5 key factors that determine your well-being

If you’re seeking a complete picture of the health of an individual or of groups of people, it’s important to look at more than just physical health. Of course, physical health—whether one is generally fit and healthy or is managing a chronic disease or condition—plays a major role in one’s daily well-being and longevity.

But four other important factors contribute to overall well-being as well. These include:

• A sense of purpose in daily life
• Access to a supportive social network
• Financial well-being
• Healthy community bonds and resources

Together, these five pillars of health produce a more holistic—and accurate—picture of a person’s well-being. 

Having a sense of purpose in life means you feel directed and motivated by your goals and values. This feeling can have a strong physically protective effect on your health. For example, having a higher sense of purpose is linked to a lowered risk of cardiovascular disease, according to a 2023 review in Current Cardiology Reports. 

It may also help you during hard times. College students who had a strong sense of purpose were able to weather the difficulties and stressors of the COVID-19 pandemic with more resilience and persistence than those lacking purpose, found a 2022 study published in the Journal of College Student Retention.

A sense of life purpose may even help you live longer, according to the authors of a 2022 study in Preventive Medicine. Researchers followed more than 13,000 adults over eight years. They found that across all race/ethnicity and sex/gender groups, a sense of purpose lowered the risk of death from all causes.

Want to stay healthy? Reach out to friends, family, and neighbors on a regular basis. Social connectedness not only leads to improved well-being, but also better health and a longer life, says the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). In fact, strong bonds with others can raise the likelihood of survival by 50 percent. Even if you have a chronic condition, social connectedness can lower your risk of death from that health issue. Feeling connected to others can also help lower the risk for strokes, dementia, anxiety, depression, and heart disease.

How do you know if you have a healthy level of social connectedness? The CDC provides a short list of how to measure your social health. It includes:

• How many relationships you have and how varied they are
• How regularly you have meaningful social exchanges
• Whether you have more than just one person who’s able to offer you emotional or physical support

It’s also important to feel a sense of social belonging and to feel valued and appreciated by the people in your life.

Where you live shouldn’t just be about the quality of schools, the length of your commute, or amenities in the area. Being part of a nurturing community can keep you healthy, too. A neighborhood with safe, well-maintained streets and accessibility to healthy food, shops, restaurants, and places of interest may allow you to walk or bike more, which further boosts your physical health and social bonds.

According to the CDC, some of the most vital well-being factors in a community include equitable, safe access to:

• Public transportation
• Community-based programs and activities
• Virtual (online) programs
• Green spaces and walking paths
• Parks or recreation centers

Those last two points—the amount of greenery and recreation spaces in your neighborhood—can especially boost your well-being. According to the U.S. Forest Service, research shows that natural, green environments lower stress levels, which means lowered heart rates and levels of cortisol (a hormone associated with the stress response). Green spaces can also raise focus and attention. And in certain neighborhoods, transforming vacant lots into green spaces can lower residents’ feelings of depression as well as reduce crime.

Money can’t buy happiness, goes the old saying. But for some people that’s not entirely true. A recent popular notion held that once income rose above $75,000, happiness levels related to personal finance would plateau. But it seems that idea was the result of errors with data, according to the authors of a 2022 analysis published in Psychological and Cognitive Sciences. In fact, happiness levels appear to rise steadily with salary amounts, making a sharper rise at about $100,000 and continuing to rise up to at least $500,000.

The opposite appears to be true, too. Having debt may contribute to lowered well-being. The American Public Health Association states that debt is an increasing threat to public health. It can cause high blood pressure, anxiety, depression, and higher stress levels overall. General financial stress and worry can cause psychological distress, especially in people without socioeconomic advantages, according to a 2023 study published in the Journal of Family and Economic Issues.

Of course, it’s essential to manage any diseases or conditions you have if you want to improve your well-being and longevity. It’s also important to remember that mental health plays a pivotal role in one’s physical health.

According to the CDC, mental and physical health have equal importance for managing overall health, since mental illness can increase the risk of physical health issues. For example, having depression raises the risk of stroke, heart disease, and diabetes. By the same token, having chronic physical conditions can raise the risk of mental health issues.

Staying physically active is known to help maintain mental health. A 2022 study published in Translational Psychiatry found some evidence for why. It seems that both mental health and physical activity may share networks and architecture in the brain, causing them to directly affect each other.

To maintain well-being over time, remember to practice these key healthy habits every day:

Exercise: The CDC recommends getting at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise or 75 minutes of vigorous activity five days a week. Moderate exercises include brisk walking, yardwork, or leisurely biking, while vigorous activities include jogging, swimming laps, and competitive sports like soccer or basketball. More is better: The benefits of exercise keep rising even after you achieve the minimum number of weekly minutes.

Diet: As much as possible, eat a diet that emphasizes a “rainbow” of colorful fruits and vegetables, whole grains, lean protein sources, and moderate amounts of healthy fats from seafood and plant sources (like nuts, seeds, and vegetable oils). Keep added sugars, sodium, and trans and saturated fats (those found in meats, fried foods, and full-fat dairy products) to a minimum.

Sleep: Most adults should aim for seven to nine hours of sleep each day. An adequate night’s rest enables your body to rebuild and recover.

Manage stress: Chronic stress can diminish the beneficial effects of an otherwise healthy lifestyle. Remember to make time each day for a little calmness, whether through deep breathing, meditation, or simple moments of reflection.