How Feeling A Sense Of Purpose Influence's Physical Activity, According To Research

There's plenty of good to come of exercising more: Beyond just the physical health benefits, it can contribute to greater happiness, and now evidence suggests that there's a link between working out and finding meaning and purpose in our lives.

Over the course of a nine-year follow-up, the researchers found two things. Firstly, "people with a greater sense of purpose in life may be more likely to engage in physical activity," write Yemiscigil and Vlaev. "At the same time, physical activity can contribute to a sense of purpose in life." All that to say, those that felt more attached to a purpose were more active, and those that were more active were more likely to feel a sense of purpose.

This connection between a sense of purpose and physical activity, which is termed a "bidirectional relationship" in the paper, was specifically found in samples of middle-aged and older adults. Of course, the positive impacts of physical activity on overall mental well-being are well researched. As referenced by the authors of this study, a 2018 meta-analysis concluded that the evidence of 49 studies supports the fact that physical activity can help to prevent depression in some cases.

"As life expectancy increases, the proportion of older adults in the population is expected to rise," write the authors in the conclusion. "However, later stages of life are marked by a more sedentary lifestyle and tend to show declines in certain aspects of psychological well-being, such as sense of purpose in life."

Given the findings, it's reasonable to say that engaging in increasing either of these things in one's life can positively impact the other—so perhaps, finding a way to engage a little more with each would come naturally. Of course, it's easier to think of ways to ease into increased physical activity—everything from walking to low-impact workouts to yoga flows can be accessible actions to add to your daily routine. But the prospect of identifying purpose might be a good bit more overwhelming.