Too often, our commitment to work stands in the way of maintaining a happy and fulfilling personal life. While we may assume that toiling into the wee hours of the morning is the surest way to achieve professional success, doing so may come at the expense of devoting time to the people and things we love — the sources of joy in our lives.
What’s more, being overworked can have a negative effect on how much effort we put into our jobs. Working hard instead of working smart can mean that we approach our tasks with an exhausted attitude that only leads to half-hearted results.
For those among us with a workaholic streak, it’s an absolute necessity to set boundaries, prioritize our own well-being, and find a healthy mix that allows us to thrive both personally and professionally. With that in mind, here are 15 enlightening quotes about the importance of finding work-life balance.
Never get so busy making a living that you forget to make a life.Dolly Parton
Happiness is not a matter of intensity but of balance and order and rhythm and harmony.Thomas Merton, theologian
Strive not to be a success, but rather to be of value.Albert Einstein
We think, mistakenly, that success is the result of the amount of time we put in at work, instead of the quality of time we put in.Arianna Huffington
The key is not to prioritize what’s on your schedule, but to schedule your priorities.Stephen Covey, educator and author
You can have it all. You just can’t have it all at once.Oprah Winfrey
Trying to do it all and expecting it all can be done exactly right is a recipe for disappointment. Perfection is the enemy.Sheryl Sandberg, business executive
You will never find time for anything. If you want time, you must make it.Charles Buxton, philanthropist
Time is really the only capital that any human being has, and the only thing he can’t afford to lose.Thomas Edison
Work is a rubber ball. If you drop it, it will bounce back. The other four balls — family, health, friends, integrity — are made of glass. If you drop one of these, it will be irrevocably scuffed, nicked, perhaps even shattered.Gary Keller, author and entrepreneur
Be steady and well-ordered in your life so that you can be fierce and original in your work.Gustave Flaubert, novelist
You can’t have everything you want, but you can have the things that really matter to you.Marissa Mayer, businesswoman
The bad news is time flies. The good news is you’re the pilot.Michael Altshuler, entrepreneur
Self-care is, fundamentally, about bringing balance back to a life that has grown imbalanced from too many commitments or responsibilities.Robyn L. Gobin, psychologist
You can’t do a good job if your job is all you do.Katie Thurmes, co-founder
Photo credit: Black Salmon/ Shutterstock
