Why Time Freedom Matters More Than Financial Freedom
A look into why controlling your time should be seen as the real measurement of wealth
In his well-known book, Oliver Burkeman states that the average-aged person has 4,000 weeks in their life.
If we bear that in mind, the real currency of life isn't in our bank account—it's on our calendars.
That certainly rings true for me. After surviving a stroke, I discovered a truth that changed everything: You can always make more money, but you can't create more time.
The Freedom Most People Actually Want
Think about it - when people chase financial freedom, what are they really after?
It's not the money itself. It's what money promises: choices, control, and most importantly, time.
I used to be obsessed with financial freedom too. I thought once I hit a certain number in my bank account, I'd finally be free. Then life forced me to see things differently.
My stroke didn't just change my priorities. It completely transformed how I value time.
Why I Created a Four-Hour Workday
Now I run Four Hour Freedom—a business built specifically to let me work just four hours a day while earning enough to live on my terms.
What I've learned might surprise you:
Financial freedom without time freedom is a golden cage
You don't need to be rich to control your time
Designing your life around time (not money) leads to greater happiness
The Trap of Financial Freedom
Here's what happens to so many entrepreneurs and high-earners:
They grind 60+ hours weekly chasing financial goals. They hit their targets and have money flowing in.
Yet they're still trapped - their business demands constant attention, the stress never lets up, and family dinners are interrupted by "urgent" calls.
What's the point of having money if you never have time to enjoy it?
As Alan Weiss says in his book, “Million Dollar Consulting:”
There’s always a bigger boat - don’t waste your time trying to have the biggest
Time Freedom vs. Financial Freedom: What's the Difference?
Financial freedom means having enough money to cover your needs.
Time freedom means having control over how you spend your days—rich or not.
Most people get this backward. They assume time freedom comes after financial freedom. But what if you flipped the script?
When you prioritise time freedom first, you're forced to create a life where you work less but still earn enough. That's exactly what I did.
How I Built a Business Around Time Freedom (Not the Other Way Around)
After my stroke, I couldn't work long hours even if I wanted to. This limitation became my greatest advantage.
Here's exactly how I restructured my work:
1. I Set Unbreakable Time Boundaries
My workday: 10:00-12:00 and 14:00-16:00. That's it.
No exceptions—not for "emergencies," not for "just this once," not even for potentially lucrative opportunities that require more time.
These strict boundaries force me to be ruthlessly efficient. I've eliminated:
Rambling meetings
Social media rabbit holes
Tasks that feel productive but don't move the needle
2. I Only Do High-Leverage Work
I focus exclusively on three types of activities:
Creating content that attracts my ideal audience (like this article)
Building systems that generate income while I'm not working
Nurturing relationships with clients and partners
Everything else gets automated, delegated, or simply doesn't happen.
3. I Built Income Streams That Work While I Don't
Instead of trading hours for dollars, I focused on leverage:
Affiliate marketing: I recommend tools I genuinely use (like Readwise and DEVONthink) and earn commissions when readers sign up
Ghostwriting for clients: Thought leadership, sales decks or social copy for clients
Digital products (coming soon): Courses and guides that sell 24/7 without my direct involvement
These revenue streams don't require me to be actively working to generate income.
4. I Became Comfortable Saying "No"
This was hardest but most crucial: turning down opportunities that don't fit my time boundaries.
I now automatically decline:
Projects requiring constant availability
Clients expecting 24/7 access
Work that doesn't fit within my four-hour framework
Each "no" is actually a "yes" to protecting my time freedom.
5 Steps to Start Reclaiming Your Time Today
You don't need to wait until you're financially free to start designing a life with more time. Begin now:
1. Identify What Actually Matters
Ask yourself: "If I had complete freedom, how would I spend my time?"
With family? Creating art? Traveling? Reading? Exercising?
Then work backward from there—structure your work around these priorities, not the other way around.
2. Create Non-Negotiable Time Boundaries
Even if you can't immediately switch to a four-hour workday, you can set boundaries:
No work after 6 PM
Phone goes on Do Not Disturb during dinner
Weekends are sacred family time
Start small, but make these limits absolute.
3. Eliminate Low-Value Tasks
Look at everything you do in a typical day. Ask:
"Does this meaningfully move me forward?"
"Is this the highest use of my limited time?"
"Could someone (or something) else do this?"
Be ruthless about cutting, automating, or delegating tasks that don't deserve your time.
4. Build Income That Doesn't Require Your Presence
Start exploring ways to earn that don't directly trade your time for money:
Could you create a digital product related to your expertise?
Are there affiliate opportunities in your industry?
Could you package your knowledge into a subscription?
Even a small passive income stream is a step toward time freedom.
5. Practice the Power of "No"
This gets easier with practice. When evaluating opportunities, ask:
"Does this align with my vision for time freedom?"
"Will saying yes require sacrificing time that matters more?"
Remember that every "yes" to work is a "no" to something else in your life and if you don’t prioritise your objectives, then someone else will.
The Real Freedom You've Been Chasing
Most people have it backward. They slave away for decades chasing financial freedom, only to realise too late that time was what they wanted all along.
Since my stroke forced me to prioritise time freedom, I've built a business that works around my life - not the other way around. I work just four hours daily, spend afternoons recovering and resting, and still earn enough to live well.
Don't wait until you have "enough" money to start living the way you want. Your most valuable asset isn't in your bank account - it's ticking away right now.
Design your work around your life, not your life around your work.
Your future self will thank you.
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*Did this perspective shift how you think about freedom? Leave a comment below with your thoughts—I read every response.*
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