While I’ve been busier these days (learning the ins and outs of web development and transitioning into a more free work life out of the office) I’ve been updating this site a bit less often.

I can assure you that I am NOT vanishing into thin air and will update this site more often in the coming days. I’ve just been extremely productive and dedicated to my new career path and so far it’s going well.

In the meantime, here is a shout-out to some other blogs I have come to enjoy (and you probably will too.) Some have an “Escape the office” theme, while others focus on living a simpler and more stress-free life in general. So without further ado:

1. Steve Pavlina’s Personal Development site

While I’ve always been somewhat skeptical of personal development experts, this guy is fascinating. Not just because he reminds me of myself in many aspects, but also because much of what he says isn’t always “conventional belief.”

Check out some of his more popular entries on the left sidebar, especially the ones about why it’s better to be self-employed, and what is wrong with the 9-to-5 office grind. His articles about sleep are also fascinating.

As always with any self-improvement advice, remember that the best advice is really your own (after all who else has to be with you 24/7?) Still this website in part motivated me to start this blog.

2. Escape From the Cube

The author of this fun blog has a personal mission to escape her cube by October of this year. She loves to write about all things related to living frugally, her business, the housing market and many observations on the perils of a culturally and economically backward society where the people who actually possess wealth don’t really know what they are doing.

I hope she reaches her personal goal. It’s really inspiring!

3. Plan Your Escape

This site is really well-designed and is full of interesting advice on how to save money and be more frugal. It definitely has a strong “voluntary-simplicity” theme and he updates quite frequently (which I would also like to do!)

I also like his emphasis on how it isn’t the money that makes you happy, but how people who spend endlessly don’t find their “utopia” either, but are in fact adding nothing but burden to their lives.

4. Rat Race Escape Artist

Sarah Rourke actually makes it her business to help you transition out of the 9 to 5 world and into a self-employed life! She has some good ideas about how to make the leap right on her blog, and she’s also undergoing a professional transition herself.

This site is full of good ideas about how to deal with the emotional side of starting a business and becoming an entrepreneur.

5. True Office Confessions

This is an addictive site. Not really a blog, but if you ever need a pick-me-up on your long day at work, this is the place to go. A reminder that you are just one of the suffering millions, True Office Confessions is filled with daily comments made (anonymously) by other trapped employees.

Just make sure your boss doesn’t see you looking at this!