--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: As we got more interested in time…" description: "\"As we got more interested in time management and productivity, we lost the individual, and with that individual loss, we lost happiness as well. So I t..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fec/shawn-achor-6891_focused_as-we-got-more-interested-in-time-manage_1918356.jpg" --- # As we got more interested in time management and… ![“As we got more interested in time management and productivity, we lost the individual, and with that individual loss, we lost happiness as well. So I think the world has actually been malnourished as we've focused so much on productivity and ignored happiness and meaning to our own detriment.” quote by Shawn Achor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fec/shawn-achor-6891_focused_as-we-got-more-interested-in-time-manage_1918356.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fec/shawn-achor-6891_focused_as-we-got-more-interested-in-time-manage_1918356.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fec/shawn-achor-6891_focused_as-we-got-more-interested-in-time-manage_1918356.jpg) > “As we got more interested in time management and productivity, we lost the individual, and with that individual loss, we lost happiness as well. So I think the world has actually been malnourished as we've focused so much on productivity and ignored happiness and meaning to our own detriment.” [Shawn Achor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shawn-achor/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Focusing solely on efficiency erodes personal fulfillment, leading to societal unhappiness. **In simple terms:** Productivity alone harms happiness. Key Takeaway Balance work with meaning. Themes productivity happiness meaning balance Mood reflective concerned Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - workplace - personal life - policy making - education Key Concepts well‑being maslow hierarchy psychology Questions to Reflect On - How can we measure happiness alongside output? - What policies promote both productivity and well‑being? A Different Perspective Neglecting happiness can reduce motivation and health. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Focused](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/focused/) [Food](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/food/) [Happiness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happiness/) [Individual](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/individual/) [Loss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/loss/) [Management](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/management/) [Productivity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/productivity/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Time management](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time-management/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [“And I kind of realized that his pain is real or whatever, but his pain isn’t over the loss of me as an individual.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-t-vargus/and-i-kind-of-realized-that-his-pain-is-real-or-whatever-but-his-pain/) [L.T. 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Then we can begin to move through life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-luisa-bombal/it-may-be-that-true-happiness-lies-in-the-conviction-that-one-has/) Maria Luisa Bombal > [Opportunities flit by while we sit regretting the chances we have lost, and the happiness that comes to us we heed not, because of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerome-k-jerome/opportunities-flit-by-while-we-sit-regretting-the-chances-we-have/) [Jerome K. Jerome](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerome-k-jerome/) > [Riches, prestige, everything can be lost. But the happiness in your heart can only be dimmed; it will always be there as long as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-frank/riches-prestige-everything-can-be-lost-but-the-happiness-in-your/) [Anne Frank](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-frank/) > [I lost my happiness. Can you check it in your things? Because the last time I saw it, I was with you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-lost-my-happiness-can-you-check-it-in-your-things-because-the-last/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The court's recent understanding of religion as a private matter for individuals has plainly become malnourished and impoverished.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-v-monsma/the-court-s-recent-understanding-of-religion-as-a-private-matter-for/) Stephen V Monsma ## More by Shawn Achor > [Joy is something you can experience even when life is not pleasurable. Even in the midst of a long run, when your legs are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shawn-achor/joy-is-something-you-can-experience-even-when-life-is-not-pleasurable/) [Shawn Achor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shawn-achor/) > [Our daily decisions and habits have a huge impact upon both our levels of happiness and success.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shawn-achor/our-daily-decisions-and-habits-have-a-huge-impact-upon-both-our/) [Shawn Achor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shawn-achor/) > [Beliefs are so powerful because they dictate our efforts and actions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shawn-achor/beliefs-are-so-powerful-because-they-dictate-our-efforts-and-actions/) [Shawn Achor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shawn-achor/) > [Happiness is the precursor to success.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shawn-achor/happiness-is-the-precursor-to-success/) [Shawn Achor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shawn-achor/) > [Positive and engaged brains are a company's greatest assets. More than time and even more than productivity, people must be happy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shawn-achor/positive-and-engaged-brains-are-a-company-s-greatest-assets-more-than/) [Shawn Achor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shawn-achor/) > [The idea of investing in the positivity of employees is often low down on companies' priority lists.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shawn-achor/the-idea-of-investing-in-the-positivity-of-employees-is-often-low/) [Shawn Achor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shawn-achor/) > [We not only need to work happy, we need to work at being happy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shawn-achor/we-not-only-need-to-work-happy-we-need-to-work-at-being-happy/) [Shawn Achor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shawn-achor/) > [..the more you believe in your own ability to success the more likely it is that you will.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shawn-achor/the-more-you-believe-in-your-own-ability-to-success-the-more-likely/) [Shawn Achor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shawn-achor/) > [Focusing on the good isn’t just about overcoming our inner grump to see the glass half full. It’s about opening our minds to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shawn-achor/focusing-on-the-good-isn-t-just-about-overcoming-our-inner-grump-to/) [Shawn Achor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shawn-achor/) > [Happiness is not the belief that we don't need to change; it's the realization that we can.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shawn-achor/happiness-is-not-the-belief-that-we-don-t-need-to-change-it-s-the/) [Shawn Achor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shawn-achor/) > [We sometimes think that the best doctors are the ones who have the most specialized knowledge or the fanciest degrees, but in fact, study…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shawn-achor/we-sometimes-think-that-the-best-doctors-are-the-ones-who-have-the/) [Shawn Achor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shawn-achor/) > [Research shows you get multiple tasks done faster if you do them one at a time. It also decreases stress and raises happiness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shawn-achor/research-shows-you-get-multiple-tasks-done-faster-if-you-do-them-one/) [Shawn Achor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shawn-achor/) > [The research says that being successful doesn't automatically make you happier, but being happier - being more positive - makes you more successful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shawn-achor/the-research-says-that-being-successful-doesn-t-automatically-make/) [Shawn Achor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shawn-achor/) > [Spend two minutes a day scanning the world for three new things you're grateful for. 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And yet collectively 90% of their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sergey-brin/it-is-ironic-since-whenever-i-have-met-with-our-elected-officials/) [Sergey Brin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sergey-brin/) > [We're focused on providing innovations in software, driving the continuous improvement for a much better experience, and there's a lot going on here that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-gates/we-re-focused-on-providing-innovations-in-software-driving-the/) [Bill Gates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-gates/) > [I'm focused on the music. I think, as long as I keep making music just because I like to make it, people are gonna…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bishop-nehru/i-m-focused-on-the-music-i-think-as-long-as-i-keep-making-music-just/) [Bishop Nehru](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bishop-nehru/) > [I was focused on The Hunger Games movie with my director, with the studio, and with the cast and crew. We all just focused…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nina-jacobson/i-was-focused-on-the-hunger-games-movie-with-my-director-with-the/) [Nina Jacobson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nina-jacobson/) > [Our thoughts are either focused on what's eternal, life-changing, and true, or lost in the details of our temporary, selfish, false beliefs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-groeschel/our-thoughts-are-either-focused-on-what-s-eternal-life-changing-and/) [Craig Groeschel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-groeschel/) > [I'm staying focused and clear about what I want in life, and I'm going to get it, man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bobby-brown/i-m-staying-focused-and-clear-about-what-i-want-in-life-and-i-m-going/) [Bobby Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bobby-brown/) > [God puts you where God needs you. You are where you are supposed to be. 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O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) [Browse all 2,614 Focused quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/focused/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "As we got more interested in time management and productivity, we lost the individual, and with that individual loss, we lost happiness as well. 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