What's Your Life Purpose? Knowing May Help You Sleep at Night by Mei Marcie

How can you sleep better at night? Instead of focusing on the link between what you consume before bedtime, the researchers from Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine in Chicago set out to examine the link between having a sense of purpose in one's life and the quality of one's sleep.

Researchers examined 825 individuals between the ages of 60 and 100 years – 77 percent were female and over half were African-American. The participants were given questionnaires with statements such as, "Some people wander aimlessly through life, but I am not one of them." These participants were then clinically followed for two years and were assessed for sleep apnea and Restless Leg Syndrome (RLS). 

It was found that people who felt a sense of purpose had a 63 percent lower chance of developing sleep apnea and a 52 percent lower risk of RLS. Physicians were thus encouraged to look into ways beyond medication on helping those with sleep disturbances, including cultivating mindfulness and working on a sense of purpose in life. The study was published in the journal Sleep Science and Practice.

It may be time to take another look at those New Year's resolutions, because acting on them may help you sleep at night! 

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