The Importance of Sleep, 25 Different Ways

It is tempting to think of sleep as optional, and then to try to get more done by staying up later and sleeping less. It is a strategy that doesn’t work as well as it might seem it should. Researchers keep discovering more and more ways that sleep is important. Writing in Business Insider, Lauren F. Friedman lists:

25 Horrible Things That Happen If You Don’t Get Enough Sleep

Some of the effects on the list are the familiar problems of sleep deprivation, such as blurred vision and slowed reaction times. But many of them aren’t so obvious, and may be a good deal more serious. One surprising example: vaccines are more effective if you get a normal night of sleep afterward. The bottom line: you really don’t save time by getting less sleep than you need.