Quitting to save her health
Lindgren had spent decades working with enterprise clients, often juggling multiple full-time-scale projects at once. The relentless workload left little room for personal life.
“I could only commit 80 per cent to birthdays or dinners with friends because work always came first,” she recalled.
Over time, chronic stress began to take a toll. She developed high blood pressure and an abnormally fast heart rate, warning signs linked to burnout. After medical consultations and therapy, doctors advised her to step away from work.
Despite a high salary, she chose to resign, initially planning to take a year off to recover, spend time with family, earn a health coaching certificate and join volunteer projects abroad.
A turning point abroad
During a volunteering trip in Tanzania, where she worked on a clean water project, Lindgren experienced a sense of happiness she had not felt in years.
Encouraged by a fellow volunteer, she realised she had no major ties, no job, spouse or children, holding her back from exploring the world further.
She returned to the US, rented out her apartment and began travelling across Africa, South America and Asia.
Finding home in Danang
Lindgren first visited Vietnam in 2017, travelling across the country. However, it was not until March 2020 that she returned with the intention of staying longer.
Over time, she found Vietnam, particularly Danang, an easy place to live, thanks to its beaches, natural environment and access to fresh, affordable food.
She eventually decided to settle in the coastal city, where she now enjoys a flexible lifestyle supported by rental income and investments.
A simpler, healthier life
In Danang, Lindgren says healthy living has become effortless. Unlike her structured routines in the US, including marathon training and strict diets, she now benefits from a naturally active, outdoor lifestyle.
She highlights the city’s social openness, where friendships form easily through community activities and chance encounters.
Daily life also feels more grounded. Simple pleasures, like buying fresh vegetables for under VND 20,000 or enjoying a street-side bowl of pho, have become meaningful experiences she shares online.
For Lindgren, priorities have shifted. Instead of chasing income, she now values time, wellbeing and connection.
“Waking up, going to the beach and drinking a fresh coconut, that’s what real wealth feels like,” she said.