---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: You're right to want to minimize your…"
description: "\"You're right to want to minimize your compulsive physical behavior in the workplace before it bothers your co-workers, but I hope very much you can als..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/233/mallory-ortberg-7200_behavior_you-re-right-to-want-to-minimize-your-co_3167628.jpg"
---

#  You're right to want to minimize your compulsive physical…

![“You're right to want to minimize your compulsive physical behavior in the workplace before it bothers your co-workers, but I hope very much you can also give yourself credit for the work you're already doing.” quote by Mallory Ortberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/233/mallory-ortberg-7200_behavior_you-re-right-to-want-to-minimize-your-co_3167628.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/233/mallory-ortberg-7200_behavior_you-re-right-to-want-to-minimize-your-co_3167628.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/233/mallory-ortberg-7200_behavior_you-re-right-to-want-to-minimize-your-co_3167628.jpg)

> “You're right to want to minimize your compulsive physical behavior in the workplace before it bothers your co-workers, but I hope very much you can also give yourself credit for the work you're already doing.”

[Mallory Ortberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mallory-ortberg/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Balancing self‑compassion with workplace behavior helps maintain harmony and personal pride.

**In simple terms:** Be kind to yourself while respecting others.

Key Takeaway

Practice self‑kindness and awareness.

Themes

self‑compassion workplace etiquette balance

Mood

considerate encouraging

Type

advice self‑help

When to use this quote

- team meetings
- remote work
- personal productivity

Key Concepts

Psychology social dynamics

Questions to Reflect On

- How do you gauge your impact on coworkers?
- What small steps can you take to improve workplace behavior?

A Different Perspective

Too much self‑praise can seem insincere.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Behavior](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/behavior/) [Credit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/credit/) [Giving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving/) [Habits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/habits/) [Workers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/workers/) [Workplace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/workplace/)

## Related quotes

> [If you’re so forgetful that you’re incapable of remembering that a co-worker isn’t pregnant on three separate occasions in as many months, I worry…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mallory-ortberg/if-you-re-so-forgetful-that-you-re-incapable-of-remembering-that-a-co/)

[Mallory Ortberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mallory-ortberg/)

> [Should we not press it home upon our consciences that the sole object of our conversion was not the salvation of our own souls,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lottie-moon/should-we-not-press-it-home-upon-our-consciences-that-the-sole-object/)

[Lottie Moon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lottie-moon/)

> [It's very easy to make fun of George W.Bush, but that ain't going to do it. What we have to do is knock on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernie-sanders/it-s-very-easy-to-make-fun-of-george-w-bush-but-that-ain-t-going-to/)

[Bernie Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernie-sanders/)

> [With everything that you do, once the costume is on, and you're in the pretend hospital, and you're there with your co-workers, it all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edie-falco/with-everything-that-you-do-once-the-costume-is-on-and-you-re-in-the/)

[Edie Falco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edie-falco/)

> [I can take a job with an affirmative action employer without having my co-workers on the job suspect that I got it because of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peggy-mcintosh/i-can-take-a-job-with-an-affirmative-action-employer-without-having/)

[Peggy McIntosh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peggy-mcintosh/)

> [My co-workers expect me to be late and temperamental.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eva-gabor/my-co-workers-expect-me-to-be-late-and-temperamental/)

[Eva Gabor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eva-gabor/)

> [It's much easier when you have your co-workers who are just, they're there in the moment. If you were out of the moment, you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-bautista/it-s-much-easier-when-you-have-your-co-workers-who-are-just-they-re/)

[Dave Bautista](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-bautista/)

> [When a man, a woman, see their little daily tasks as integral portions of the one great work, they are no longer drudges but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-besant/when-a-man-a-woman-see-their-little-daily-tasks-as-integral-portions/)

[Annie Besant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-besant/)

> [The people are craving for a better world. Let us mobilize them as co-workers for a better world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-muller/the-people-are-craving-for-a-better-world-let-us-mobilize-them-as-co/)

[Robert Muller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-muller/)

> [Let the Saints remember that great things depend on their individual exertion, and that they are called to be co-workers with us and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-smith-jr/let-the-saints-remember-that-great-things-depend-on-their-individual/)

[Joseph Smith, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-smith-jr/)

> [You don’t owe prettiness to anyone. Not to your boyfriend/spouse/partner, not to your co-workers, especially not to random men on the street. You don’t…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erin-mckean/you-don-t-owe-prettiness-to-anyone-not-to-your-boyfriend-spouse/)

[Erin McKean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erin-mckean/)

> [It takes real courage to do battle in the unspectacular task. We always listen for the applause of our co-workers. He is courageous who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-foote-macdougall/it-takes-real-courage-to-do-battle-in-the-unspectacular-task-we/)

[Alice Foote MacDougall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-foote-macdougall/)

> [Passion creates energy and magnetically pulls co-workers and customers into a shared vision, and it is exceptionally strong when linked with a leader's values.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-maxwell/passion-creates-energy-and-magnetically-pulls-co-workers-and/)

[John C. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-maxwell/)

> [However self-sufficient we may fancy ourselves, we exist only in relation -- to our friend, family, and life partners; to those we teach and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derrick-bell/however-self-sufficient-we-may-fancy-ourselves-we-exist-only-in/)

[Derrick Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derrick-bell/)

> [For many of us, work is the one place where we feel appreciated. The things that we long to experience at home - pride…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arlie-russell-hochschild/for-many-of-us-work-is-the-one-place-where-we-feel-appreciated-the/)

[Arlie Russell Hochschild](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arlie-russell-hochschild/)

## More by Mallory Ortberg

> [Not wanting to give everyone in your life one of your kidneys is not the same thing as hoping they die of kidney failure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mallory-ortberg/not-wanting-to-give-everyone-in-your-life-one-of-your-kidneys-is-not/)

[Mallory Ortberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mallory-ortberg/)

> [I agree that biphobia is real, but I think it's absolutely worth considering that someone who "despises" having sex with her husband - and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mallory-ortberg/i-agree-that-biphobia-is-real-but-i-think-it-s-absolutely-worth/)

[Mallory Ortberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mallory-ortberg/)

> [If you get a dog, take care of your dog! You can just not have a dog if you don't feel like taking care…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mallory-ortberg/if-you-get-a-dog-take-care-of-your-dog-you-can-just-not-have-a-dog-if/)

[Mallory Ortberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mallory-ortberg/)

> [It is so tempting to return rudeness with rudeness!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mallory-ortberg/it-is-so-tempting-to-return-rudeness-with-rudeness/)

[Mallory Ortberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mallory-ortberg/)

> [I think that it's a great idea to have honest conversations about children before getting married. I also think it's impossible to promise someone,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mallory-ortberg/i-think-that-it-s-a-great-idea-to-have-honest-conversations-about/)

[Mallory Ortberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mallory-ortberg/)

> [Don't beat yourself up over what you dream about.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mallory-ortberg/don-t-beat-yourself-up-over-what-you-dream-about/)

[Mallory Ortberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mallory-ortberg/)

> [One of the glorious things about being a person in the world is that you don't have to worry about whether or not someone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mallory-ortberg/one-of-the-glorious-things-about-being-a-person-in-the-world-is-that/)

[Mallory Ortberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mallory-ortberg/)

> [You need to be able to express your resentment and sense of loss in a way that doesn't damage your partner.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mallory-ortberg/you-need-to-be-able-to-express-your-resentment-and-sense-of-loss-in-a/)

[Mallory Ortberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mallory-ortberg/)

> [Some people give gifts in order to bewilder, confuse, and manipulate their recipients.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mallory-ortberg/some-people-give-gifts-in-order-to-bewilder-confuse-and-manipulate/)

[Mallory Ortberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mallory-ortberg/)

> [Unlike celibacy, which people choose, asexuality is an intrinsic part of who we are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mallory-ortberg/unlike-celibacy-which-people-choose-asexuality-is-an-intrinsic-part/)

[Mallory Ortberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mallory-ortberg/)

> [The mere idea of asking a family member if they intentionally stopped sending me an annual bonus makes me feel like breaking out in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mallory-ortberg/the-mere-idea-of-asking-a-family-member-if-they-intentionally-stopped/)

[Mallory Ortberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mallory-ortberg/)

> [You have a right to be treated professionally at work, and it's your supervisor's job to make sure all their employees can perform their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mallory-ortberg/you-have-a-right-to-be-treated-professionally-at-work-and-it-s-your/)

[Mallory Ortberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mallory-ortberg/)

> [We are all going to die, sometimes even in the middle of a lease.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mallory-ortberg/we-are-all-going-to-die-sometimes-even-in-the-middle-of-a-lease/)

[Mallory Ortberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mallory-ortberg/)

> [o one is right when it comes to destination weddings. It’s a big ask, requesting people take time off work and fly off to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mallory-ortberg/o-one-is-right-when-it-comes-to-destination-weddings-it-s-a-big-ask/)

[Mallory Ortberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mallory-ortberg/)

> [I love the art history ones because it's so little work for me. There's so many paintings that when I look at them, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mallory-ortberg/i-love-the-art-history-ones-because-it-s-so-little-work-for-me-there/)

[Mallory Ortberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mallory-ortberg/)

[Explore all 93 Mallory Ortberg quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mallory-ortberg/)

## More Behavior quotes

> [The vision of the left, full of envy and resentment, takes its worst toll on those at the bottom - whether black or white…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-sowell/the-vision-of-the-left-full-of-envy-and-resentment-takes-its-worst/)

[Thomas Sowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-sowell/)

> [By making conscious choices in our behavior and where we focus our attention, we can transform our experience of our body, decrease our biological…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepak-chopra/by-making-conscious-choices-in-our-behavior-and-where-we-focus-our/)

[Deepak Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepak-chopra/)

> [As you begin changing your thinking, start immediately to change your behaviour. Begin to act the part of the person you would like to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/as-you-begin-changing-your-thinking-start-immediately-to-change-your/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [“I now know that deep within the human concept is something dark, selfish, and completely willing to do whatever is necessary to support the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melissa-west/i-now-know-that-deep-within-the-human-concept-is-something-dark/)

[Melissa West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melissa-west/)

> [“We are endowed with genes which code out our reaction to beavers and otters, maybe our reaction to each other as well. We are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-thomas/we-are-endowed-with-genes-which-code-out-our-reaction-to-beavers-and/)

[Lewis Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-thomas/)

> [The number of poor, and poorly prepared, students who succeed in college and beyond undercuts the simplistic notion that economic or educational disadvantage is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roland-merullo/the-number-of-poor-and-poorly-prepared-students-who-succeed-in/)

[Roland Merullo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roland-merullo/)

> [To behave creatively in art means behavior with skill; and skill comes from discipline, not derangement. The artist who knows the rules -and proportion…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/burne-hogarth/to-behave-creatively-in-art-means-behavior-with-skill-and-skill-comes/)

Burne Hogarth

> [You don't put milk in chamomile tea - that's disgusting behavior! That's not right.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-fraser/you-don-t-put-milk-in-chamomile-tea-that-s-disgusting-behavior-that-s/)

[Laura Fraser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-fraser/)

> [The laws of thermodynamics, as empirically determined, express the approximate and probable behavior of systems of a great number of particles, or, more precisely,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-willard-gibbs/the-laws-of-thermodynamics-as-empirically-determined-express-the/)

J. Willard Gibbs

> [I started with the belief that every person who came to the laboratory was free to accept or to reject the dictates of authority.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanley-milgram/i-started-with-the-belief-that-every-person-who-came-to-the/)

[Stanley Milgram](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanley-milgram/)

> [The tipping point is that magic moment when an idea, trend, or social behavior crosses a threshold, tips, and spreads like wildfire.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-gladwell/the-tipping-point-is-that-magic-moment-when-an-idea-trend-or-social/)

[Malcolm Gladwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-gladwell/)

> [I think we've told a lot of lies about human behavior through film.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-arquette/i-think-we-ve-told-a-lot-of-lies-about-human-behavior-through-film/)

[Patricia Arquette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-arquette/)

> [The strongest rebellion may be expressed in quiet, undramatic behavior.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-spock/the-strongest-rebellion-may-be-expressed-in-quiet-undramatic-behavior/)

[Benjamin Spock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-spock/)

> [The behavior of any bureaucratic organization can best be understood by assuming that it is controlled by a secret cabal of its enemies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-conquest/the-behavior-of-any-bureaucratic-organization-can-best-be-understood/)

[Robert Conquest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-conquest/)

> [If you want good behavior, don't pay on a commission basis. Our judges aren't paid so much a case. We keep them pretty well…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-munger/if-you-want-good-behavior-don-t-pay-on-a-commission-basis-our-judges/)

[Charlie Munger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-munger/)

[Browse all 4,218 Behavior quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/behavior/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "You're right to want to minimize your compulsive physical behavior in the workplace before it bothers your co-workers, but I hope very much you can also give yourself credit for the work you're already doing.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Mallory Ortberg"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mallory-ortberg/you-re-right-to-want-to-minimize-your-compulsive-physical-behavior-in/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Behavior"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mallory-ortberg/you-re-right-to-want-to-minimize-your-compulsive-physical-behavior-in/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/233/mallory-ortberg-7200_behavior_you-re-right-to-want-to-minimize-your-co_3167628.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/233/mallory-ortberg-7200_behavior_you-re-right-to-want-to-minimize-your-co_3167628.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/233/mallory-ortberg-7200_behavior_you-re-right-to-want-to-minimize-your-co_3167628.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“You're right to want to minimize your compulsive physical behavior in the workplace before it bothers your…” — Mallory Ortberg",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Mallory Ortberg",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mallory-ortberg/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "You're right to want to minimize...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mallory-ortberg/you-re-right-to-want-to-minimize-your-compulsive-physical-behavior-in/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mallory-ortberg/you-re-right-to-want-to-minimize-your-compulsive-physical-behavior-in/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
