Having something to get up for is the key to a good night’s sleep

So, with long working hours and late weekends, you'll be hard pushed to find a 20-something that isn't dozing off during their Monday morning commute.

We're always searching for ways to get more shut-eye, yet we refuse to let our fast-paced lifestyles suffer.

Well, a new study may have uncovered the secret to getting a good night's sleep and it's all to do with the reasons you get up every morning.

Researchers asked participants to answer a 10-question survey on purpose in life and a 32-question survey on sleep and found that people who felt that had purpose were less likely to suffer from sleep-related problems over along period.

It should be noted that the study looked at the sleeping habits of older adults, however, researchers belive the findings are likely to apply to other age groups.

Lead scientist Dr Jason Ong, from Northwestern University in the US, said: ‘Helping people cultivate a purpose in life could be an effective drug-free strategy to improve sleep quality, particularly for a population that is facing more insomnia.”

"Purpose in life is something that can be cultivated and enhanced through mindfulness therapies."

The study of 823 adults found that those who felt they had a good reason to get up everyday were 63 per cent less likely to experience sleep apnoea and 52 per cent less likely to have restless le syndrome.

What's more, results showed that overall sleep quality was higher in those who were satisfied with their quality of life.

Researchers hope to follow on from this study with an investigation into whether or not improving perceived purpose in life through mindfulness therapy can lead to better sleep.

So, if you're finding it hard to get your eight hours, you might need to give up more than just those five cups of coffee you drink everyday.