I retired at 43 — but looking back, there are a few things I would have done differently

Rob Stothard / Stringer / Getty Images

• Early retirement can give you more personal and family time, however, Carl Jensen made some mistakes getting there. 
• He says had he asked to work part-time earlier in his career, it could have reduced the stress on family.
• He also wishes he hadn't worked so hard and gave himself more time to enjoy life prior to retirement.  
• But overall, Jensen is happier now that he's retired early. 
• Early retirement has even improved his health — he has more time to exercise and plan healthy meals, which has lowered his weight and blood pressure.

---

I retired at 43 and life is good. During the summer, I spend my days with my children. We bike, swim, explore the creek and even work on some math lessons. Because I don't have a job, we enjoy slow travel. We just got back from a road trip that lasted over two weeks.

When school is back in session, it's "me time." I read, write, work on projects around the home, study real estate investing and exercise for at least two hours every day.See the rest of the story at Business Insider

NOW WATCH: I woke up at 4:30 a.m. for a week like a Navy SEAL

See Also:

• 5 easy habits of early retirees that anyone can learn
• I retired early in my 30s — here are 17 things anyone can do to make planning for early retirement a little easier
• John McCain, war hero and longtime senator, dead at 81

SEE ALSO: 5 easy habits of early retirees that anyone can learn