'Law & Order' actor Sam Waterston: What nearly 20 years of being unemployed taught me about happiness

Sometimes, quitting your job is the best move to make, as former longtime "Law & Order" actor Sam Waterston can attest.

Last month, in a commencement speech at Princeton University, Waterston, who had worked on the NBC drama for nearly 20 years, said he felt a "door opening" and newfound happiness after stepping away from the show.

He stated that for him, the things that bring him happiness increasingly involve ceasing.

Despite the financial and industry security his enduring role as District Attorney Jack McCoy on the crime series brought, Waterston said that the part "did for me the long-haul things everyone needs from a job." It kept a roof over our heads, it put our kids through college, it kept me out of trouble, it made it easier to get other work.

After quitting the show, Waterston realized that filming over 400 episodes had been a significant mental occupation. He was amazed by the amount of space the job had been taking up in his head and felt relieved to have it back.

When you change your routine, you create space to think, be still, and shut up, allowing you to fully appreciate springtime weather and feel the effects of regular meditation, as Waterson said.

Quitting outside the workplace

When he decided to leave "Law & Order," the Oscar-nominated actor, who had won an Emmy and a Golden Globe, was in a stable place in his career.

Disengaging from digital distractions can have mental benefits beyond the workplace, as Waterston emphasized.

"The world is less isolated than before. You can connect with anyone, anywhere, anytime," he stated. "However, the downside is that it's constantly selling you products and the notion that you're better off without your own thoughts."

Waterston stated that maintaining personal control is a matter of determination.

Experts suggest that limiting social media use can aid in combating sleep problems, depression, and the habit of comparing oneself to others, as the negative effects of social media on mental health are widely known.

Harvard University professor Arthur Brooks advises adopting a strict time limit on social media and news consumption, not exceeding 30 minutes for either category, to improve wellbeing. This doesn't mean ignoring world events, but rather prioritizing immediate personal circumstances at home and in the mind.

Last year, CNBC Make It reported that Brooks stated that it would significantly contribute to the country's happiness.

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