Why Making Sleep a Priority Can Change Your Health

We all know eating well and staying active matter, but sleep often gets pushed aside. The truth is, sleep isn’t a luxury—it’s essential for your brain, body, and emotions. Health experts say not getting enough sleep is a widespread issue that’s hurting our well-being more than most people realise.

Just How Common Is Poor Sleep?

Research shows roughly 70% of people don’t get the sleep their bodies need. Millions of adults and kids struggle with sleep problems, meaning less rest and more health issues. Kids today sleep about two hours less than a century ago, which shows just how much things have changed.

Why Does Sleep Matter So Much?

Sleep is when your body takes care of business:

• Cleaning out the brain: Your brain clears out waste and supports memory—a lack of sleep makes it harder to focus and remember things.

  • Heart and immune boost: With enough sleep, your heart and immune system run smoothly. Without it, you’re more likely to get sick and feel run-down.

  • Mood control: Sleep helps you manage stress and emotions. When you’re tired, it’s easy to get irritated or overwhelmed.

Sleep Helps You Learn

Getting enough sleep at night helps you remember what you learned during the day. Whether it’s new facts for a test, skills for your job, or just people’s names, sleep locks that info in and makes it easier to recall later.

Kids and Teens Need Even More Sleep

Sleep is especially important for growing minds and bodies. Lack of sleep can lead to behavior problems, mental health issues, and trouble at school. Teens, in particular, need more rest because their body clocks naturally shift later, making early wake-up times tough.

Some schools are moving to later start times, and students are seeing better grades and better moods, proving how powerful good sleep can be.

Common Sleep Wreckers

Most people hurt their sleep with habits like drinking too much caffeine, scrolling on screens before bed, or having irregular bedtimes. Bright lights and late-night snacks make it harder to fall asleep. Sticking to a set routine and cutting back on caffeine and screens at night can help a lot.

What About Napping?

Naps—especially those around 90 minutes—can give your brain a boost when you’re running low, but they shouldn’t take the place of a full night’s rest.

How Much Sleep Is Enough?

Most adults do well with 7–9 hours each night, while kids need closer to 10–12 hours. If you wake up feeling refreshed and can get through the day without nodding off, you’re on the right track.

How Can We Make Sleep a Priority?

• Support later school or work start times

• Teach about sleep in schools and workplaces

• Stop treating sleeping in as laziness

In a Nutshell

Sleep is just as important as diet and exercise—even more in some ways. Make it a habit, treat it as non-negotiable, and your body and mind will thank you.