--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Making better choices takes work. There…" description: "\"Making better choices takes work. There is a daily give and take, but it is worth the effort.\" — Tom Rath" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/14b/tom-rath-3501_choices_making-better-choices-takes-work-there-i_139863.jpg" --- # Making better choices takes work. There is a daily give… ![“Making better choices takes work. There is a daily give and take, but it is worth the effort.” quote by Tom Rath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/14b/tom-rath-3501_choices_making-better-choices-takes-work-there-i_139863.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/14b/tom-rath-3501_choices_making-better-choices-takes-work-there-i_139863.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/14b/tom-rath-3501_choices_making-better-choices-takes-work-there-i_139863.jpg) > “Making better choices takes work. There is a daily give and take, but it is worth the effort.” [Tom Rath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-rath/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Improving decisions requires consistent effort and reciprocal daily actions, but the payoff justifies the work. **In simple terms:** Good choices need daily effort and give back. Key Takeaway Commit to daily effort for better decisions. Themes self-improvement decision-making effort Mood determined hopeful Type motivational practical When to use this quote - personal growth - career planning - health choices Key Concepts reciprocity habit formation Questions to Reflect On - How can you track the impact of daily choices? - What habits support better decisions? A Different Perspective Effort alone may not guarantee optimal outcomes without reflection. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Choices](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choices/) [Decision making](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decision-making/) [Effort](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/effort/) [Give and take](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/give-and-take/) [Giving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving/) [Making Better Choices](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/making-better-choices/) [Success](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/success/) ## Related quotes > [Your past eating habits don't matter now. Focus on making better choices starting today](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/your-past-eating-habits-don-t-matter-now-focus-on-making-better/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The first step in making better choices is to simply be brutally honest about your own behavior to yourself. What are the choices you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-manson/the-first-step-in-making-better-choices-is-to-simply-be-brutally/) [Mark Manson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-manson/) > [Your life is a result of the choices you have made. If you don't like your life, start making better choices.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/your-life-is-a-result-of-the-choices-you-have-made-if-you-don-t-like/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Your life is a result of the choices you make if you don't like your life it's time to start making better choices](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/udigwe-vinsnt/your-life-is-a-result-of-the-choices-you-make-if-you-don-t-like-your/) Udigwe Vinsnt > [Regardless of your age, you can make better choices in the moment. Small decisions - about how you eat, move, and sleep each day…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-rath/regardless-of-your-age-you-can-make-better-choices-in-the-moment/) [Tom Rath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-rath/) > [I remember sitting in my room and thinking of where it all went wrong and how I ended up losing control of everything, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karrine-steffans/i-remember-sitting-in-my-room-and-thinking-of-where-it-all-went-wrong/) [Karrine Steffans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karrine-steffans/) > [“By going beyond solidarity, individualised lifestyle changes, I saw the incredible transformation that comes from building community power. By building this power, we can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mikaela-loach/by-going-beyond-solidarity-individualised-lifestyle-changes-i-saw-the/) Mikaela Loach > [Love is a thousand things, but at the center is a choice. It is a choice to love people. Left to myself, i get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-tworkowski/love-is-a-thousand-things-but-at-the-center-is-a-choice-it-is-a/) [Jamie Tworkowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-tworkowski/) > [“It was the Law of Attraction that she was referring to, and it was something I had always understood on a certain, nebulous level…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madelyn-alt-home-for-a-spell/it-was-the-law-of-attraction-that-she-was-referring-to-and-it-was/) Madelyn Alt Home for a Spell > [“He is the King with your consent, stop blaming and start making better choices.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haritha-velpureddy/he-is-the-king-with-your-consent-stop-blaming-and-start-making-better/) [Haritha Velpureddy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haritha-velpureddy/) > [“The false assumption is that almost all people, almost all of the time, make choices that are in their best interest or at the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-h-thaler/the-false-assumption-is-that-almost-all-people-almost-all-of-the-time/) [Richard H. Thaler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-h-thaler/) > [“We can’t ever make it right, but we can make better choices going forward,” Dex says in a soothing voice. “Try to be the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebel-farris/we-can-t-ever-make-it-right-but-we-can-make-better-choices-going/) [Rebel Farris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebel-farris/) > [I have really focused on mindfulness. That helps me make better choices both physically, psychologically, and emotionally.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathy-bates/i-have-really-focused-on-mindfulness-that-helps-me-make-better/) [Kathy Bates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathy-bates/) > [Our story, Maryland's story, is the story of better choices and better results.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-o-malley/our-story-maryland-s-story-is-the-story-of-better-choices-and-better/) [Martin O'Malley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-o-malley/) > [I do know that if you can name certain things and understand them, it allows you to make better choices. Unfortunately, there's so much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-santiago-baca/i-do-know-that-if-you-can-name-certain-things-and-understand-them-it/) [Jimmy Santiago Baca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-santiago-baca/) ## More by Tom Rath > [Every day, I read about new ideas and research that could help someone I care about live a longer and healthier life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-rath/every-day-i-read-about-new-ideas-and-research-that-could-help-someone/) [Tom Rath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-rath/) > [I've seen people be effective, even among local teams, by offering something that improves wellbeing in a small way - people who get passionate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-rath/i-ve-seen-people-be-effective-even-among-local-teams-by-offering/) [Tom Rath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-rath/) > [“What great leaders have in common is that each truly knows his or her strengths - and can call on the right strength at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-rath/what-great-leaders-have-in-common-is-that-each-truly-knows-his-or-her/) [Tom Rath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-rath/) > [If you want people to understand that you value their contributions and that they are important, the recognition and praise you provide must have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-rath/if-you-want-people-to-understand-that-you-value-their-contributions/) [Tom Rath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-rath/) > [On average, spending time with your boss is consistently rated as the least pleasurable activity in a given day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-rath/on-average-spending-time-with-your-boss-is-consistently-rated-as-the/) [Tom Rath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-rath/) > [“Once your brain initially processes something, you are less likely to retain the information if you are not physically active in the period following…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-rath/once-your-brain-initially-processes-something-you-are-less-likely-to/) [Tom Rath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-rath/) > [I would absolutely recommend against excessive positivity and optimism. Any positive emotion that you're infusing into a workplace needs to be grounded in reality.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-rath/i-would-absolutely-recommend-against-excessive-positivity-and/) [Tom Rath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-rath/) > [The vast knowledge we have to prevent cancer, heart disease, and other chronic illnesses is staggering.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-rath/the-vast-knowledge-we-have-to-prevent-cancer-heart-disease-and-other/) [Tom Rath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-rath/) > [Positive defaults protect you from yourself - and that helps you to make decisions in the moment that are better for your long-term interests.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-rath/positive-defaults-protect-you-from-yourself-and-that-helps-you-to/) [Tom Rath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-rath/) > [Having fewer unhealthy days and, in turn, more days when you have the energy to get things done is probably the global constant through…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-rath/having-fewer-unhealthy-days-and-in-turn-more-days-when-you-have-the/) [Tom Rath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-rath/) > [Even if people just change two or three things that they are able to sustain over time, it makes quite a difference eventually.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-rath/even-if-people-just-change-two-or-three-things-that-they-are-able-to/) [Tom Rath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-rath/) > [People with high levels of wellbeing have been careful to work out early in the morning and not to have heavy meals throughout the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-rath/people-with-high-levels-of-wellbeing-have-been-careful-to-work-out/) [Tom Rath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-rath/) > [The absence of high-quality friendships is bad for your health, spirits, productivity, and longevity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-rath/the-absence-of-high-quality-friendships-is-bad-for-your-health/) [Tom Rath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-rath/) > [I'm a researcher, so I'm realistic that there's nothing I'm doing that's going to prevent me from getting cancer in the future. But I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-rath/i-m-a-researcher-so-i-m-realistic-that-there-s-nothing-i-m-doing-that/) [Tom Rath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-rath/) > ['StrengthsFinder 2.0' is an effort to get the core message and language out to a much broader audience. We had no idea how well…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-rath/strengthsfinder-2-0-is-an-effort-to-get-the-core-message-and-language/) [Tom Rath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-rath/) [Explore all 129 Tom Rath quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-rath/) ## More Choices quotes > [Of all the people who have affected my life and influenced the choices I've made, none has been more important than my father. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teddy-atlas/of-all-the-people-who-have-affected-my-life-and-influenced-the/) [Teddy Atlas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teddy-atlas/) > [“Don’t allow anyone to pressure you into taking a job in a field that doesn’t feel right in your gut. You are the one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alison-james/don-t-allow-anyone-to-pressure-you-into-taking-a-job-in-a-field-that/) Alison James > [When you have a choice, choose happy!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pancho-barnes/when-you-have-a-choice-choose-happy/) Pancho Barnes > [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/) > [Movies have power. Power to impact society and the choices we make. I want to entertain, but I also want to say something to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gina-prince-bythewood/movies-have-power-power-to-impact-society-and-the-choices-we-make-i/) [Gina Prince-Bythewood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gina-prince-bythewood/) > [If you have a different mindset, you will have a different outcome: if you make different choices from your peers, your life will then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-ma/if-you-have-a-different-mindset-you-will-have-a-different-outcome-if/) [Jack Ma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-ma/) > [Personally, I prefer contemporary films, but the market calls for more period choices, especially since China opened up a cinema market in Hong Kong.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donnie-yen/personally-i-prefer-contemporary-films-but-the-market-calls-for-more/) [Donnie Yen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donnie-yen/) > [Clarissa," he said, "here with the vampire, I see. When things have settled a bit, we really must discuss you choice in pets..](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/clarissa-he-said-here-with-the-vampire-i-see-when-things-have-settled/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [Change is inevitable but personal growth is a choice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-proctor/change-is-inevitable-but-personal-growth-is-a-choice/) [Bob Proctor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-proctor/) > [Time hath not yet so dried this blood of mine, Nor age so eat up my invention, Nor fortune made such havoc of my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/time-hath-not-yet-so-dried-this-blood-of-mine-nor-age-so-eat-up-my/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [If you choose to draw from the inner well of free will, then you can make choices that are outside your current karmic patterns.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/if-you-choose-to-draw-from-the-inner-well-of-free-will-then-you-can/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Act always so as to increase the number of choices](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heinz-von-foerster/act-always-so-as-to-increase-the-number-of-choices/) [Heinz von Foerster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heinz-von-foerster/) > [Give me a platter of choice finnan haddie, freshly cooked in its bath of water and milk, add melted butter, a slice or two…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-claiborne/give-me-a-platter-of-choice-finnan-haddie-freshly-cooked-in-its-bath/) [Craig Claiborne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-claiborne/) > [I don't know that any woman could ever not think about that at some point - even making the choice not to do it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naomi-watts/i-don-t-know-that-any-woman-could-ever-not-think-about-that-at-some/) [Naomi Watts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naomi-watts/) > [In this choice of inheritance we have given to our frame of polity the image of a relation in blood; binding up the constitution…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-burke/in-this-choice-of-inheritance-we-have-given-to-our-frame-of-polity/) [Edmund Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-burke/) [Browse all 11,466 Choices quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choices/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Making better choices takes work. 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