“The problem with the rat race is that even if you win, you’re still a rat,” said Lily Tomlin, an American actress and comedian. It’s a sharp and insightful look at the hectic, persecution-oriented lifestyle that most people seem doomed to live over and over again, their entire lives! A blind race after the so-called good things in life; for money and power and status and accepted definitions of success; a rush to the spot simply to keep up with the next person; all of these factors have combined to make the modern Human a driven creature that runs, runs, until the day he dies.

But is this the only possible way to live and be? Is there no other way to have a full and satisfying life? They are the daily stress and anguish of the rat race; associated physical, emotional and mental health problems; the inevitable ills of a modern life? Not necessarily, as many people around the world are discovering. Opting out of the rat race is becoming a distinct possibility in the age of information, technology, and outsourcing, and the chances have only gotten much better over the last year as the world and businesses have realized the alternatives to 9-5.

There are numerous stories of people taking control of their own lives and changing direction midway. From sales professionals giving up lucrative jobs with multinationals to teach MBAs, to engineers becoming restaurateurs; young people are choosing to get away from the high stress, high speed, and stair-climbing madness, to do something they enjoy. It’s huge! It’s a risk! But most of them agree, it’s worth every minute! They may earn less money, at least for a while, but what they earn in return more than makes up for the financial loss.

First of all, there is a big drop in levels of stress and distress. That brings with it huge health and lifestyle benefits. The occurrence of diabetes and hypertension is through the roof in most professions these days. It affects younger and younger people, and most of them have no family history of either disease. Experts agree that this is due to the high levels of stress these people function under every day. Heart attacks are happening younger and younger, and fertility and libido are very low in most urban centers. Get rid of stress and voila! Problems are significantly reduced, sometimes they even disappear completely!

Less time spent running after money or the next gadget or newest TV means more free time to do the things you love and spend quality time with family and friends. Creative activities, hobbies, and social interaction further reduce stress, not to mention they make life a joy and give it a great deal of meaning and satisfaction. And the really fun part is that you don’t even have to give up the money! Consultants make a lot of money these days, as do freelancers and business owners. It may not be as much as his executive pay package, at least for a while, until he builds things up to that level, but the perks are plenty, too. And with modern technology, as we saw last year, it is very possible.

So take a serious look at your life and consider opting out of the rat race. Even thinking about it helps. Feeling like you have a way out, anytime you want, makes the here and now less like a jail sentence and more like a choice.