University of Missouri researchers announced on July 28 that maintaining a consistent daily routine can reduce physical pain and ease symptoms of depression, especially for older adults with insomnia. The new study highlights how everyday habits may have a meaningful impact on well-being.
Eunjin Tracy, an assistant professor in the College of Education and Human Development, analyzed survey data from 67 older adults, including 37 people with insomnia. The findings showed that participants with insomnia reported higher levels of pain and depression. However, those who maintained consistent daily routines tended to report lower levels of both.
Tracy said the relationship between routine and improved well-being may be due to the way regular schedules help synchronize the body's internal clock. "When we regulate our circadian rhythm well, our bodies function well, but if it gets too distracted, our bodies don't function as well," Tracy said.
Even minor disruptions to daily schedules can disturb the body's internal clock—a phenomenon sometimes called social jet lag. Tracy said keeping a consistent routine throughout the week helps minimize these disruptions. "As someone who wakes up and goes to bed at the same time every day, I think a daily routine can be helpful for people of all ages across their lifespan," she said.
Tracy added: "There is growing awareness about the concept of social jet lag—waking up and going to bed at different times on weekends compared to weekdays—and the disruptions it causes to our circadian rhythm, so hopefully this research helps more people consider the health benefits of a daily routine. Since one-third of our lives will be spent sleeping, I think health and well-being research should be looked at holistically from a 24-hour perspective and not just focus on when we are awake." The study was published in the Journal of Behavioral Medicine.
