Bhagavad Gita, Chapter 3, Verse 7

But he who, controlling the senses by the mind, and unattached, directs his organs of action to the path of work, he, O Arjuna, excels.

Staying engaged with the world, without being owned by it, beats stepping back and pretending to be free.

This is the real alternative to hollow renunciation: keep doing the work, keep using the senses, but don't let any of it have a grip. That combination is harder than either extreme, and it's the one that actually holds up.