We all know that eating well and exercising are beneficial factors for health, and that they are also measurable. Indeed, you can write down the calories of your meals in a notebook and count your steps in a fitness app. However, in a fast-paced and pressured world like the one we live in, it’s easy to lose sight of a third factor in healthy living: a sense of purpose.
“Purpose is hard to measure, and it’s different for everyone. Finding a sense of purpose can be a long road full of reflections and tough challenges. However, discovering that purpose is a key aspect of achieving overall wellness,” says Dr. Milagro Sosa, Abbott’s Chief Medical Officer.
The health benefits of having a life purpose
Having a sense of purpose helps give meaning to your life. Purpose supports you in determining your values, setting goals, and taking on challenges, all of which can benefit your health. Now that a new year has begun, you can give yourself an opportunity to set a purpose for this period.
Consider this: according to a study from Mount Sinai Hospital and Mount Sinai School of Medicine1In the United States, having a sense of purpose can improve your heart health and reduce your risk of heart attack and heart attack. Likewise, a meta-analysis published in the specialized journal Psychosomatic Medicine2 shows a connection between a strong purpose in life and a lower risk of cardiovascular events and death. These are data to take into account in Chile, 25.5% of the population lives with a high cardiovascular risk, according to the latest National Health Survey3.
Along with this, research in the journal Cerebrum4 found that young people who had a high sense of purpose were less likely to become depressed than their peers who weren’t working toward a larger goal. In Chile, the prevalence of depression in young people between the ages of 18 and 24 is 6.2%, according to the latest National Health Survey.5.
If you’re looking to sleep better, finding something you’re passionate about can improve your rest at night. A study published in Sleep Science and Practice6 indicates that making sense appears to improve sleep and lessen your chance of developing sleep apnea and restless leg syndrome. A piece of advice for the 13.2% of the Chilean population who declared having insomnia7 moderate or severe in 2022.
Tips to discover your purpose
Finding your life purpose means a happier and healthier life, but it takes some work. Observing your surroundings is a good way to start. You can start a new activity, for example, pottery classes at a community center. Engaging in conversations with new people in a coffee shop can be inspiring. You can also go back to school, volunteer at an animal shelter, or join social or professional groups to connect with people you have an affinity for. You can include a new purpose in planning for this new year that has begun.
References:
1 The Mount Sinai Hospital / Mount Sinai School Of Medicine. Have a sense of purpose in life? It may protect your heart. Peer-Reviewed Publication. https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/547686
2 Cohen, R. Bavishi, C. Rozanski, A. Purpose in Life and Its Relationship to All-Cause Mortality and Cardiovascular Events: A Meta-Analysis. Psychosom Med. 2016 Feb-Mar;78(2):122-33. doi: 10.1097/PSY.0000000000000274. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26630073/
3 Ministry of Health, Government of Chile. National Health Survey 2016-2017. Second Delivery of Results. Page 36. https://www.minsal.cl/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/2-Resultados-ENS_MINSAL_31_01_2018.pdf
4 Kapli, A. Anzaldi, L. New Movement in Neuroscience: A Purpose-Driven Life. Cerebrum. 2015 May-Jun; 2015: 7. Published online 2015 Jun. PMC45642341. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4564234/
5 Ministry of Health, Government of Chile. National Health Survey 2016-2017. Second Delivery of Results. Page 50. https://www.minsal.cl/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/2-Resultados-ENS_MINSAL_31_01_2018.pdf
6 Arlener D. Turner, Christine E. Smith & Jason C. Ong. Is purpose in life associated with less sleep disturbance in older adults? Sleep Science and Practice volume 1, Article number: 14 (2017)
https://sleep.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s41606-017-0015-6
7 Bravo, D. Errázuriz, A. Campos, Mental Health Thermometer in Chile, Fifth Round. Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile (UC), UC Center for Longitudinal Studies, Chilean Association of Security (ACHS). June 28, 2022. Page 23. https://www.achs.cl/docs/librariesprovider2/noticias-2022/achs-127833/tms-ronda-5-conferencia.pdf