief.

Let’s Build Something Better

If anything here resonated, let that be your sign to pause and reflect.

What are you building?
Who are you becoming in the process?
Are your actions aligned with the life you truly want?

And if you’re considering the leap into consulting or contracting, you don’t have to do it blindly. Start with the Consulting Readiness Assessment to find out where you stand.

The rat race was designed to keep you average.
But you were never meant to be average.

Understand. Reach. Expand.

Peace.