Is Working Harder Now Worth It for More Freedom Later?

The dream is simple: put in the work now, hustle, grind, sacrifice – and in return, you get freedom later. Work hard today, and tomorrow (or a few years down the road), you get to live on your own terms. No boss, no schedule, no financial worries.

Sounds like a solid plan. But does it actually work?

When Hard Work Just Means… More Hard Work

During the years onboard, I worked myself to exhaustion – something many seafarers experience firsthand in life at sea. Long shifts, repetitive routines, months spent onboard a cruise ship, doing the same tasks day after day. I wasn’t chasing freedom – I was just trying to get through it. There was no extra pay, no bonus at the finish line. The only reward? The relief of signing off after five months.

And even that wasn’t real freedom. Because I’d always come back.

Like many working abroad, I sent money home, thinking that was the right thing to do. And after years of doing this, I had… nothing. No savings. No real progress. Just another contract waiting for me. For what? How long?

I didn’t want to live my whole life working just to exist, barely enjoying any of it. Maybe there’s a bit of an anarchist in me, but the idea of following the same script forever felt unbearable.

So I started looking for an out.

The Problem With “Work Hard Now, Enjoy Life Later”

Hard work only leads to freedom if it’s the right kind of hard work. Otherwise, it’s just… work.

I used to believe that working hard was the answer. But then I saw people in their 50s and 60s, still grinding, still saying “just a few more years.” And I thought – what if this whole thing is a scam? What if delayed gratification just turns into lifelong postponement?

Because here’s the reality: money alone doesn’t set you free. If your income depends on never-ending work, you’re still stuck.

Is There a Smarter Way to Work Toward Freedom?

I don’t have all the answers. But I do know this: waiting around for hard work to magically turn into freedom doesn’t work. There has to be a strategy. A system. Something that makes the effort compound instead of just repeating itself.

I’ve watched enough YouTube videos on “making money online” to know that most of it is overhyped. It’s either too competitive, unsustainable, or just doesn’t work for me. I have to figure out my own way.

Right now, I’ve got this blog. It’s my passion project. Could it become a business? Maybe. But I’m not sure.

I opened an online store too – and then abandoned it. Because when the excitement faded, I realised I wasn’t building something I actually cared about. And if I was going to put in the work, it had to be for something that didn’t just turn into another exhausting job.

What Does Real Freedom Look Like?

I don’t dream of luxury. I don’t need millions. I just want to work when I want, travel when I want, and be wherever I want—maybe even spending more time exploring Japan in autumn. I want to bring my parents along for the ride too. That’s my version of freedom.

But the idea of freedom is different for everyone. Figuring out what makes you happy is a process of trial and error – and I’m still navigating it myself.

See, I studied accounting and finance because it was supposed to be a stable career path. Job security. Good pay. The safe option. Except… I hated it. Taking those papers made me realise I wanted no part in this rat race.

This whole work-your-life-away culture – especially in Malaysia and Asia – where success is defined by working from morning to night, sacrificing everything, just to be seen as “hardworking”? No thanks.

I’ve seen enough people do it. I don’t want to be one of them.

So, Is It Worth It?

If you’re working hard in a way that moves you toward freedom – financially, time-wise, or location-wise – then absolutely, yes.

But if you’re grinding just for the sake of it, hoping that one day life will reward you just because you put in the effort? That’s a different story. Hard work only pays off if it’s leading you somewhere.

So, is working harder now worth it for more freedom later? It depends. If the hard work compounds into something that eventually runs without you, then yes.

But if it's just endless grinding with no real progress, then it's not about working harder – it’s about working smarter.