Includes bibliographical references and index.

Fifteen years ago, Tanja Hester and her husband were like everyone else: they worked for the paycheck, lived for the weekend, and were $38,000 in credit card debt. They were barely capable of paying next month's rent, let alone saving for retirement. Instead of succumbing to a less than satisfying life, they decided to make independence and happiness a top priority. Through mindfulness, minimalism, and slow but steady decision-making, in six years they succeeded in paying off all their debt, quadrupled their income, bought their dream home, and retired in their 30s! Tanja has documented their journey on her blog, "Our Next Life," and in Work Optional she will guide you in crafting your own early retirement plan-enabling you to quit work forever sooner and live life fully on your terms. She includes a helpful mix of mindful and practical advice such as: How to make a leap and create a plan that's bulletproof. How to calculate your "enough" number, taking into account future expenses you can plan for and those that you cannot. How to prioritize your long-term health and happiness. She recommends abandoning the soul-crushing grunt work of "get rich quick," or burnout careerist plans for a non-frugal path toward financial independence and early retirement. Hester offers a unique action plan that's simple and accessible for those who seek to find their passions and purpose worth pursuing and want a rewarding life they can enjoy.