Why Meaningful Work Matters: How Purpose Fuels Health and Performance

Work devoid of meaning could be detrimental to your health.

Researchers paid subjects in an experiment a small amount of money to complete models with Lego blocks. For one experimental group, the completed models were immediately disassembled by the experimenters in front of the subjects; for others, the completed models were kept intact.

People in the former condition gave up more quickly than the people in the condition where their creations were not destroyed.

People who saw their creations being destroyed found their work meaningless and gave up even though they could make more money by persisting. People crave meaning in their work.

A study by Jiang, Winnie Yun, and Amy Wrzesniewski shows the debilitating effects when work is stripped of meaning in a profession that was considered deeply meaningful: journalism. Their research shows that journalists are struggling to find meaning today in their work. With the advent of corporate ownership and political control over media in many countries and the emergence of widespread fake news, truth became a casualty.

And with the ever-increasing fascination for scrolling by online readers, in-depth reviews and analyses are passe. Faced with such threats, some journalists try to cope by trying to reinvent their careers; many others leave, and a few persist, still hoping that they can restore some of the meaning.

Having a purpose that is meaningful is energizing for most people. And a meaningful life is healthier and often longer. The Japanese concept of IKIGAI is about living for something meaningful. Men and women without IKIGAI were found to have 160% higher cardiovascular disease-related mortality rates compared to those with IKIGAI, even when controlled for traditional risk factors and perceived stress.

The phenomenon of “longevity hotspots” where people live much longer is attributed to IKIGAI. Meaning in life is found correlated with increases in health and longevity across cultures, sexes, and age groups.

It is claimed that goal setting with the intention of creating a meaningful purpose in life is one of psychology’s most powerful interventions.

We tend to be most happy, persistent, productive, and high-performing when we both feel self-determined and are motivated to make a positive impact. Adam Grant’s research shows that people are more likely to persist in their passions and be successful when they find meaning in what they do.

What gives meaning to your work?

In our lives, Jonathan Haidt argues that coherence between our physical, psychological, and socio-cultural spheres creates meaning. If we just bring it down to the level of our day-to-day activities, Frank Martela shows how we can make an activity meaningful- it should contribute to something that goes beyond the activity itself, just as the Lego model builders saw meaning only when their creations were not destroyed.

Martela says that a meaningless activity such as playing a word game was felt as meaningful by the players when it was told that a donation was made to UN Food Program for every correct answer. When people indulge in activities that make a positive contribution to society beyond themselves, the activity is felt as meaningful.

Research has shown that when people pursue careers in line with what they consider “important,” they feel it is meaningful. They also found that when people find their work aligned with their “values,” such as collaboration, honesty, and equality, they find it meaningful. Studies show that pursuing goals aligned with one’s values increases well-being.

“How important is it for you to be a voter in the election scheduled tomorrow?” asking this question increased the percentage of voting by 11% compared to asking, “How important is it for you to vote?” . Bringing attention to the character and values people hold dear resulted in them acting in accordance with their values. When people find that their work aligns with their values, they find it meaningful.

Amy Wrzesniewski, a leading researcher on attitudes to work, says that people will find meaning in their work and be motivated to do it even if it is not enjoyable if it aligns with their self-concept. This means that if the work is considered in line with people's identities, it will be felt as meaningful.

So here is the quick conclusion: work will be meaningful when it aligns with your identity (what you think you are), your important values,, and when it contributes to something beyond the activity itself, i.e., something that benefits the society.

What if your work is not meaningful? After all, not everyone gets a second chance at life. We will take that up in the next one.