Create your own happiness with a routine

Do you have trouble sleeping? Are you bothered by aches and pains? Do you feel grumpy more often than not? If your answer to any of these is yes, a new study may prove helpful to you. Researchers from the University of Missouri say having and sticking to a predictable daily routine can help reduce pain, improve mood and support healthier aging. Their study found that older adults who followed regular daily schedules, including those who experienced insomnia, reported less physical pain and fewer symptoms of depression. With about half of adults age 60 or older known to experience insomnia, the researchers wanted to know more about how a lack of sleep can affect a person’s daily life. In general, it’s known that those with insomnia can struggle to focus. They delved into a survey of people with a median age of 68. About half the respondents reported having trouble sleeping. The other half described themselves as good sleepers. As the researchers expected, those with insomnia generally reported more pain and stronger symptoms of depression. However, they found that those who followed regular daily schedules reported less physical pain and fewer depression symptoms. Researchers found that consistent routines were equally helpful for good sleepers and those who didn’t sleep as well. They said sticking with a routine for waking up, eating, socializing and sleeping may help regulate our bodies’ internal clocks. Keeping one’s circadian rhythms on an even keel seems to lead to better health. And since we all spend about a third of our lives in slumber, setting a routine for waking up and going to sleep would be a good place to start.