Fast-forward to the present, and the importance of sleep has only intensified. Research has shown that a good night's sleep is essential for physical and mental well-being. During sleep, our bodies repair and regenerate tissues, build bone and muscle, and strengthen our immune systems. Our brains, too, benefit from the quiet hours of slumber, as they process and consolidate memories, clear out toxins, and recharge for the challenges of the day ahead.

We often joke about being tired, but chronic inability to "sleep tight" is a public health crisis. The CDC has declared insufficient sleep a public health epidemic. If you wake up every morning feeling like you’ve been hit by a truck, you aren't just "bad at sleeping." You are suffering from the physiological consequences of shallow rest.

Here is what happens inside your brain when you fail to sleep tight for just one week: