Working hard for no other purpose than just to survive until the next payday is no way to live, and apparently, researchers agree, reports The Huffington Post. Studying 6,000 people including their self-reported level of purpose for a period of 14 years, they found that having "a direction for life, and setting overarching goals for what you want to achieve can help you actually live longer, regardless of when you find your purpose. “

According to the study, this benefit remains valid regardless of factors such as retirement status and positive relations and emotions. "These findings suggest that there's something unique about finding a purpose that seems to be leading to greater longevity," says lead researcher Patrick Hill.

(Photo by maureen_sill via Flickr Creative Commons)