A Canadian research team measured physiological markers such as inflammation and cortisol, as well as depressive symptoms, in participants who abandoned their goals compared with those who continued pursuing them. They found that people who let go of unattainable objectives showed lower levels of inflammation and cortisol. The group that persisted with unrealistic aims displayed higher scores for depressive symptoms. The pattern was observed across a broad age range, from adolescents to adults up to ninety years old. The researchers suggest that giving up on unachievable targets can benefit both mental and physical health.