Feeling a sense of purpose in life can be shaped by the small activities people engage in every day, from spending time with others to staying active and pursuing hobbies.

A study led by Professor Angelina Sutin, Ph.D., and Assistant Professor Martina Luchetti, Ph.D., examined how everyday activities shape feelings of purpose by following 303 middle-aged adults over eight days. Results showed that participants reported higher purpose on days when they socialized in person, exercised, cared for children, worked on hobbies, or completed tasks around the house. Among these activities, in-person interaction had the strongest association with daily purpose, while digital socializing showed little to no effect.

The study also found that boredom was strongly linked to lower feelings of purpose, and individuals with a stronger long-term sense of purpose were much less likely to feel bored overall. Interestingly, activities often associated with meaning, such as working for pay, volunteering, or meditation, were not consistently tied to feeling more purposeful on a daily basis. 

Overall, the research suggests that active, socially engaging and meaningful everyday experiences may help strengthen a person’s sense of direction and meaning in life.