The personality traits that may protect your health
| | | | Happy first day of February, everyone! There are now a mere 48 days left until the spring equinox. We got this. | | Today, we're taking a break from hibernating to talk about a new study on the connection between your personality and your health. Learn why one part zest and one part self-control may be the best recipe for staying physically healthy, plus which personality traits are most closely linked to a strong sense of purpose. | | Here's what else we have in store: | | | | | • | your secrets for a zestful life | | | Stay sharp,
Ginger Wojcik
Newsletter Editor, Healthline | | | | |
| |  | | Written by Ginger Wojcik
February 1, 2023 • 6 min read | | | | | | | |
| |  | | | When life gives you lemons, make zest | When you think about the factors that most affect your health, your personality may not immediately spring to mind. But as a driving force behind your behavior, your personality has a startling share of control over many areas of your health. So which traits stand out? According to a new study, zest, self-regulation, hope, and gratitude were the strongest predictors of overall health.
The 59,985-person international study measured participants' health across seven categories: - exercise
- diet
- social activity
- self-care
- smoking
- alcohol consumption
- life purpose
Which character strengths were most closely associated with healthy behaviors like a balanced diet and regular exercise? Coming in first was zest, which the authors defined roughly as vitality, vigor, and an eagerness to engage in work and life. A strong sense of self-control followed closely behind.
On the other hand, hope, spirituality, and zest had the strongest associations with life purpose, which the authors marked as an "important psychological indicator of quality of life and well-being."
Zest comes up a lot in the character strength conversation. There's ample evidence that having zest can do you all sorts of good in life. Large studies in 2007 and 2009 found that zest went hand-in-hand with job satisfaction, while other research linked it to a reduced risk of depression. This raises the question: How are you supposed to zest up your life if you don't have an innate zester?
While it is possible to change your personality, there doesn't appear to be a systemized, user-friendly way to do so. (Findings from a 2021 Swiss study showed a smartphone app was effective for personality change, but the app was only developed as a research tool.)
While you may not be able to totally transform your identity, research suggests you can change little (impactful!) things, like habits, behaviors, and your outlook on life, with consistent effort and encouragement. If you're concerned about the effect your personality has on your health, reaching out to a mental health professional may be a good place to start.
tl;dr: A new international study gives fresh insight into the link between personality and health. After measuring almost 60,000 people's health through exercise, diet, social activity, self-care, smoking, alcohol consumption, and life purpose, the findings suggest that zest, self-regulation, hope, and gratitude were the strongest predictors of overall health. Want to learn about which parts of your personality can and can't charge for better well-being? Click here. | | | | | | |
| | | | Editor faves with health perks | | You know those great finds you just *have* to tell your friends about? That's how we feel about the products we recommend here. Every pick has been vetted by our editorial team, and we genuinely think it'll make your life better. | | | | | | |  | | America the Beautiful National Parks and Federal Lands Pass | | Nothing gives me a feeling of zest and vigor like spending time in the wilderness. In fact, spending time in nature can improve your sleep, breathing, mental health, and more. This is why I'm so excited to share the USGS America the Beautiful pass. | | For 80 bucks, you'll score 12 months of unlimited access to the United States' 423 national parks, plus hundreds more federal recreation areas (2,000 places in total!). Each pass is good for one carload of people, making it an even better deal if you're visiting with friends or family. Explore the USGS site to see the list of agencies that accept the pass and which public spaces you'll be able to visit. | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | Look who's talking | "… These few months away from the sport has really given me a new love and appreciation for the game I've dedicated my life to. I realize that life is so short and I don't take any moments for granted, everyday is a new blessing and adventure. I know that I have so much to look forward to in the future, one thing I'm looking forward to is for my kid to watch one of my matches and tell someone, "that's my mom," haha. 2023 will be a year that'll be full of lessons for me and I hope I'll see you guys in the start of the next one cause I'll be at Aus 2024. Love you all infinity ❤️"
– Naomi Osaka | | | | | | | In early January, 25-year-old tennis superstar Naomi Osaka posted to Instagram to announce that she was pregnant. Osaka is well known as one of tennis' most exciting young stars and a fierce advocate for mental health. In 2021, she brought attention to the mental health challenges facing pro athletes after her refusal to do a press conference led to her withdrawal from the French Open. Per her post, Osaka plans to return to competition in 2024. | | | | | | | |
| |  | | | Sunsets and sunrises are better than blue skies, according to science | This just in: Nature scenes that include sunrises and sunsets are "substantially" more beautiful and awe-inducing than those with boring old blue skies, according to new research. Participants were willing to pay 10% more to experience a scene at sunrise than they were for one during the middle of a clear day. (Though whether they'd still pay more knowing they had to wake up before dawn wasn't made clear.)
The authors noted that awe isn't any old emotion. Not only is awe hard to come by (other than the twice-daily occurrence of the sun rising and setting, that is), it can boost our mood and help us connect with others.
In fact, they believe the study's findings could be useful for how nature is used in the treatment of mental health conditions. Other classic crowd-pleasers, such as rainbows, thunderstorms, and starry and moonlit skies, also scored high in the "wow" factor category.
Indeed, spending time in the great outdoors may be just what the doctor ordered. This is especially true if you live in Canada, where doctors can now prescribe outdoor time via a free pass to the country's national parks. Those of us in the United States can skip the script and buy our own national park therapy with one of the America the Beautiful passes referenced above. | | | | | | |
| | | | | | The biggest source of zest in my own life is my 1-year-old dog, Flaca, whose bottomless appetite for life reminds me multiple times a day that each moment is, indeed, extraordinary. Eating cheese, running into a friend on the street, sprinting as fast as you possibly can –– Flaca takes none of it for granted and bounds into every moment as if it were her last. Yes, all that joy can be exhausting, but since Flaca came into my life, I've had considerably more enthusiasm and energy for life. | | OK, now it's your turn to spill. | | We want to know: What's your secret to living life with zest? Let us know at wellnesswire@healthline.com. (Please note that we may share your name and response in an upcoming newsletter!) | | | | | | |
| | | | Last week, we asked you all for tips on using electric stoves. Sue H. wrote in to sing the praises of induction ranges. Here's an excerpt:
In 2008 we overhauled the kitchen and put in a GE Profile range with an induction top. It was the best move we ever made. The heat is extremely fast. One burner will boil a few gallons of cold water in 6 minutes or less. If I need to continue cooking with a burner that has boiled over, I can put a towel right next to the pan to sop up the mess without getting burned. The stovetop is extremely responsive to the controls which operate smoothly. Yes, I bought some special German pans, but they will last several lifetimes. I realize that it is a bit more costly, but in the end much time, energy, and elbow grease is saved.
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| | | | | | | Until next time, |  | Take care of yourself, and we'll see
you again soon! | | |  | | |  | | This edition was powered by | | tiny, unexpected moments of awe. | | | | | | | View in browser
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