Having a reason to wake up in the morning seems to help a person stay asleep.
People with a strong sense of purpose are more likely to have a better night’s rest, according to a new study. Purposeful individuals proved to be less likely to suffer from insomnia, sleep apnea, and restless leg syndrome.
The study, conducted by Northwestern University researchers, surveyed 800 participants between the ages of 60 and 100. They were asked a range of questions that determined how they felt about their meaning in life as well as the quality of their sleep, according to the Guardian.
Lead researcher Jason Ong believes the findings, published in the journal Sleep Science and Practice, are encouraging for people who want to improve their quality of sleep without relying on medication.
“Helping people cultivate a purpose in life could be an effective drug-free strategy to improve sleep quality, particularly for a population that is facing more insomnia,” Ong said.
Insomnia and other sleep disorder are more common in older adults, but Ong hopes his research will be expanded to include young people as well.
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