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Quotations by Tom Rath

Wellbeing is about the combination of our love for what we do each day, the quality of our relationships, the security of our finances, the vibrancy of our physical health, and the pride we take in what we have contributed to our communities. Most importantly, it's about how these five elements interact. [2010] - Tom Rath

Career wellbeing is arguably the most essential of the five elements. If you don't have the opportunity to regularly do something you enjoy —— even if it's more of a passion or interest than something you get paid to do —— the odds of your having high wellbeing in other areas diminish rapidly. People with high Career Wellbeing are more than twice as likely to be thriving in their lives overall. [2010] - Tom Rath

Our wellbeing actually recovers more rapidly from the death of a spouse than it does from a sustained period of unemployment. Being laid off from a job in the last year did not result in any significant long-term changes. The key is to avoid sustained periods of unemployment (more than a year) when you are actively looking for a job but unable to find one. In addition to the obvious loss of income from prolonged unemployment, the lack of regular social contract and the daily boredom might be even more detrimental to your wellbeing. [2010] - Tom Rath

People looking for a new job should be as concerned about who their manager will be as they are about their job title, their benefits, the company's reputation, or even the pay. [2010] - Tom Rath

Career wellbeing is one of the major differentiators that helps us live into our 90s. Men who lived to see 95 did not retire until they were 80 years old on average. [2010] - Tom Rath

People with very few social ties have nearly twice the risk of dying from heart disease and are twice as likely to catch colds —— even though they are less likely to have the exposure to germs that comes from frequent social contact. [2010] - Tom Rath

When we get at least six hours of daily social time, it increases our wellbeing and minimizes stress and worry. The six hours includes time at work, at home, on the telephone, talking to friends, sending e-mail, and other communication. [2010] - Tom Rath

People who have at least three or four very close friendships are healthier, have higher wellbeing, and are more engaged in their jobs. But the absence of any close friendships can lead to boredom, loneliness, and depression. [2010] - Tom Rath

Spending on oneself does not boost wellbeing. However, spending money on others does —— and it appears to be as important to people's happiness as the total amount of money they make. [2010] - Tom Rath

The worst time to make a major purchase is when you are feeling down. [2010] - Tom Rath

Buying experience such as going out to dinner or taking a vacation increases our own wellbeing and the wellbeing of others. Experiences last while material purchases fade. [2010] - Tom Rath

Many financial gurus would caution you not to pay off your home early —— because of lower historical returns and tax deductibility. But several people we interviewed went against that conventional wisdom, not because it was the best way to accumulate great wealth, but because it gave them the daily satisfaction and comfort of not being in debt. When a wealth-accumulation strategy creates daily stress, it's not worth the potential return. If a major purchase such as a home or a car creates a burden of debt that makes you uncomfortable, it's likely to do more damage than good for your overall wellbeing. [2010] - Tom Rath

Higher levels of omega-3 fatty acids have been shown to be protective against a wide range of cancers, cognitive degeneration such as Alzheimer's, heart disease, and a wide range of other conditions. High levels of omega-3s moderate symptoms of depression, decrease impulsiveness, and boost our daily mood. The consumption of omega-3s also decreases inflammation (pain), asthma, diabetes, and arthritis. [2010] - Tom Rath

We need somewhere between seven and eight hours of sleep each night to get optimal benefits. Both short amounts (5-6 hours) and long durations (9-10 hours) of sleep can cause problems. [2010] - Tom Rath

People who do have the opportunity to focus on their strengths every day are six times as likely to be engaged in their jobs and more than three times as likely to report having an excellent quality of life in general. [2007] - Tom Rath