Olivia Møller
Freediver - Activist - Explorer
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Olivia Møller
Freediver - Activist - Explorer
At first, I thought city life was the dream. The energy, the convenience, the sheer endless possibilities—it was everything I had wanted. But after years of grinding through crowded subways, skyrocketing rent, and a social scene that felt more like a collection of ghosts behind screens, I started to question it. Was this really the best way to live? Was this constant rush, this never-ending chase for more, actually worth it?
The modern city is a paradox. It gives you everything and takes everything at the same time. The jobs, the opportunities, the lights—they’re all here. But so is the loneliness, the stress, the exhaustion that never really goes away. At some point, I realized I wasn’t alone in feeling this way. More and more people are waking up to the reality that city life isn’t all it’s cracked up to be.
You’d think that living among millions of people would make you feel connected. But somehow, in the middle of all the noise, the packed trains, the buzzing coffee shops, and the coworking spaces filled with strangers typing away at their laptops, city life has never felt lonelier. It’s the paradox of urban existence—so much human interaction, yet so little actual connection.
The reality? Even when surrounded by people, many city dwellers report a lack of meaningful relationships. There’s no village elder to check in on you, no neighbor who notices if you haven’t come outside in a while. Everyone is moving too fast, buried in their own world, working, commuting, scrolling through their phones.
Social media doesn’t help. The average American spends over seven hours a day staring at screens. Instead of real conversations, we settle for DMs and emoji reactions. The irony is brutal—we’re constantly connected, yet starved for real human interaction. Loneliness isn’t just an emotional burden; it’s a health crisis. Research shows it raises the risk of early death more than obesity, more than air pollution, more than excessive drinking. And it’s not just older adults—this crisis is hitting young people the hardest. Depression and anxiety levels have skyrocketed among urban populations, especially among teenagers and young adults, many of whom say they feel more isolated than ever.
Let’s talk about what city life is really doing to our bodies. It’s not pretty.
For one, we’re sitting too much. The average city resident spends their day commuting, sitting at a desk, and coming home to collapse in front of a screen. Long work hours, crowded commutes, and limited green spaces mean that most people aren’t moving nearly enough. The result? Chronic health issues like obesity, cardiovascular disease, and diabetes are on the rise.
And then there’s the stress. City life is loud, chaotic, and overwhelming. The constant exposure to noise pollution—from honking cars, blaring sirens, and the general buzz of too many people crammed into one space—keeps stress hormones elevated. Over time, chronic stress leads to serious health issues, including high blood pressure, heart disease, and even cognitive decline.
Air pollution is another invisible killer. Cities are drowning in toxic air. Industrial emissions, car exhaust, and construction dust fill the air with fine particles that lodge themselves in your lungs and bloodstream. The effects? Higher rates of asthma, respiratory diseases, and even certain cancers. In many urban areas, the air quality is so poor that just breathing is shaving years off people’s lives. And yet, millions accept this as the cost of city living.
Cities are expensive, and they’re only getting worse. Housing prices have skyrocketed, rent is at an all-time high, and the cost of everyday essentials keeps climbing. People work longer hours just to afford the basics, with little to no financial security in return. Half of urban renters are now considered cost-burdened, meaning they spend more than 30% of their income on housing alone. And in some major cities, that number is even higher.
Even with higher wages, city dwellers often struggle more financially than those in rural areas. Public transportation, food, entertainment—it all adds up, leaving little room for savings or investments. This financial stress spills into every aspect of life, affecting mental health, relationships, and overall well-being.
I didn’t expect to love the countryside as much as I do. I thought I’d miss the action, the convenience, the sheer availability of things that cities provide. And yeah, sometimes I do. But then I walk outside in the morning, and instead of sirens and car horns, I hear birds. I breathe air that doesn’t taste like exhaust fumes. I step onto a porch instead of squeezing into a train. And I realize I wouldn’t trade this for anything.
The first thing you notice when you move out of the city? Space. So much space. In the city, every square foot is fought for—your apartment, your tiny desk, even your spot in line for coffee. In the countryside, space is abundant. You can have a home with actual breathing room, a backyard, maybe even a garden where you grow your own food. There’s no rush. No packed schedules. Just time.
And the health benefits? Huge. Fresh air, less pollution, more opportunities for physical activity, and access to locally grown food all contribute to a better quality of life. Studies have shown that people who live in rural areas experience lower stress levels and better mental health. Exposure to green spaces, even in small amounts, has been linked to lower cortisol levels, improved mood, and even longer lifespans. The human body was not designed to function in a world of concrete and artificial lighting—it was built for the rhythm of nature.
But what about the economy? It’s a common misconception that moving to the countryside means giving up good job opportunities. With remote work becoming more accessible, many people are keeping their high-paying city jobs while enjoying the lower cost of rural living. Housing is significantly cheaper, daily expenses are lower, and the overall cost of living is far more sustainable. Why pay thousands of dollars in rent for a cramped city apartment when you could own a home for the same price in a peaceful, rural setting?
And then there’s community. In the city, people often don’t even know their neighbors. In small towns, people look out for one another. There’s a sense of belonging that’s hard to find in a high-rise apartment building. Whether it’s the local farmer’s market, a small-town café where everyone knows your name, or neighbors who actually stop to chat, the connections are real and meaningful.
Of course, no place is perfect. Rural living comes with its own challenges—fewer entertainment options, longer distances to essential services, and sometimes slower internet. But when you weigh the benefits against the drawbacks, it’s clear why more people are choosing to trade in their fast-paced urban lives for something more sustainable.
At the end of the day, the question isn’t just whether cities are bad—it’s whether they’re sustainable for human health, happiness, and financial well-being. More and more people are coming to the conclusion that they’re not.
The good news? You don’t have to accept the stress, the pollution, and the financial strain as inevitable. There are alternatives. Whether it’s moving to the countryside, finding a remote job that allows you to escape city expenses, or simply redesigning your lifestyle to prioritize health and well-being, change is possible. The modern way of life isn’t working for everyone, and for those willing to step outside the status quo, a better, healthier, and more fulfilling way of living is within reach.