--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The right choices over time greatly…" description: "\"The right choices over time greatly improve your odds of a long and healthy life.\" — Tom Rath" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/894/tom-rath-3501_choices_the-right-choices-over-time-greatly-impr_2386587.png" --- # The right choices over time greatly improve your odds of a… ![“The right choices over time greatly improve your odds of a long and healthy life.” quote by Tom Rath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/894/tom-rath-3501_choices_the-right-choices-over-time-greatly-impr_2386587.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/894/tom-rath-3501_choices_the-right-choices-over-time-greatly-impr_2386587.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/894/tom-rath-3501_choices_the-right-choices-over-time-greatly-impr_2386587.png) > “The right choices over time greatly improve your odds of a long and healthy life.” [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. Consistently making good decisions accumulates benefits, increasing chances of a long, healthy life. **In simple terms:** Good choices add up over time. Key Takeaway Make wise choices daily. Themes decision‑making health longevity Mood practical encouraging Type advice inspirational When to use this quote - diet - exercise - financial planning Key Concepts behavioral science statistics Questions to Reflect On - What small daily decision could improve your health? - How do you stay disciplined in decision‑making? A Different Perspective Decisions alone don’t guarantee health; external factors matter. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Choices](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choices/) [Decision making](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decision-making/) [Health](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/health/) [Healthy life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/healthy-life/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Odds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/odds/) [Right choice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/right-choice/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [I've seen the same thing emerge in the research around the interaction of sleeping and moving and eating: if you get a good night's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-rath/i-ve-seen-the-same-thing-emerge-in-the-research-around-the/) [Tom Rath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-rath/) > [Quit smoking, and observe posted speed limits. This will improve your odds of getting old enough to be wise.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-kingsolver/quit-smoking-and-observe-posted-speed-limits-this-will-improve-your/) [Barbara Kingsolver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-kingsolver/) > [Never do today what you can put off till tomorrow if tomorrow might improve the odds.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-heinlein/never-do-today-what-you-can-put-off-till-tomorrow-if-tomorrow-might/) [Robert A. Heinlein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-heinlein/) > [“You don't say how slim the odds are but rather how you can improve the odds.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-maxwell/you-don-t-say-how-slim-the-odds-are-but-rather-how-you-can-improve/) [John C. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-maxwell/) > [My dogs can't do anything--and what a relief. I don't make any demands of them, and I don't try to shape them or their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-chua/my-dogs-can-t-do-anything-and-what-a-relief-i-don-t-make-any-demands/) [Amy Chua](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-chua/) > [Your life at this exact moment is a direct result of choices you made once upon a time. Thirty minutes or 30 year ago.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-ban-breathnach/your-life-at-this-exact-moment-is-a-direct-result-of-choices-you-made/) [Sarah Ban Breathnach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-ban-breathnach/) > [“You must make your choices one at a time, since each is contingent upon the decision that precedes it. Instead of trying to create…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-young/you-must-make-your-choices-one-at-a-time-since-each-is-contingent/) [Sarah Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-young/) > [We live today in a world in which nobody believes choices should have consequences. But may I tell you the great secret that our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-l-carter/we-live-today-in-a-world-in-which-nobody-believes-choices-should-have/) [Stephen L. Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-l-carter/) > [We can't be friends if you make bad choices all the time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/we-can-t-be-friends-if-you-make-bad-choices-all-the-time/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Some of our important choices have a time line. If we delay a decision, the opportunity is gone forever. Sometimes our doubts keep us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-e-faust/some-of-our-important-choices-have-a-time-line-if-we-delay-a-decision/) [James E. Faust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-e-faust/) > [“As he tightened his embrace around her, he knew he'd made the right choice. He held the whole world in his arms.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-anderson/as-he-tightened-his-embrace-around-her-he-knew-he-d-made-the-right/) [Catherine Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-anderson/) > [As difficult as these choices were, they were right choices.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/as-difficult-as-these-choices-were-they-were-right-choices/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“In the words of Andy Grove: “To understand a company’s strategy, look at what they actually do rather than what they say they will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clayton-m-christensen/in-the-words-of-andy-grove-to-understand-a-company-s-strategy-look-at/) [Clayton M. Christensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clayton-m-christensen/) > [I teach my children that in life, there is no control of what tomorrow is going to bring. There really isn't. But in whatever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bebe-winans/i-teach-my-children-that-in-life-there-is-no-control-of-what-tomorrow/) [BeBe Winans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bebe-winans/) > [“Look back on your life five years ago. Are you now where you’d thought you’d be five years later? Have you kicked the bad…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darren-hardy/look-back-on-your-life-five-years-ago-are-you-now-where-you-d-thought/) [Darren Hardy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darren-hardy/) ## 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/) > [Making better choices takes work. There is a daily give and take, but it is worth the effort.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-rath/making-better-choices-takes-work-there-is-a-daily-give-and-take-but/) [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/) [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": "The right choices over time greatly improve your odds of a long and healthy life.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Tom Rath" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-rath/the-right-choices-over-time-greatly-improve-your-odds-of-a-long-and/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Choices" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-rath/the-right-choices-over-time-greatly-improve-your-odds-of-a-long-and/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/894/tom-rath-3501_choices_the-right-choices-over-time-greatly-impr_2386587.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/894/tom-rath-3501_choices_the-right-choices-over-time-greatly-impr_2386587.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/894/tom-rath-3501_choices_the-right-choices-over-time-greatly-impr_2386587.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The right choices over time greatly improve your odds of a long and healthy life.” — Tom Rath", "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": "Tom Rath", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-rath/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The right choices over time greatly...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-rath/the-right-choices-over-time-greatly-improve-your-odds-of-a-long-and/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-rath/the-right-choices-over-time-greatly-improve-your-odds-of-a-long-and/#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 } } ] } ```