Researchers find simple habit to improve physical and mental health - Medical Xpress

What the report says

Medical Xpress reported on July 28, 2026, that University of Missouri researchers found an association between steady daily routines and better physical and mental well-being, especially among older adults experiencing insomnia. The study, published in the Journal of Behavioral Medicine, examined whether regular “behavioral-social rhythms” — such as consistent times for waking, eating, working or studying, social contact and bedtime — were linked to pain, depression and other health measures.

According to the report, Eunjin Tracy, an assistant professor in the university’s College of Education and Human Development, analyzed survey data from 67 older adults, 37 of whom had insomnia. Participants with insomnia reported more pain and more depressive symptoms, which the article said was expected. Across the group, those who described more consistent daily routines tended to report lower pain and fewer depressive symptoms, regardless of sleep quality.

The researchers suggested that regular time cues may support the body’s circadian rhythm, the roughly 24-hour internal clock involved in sleep, mood and other biological processes. Medical Xpress also noted the concept of “social jet lag,” in which different weekday and weekend schedules can disrupt that rhythm.

The findings matter because insomnia symptoms are common in later life; the article cited the National Council on Aging as saying roughly half of adults age 60 and older report such symptoms. The study does not establish that routines directly cause reduced pain or depression, and it was based on a relatively small survey sample. Still, it points to a low-cost habit that may be worth considering alongside other medical and behavioral approaches to sleep and healthy aging.