I used to be a __very busy boy.__ Jacked up on Dunkin’ Donuts Hazelnut coffee and a mini-fridge full of Diet Coke, I would plow through jam-packed days. I dug up an old calendar. ![Blog post image](/images/blog/Age-44-1024x1024.png) 5:30 am wake up. [Double breakfast](). A hard Crossfit workout on 6 hours of sleep. Meetings galore. And usually a work-related dinner. Rinse. Lather. And repeat. I’m exhausted just looking at that schedule. Thankfully, things have changed. I’ve had full time freedom since 2015. But it’s not all that it’s cracked up to be. ## New to RadReads? Hi, I’m Khe Hy. Nearly a decade ago [I quit my 7-figure job on Wall Street]() to become a writer. I explore topics like [money](), [happiness](), [ambition](), [relationships](), [productivity]() and [more](). I also host [The Examined Life Podcast]() where I explore life’s thorniest questions with a different guest each week. My newsletter is the best way to experience my work. Sign up here: ## The tyranny of unstructured time I’ll cut to the chase. I know a decent amount of folks with Time Freedom. Most are [self-employed](). Some [have FIRE’d.]() And others (like _yours truly_) are [semi-retired.]() Yet for some reason, they can’t __enjoy their Time Freedom.__ They struggle to work out in the middle of the day: ![Blog post image](/images/blog/image-1024x348.png)[View Tweet]() They feel guilty taking a walk at 10 am. ![Blog post image](/images/blog/CleanShot-2024-07-03-at-16.13.07@2x-1024x173.png) And they can’t watch [their favorite TV show]() between 9-to-5 on a weekday. > Yeah, for some strange reason, I can only watch TV in the evenings. Even though it doesn’t f*cking matter one bit. (Oh, and I have ZERO issue working on a weekend) So we need a new phrase. There’s __True Time Freedom.__ And it’s flimsier counterpart: __Faux Time Freedom.__ ## Our most popular posts: * [It’s ok to take a walk without headphones]() * [Are you a post-achievement professional?]() * [One day, you’re no longer their favorite person]() * [The joy of leaving money on the table]() * [And one of my personal favorites…]() ## Are you psychologically free? With __Faux Time Freedom__ you control your calendar. You leave your mornings open for Deep Work. You carve out time for kids’ pick ups. You take a late afternoon walk with your boo. __However, you’re still racked with guilt.__ _Guilt_ that you didn’t __do enough.__ _Shame_ that you’re __[falling behind your peers.]()__ Or _insecurity_ that this life of freedom’s [__gonna come crashing down.__]() Conversely, with __True Time Freedom__ you bounce from one lily pad of joy to another. You’re unshackled from the pernicious expectation that “I _should_ be doing THIS instead.” ## You are NOT your output What’s going on here? For me __Time Freedom__ has not cured me of a struggle that has persisted deep in my soul for years. Deep in my subconscious, I still feel that my ultimate worth as a human is measured by my “productive activities.” Thankfully, I have the Time Freedom (True or Faux) to go inwards. And I’m pretty sure psychological freedom lies on the other side. * * * ## Are you a high-earner going through a career transition? Find purpose, navigate money scarcity and reimagine ambition with our Group Coaching program. [Apply today]()