Sleep is something we all need, but let’s be honest—most teenagers do not get enough of it. Between school, sports, homework, and hanging out with friends, sleep usually ends up last on the list. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says teens should get 8 to 10 hours of sleep every night, but most high schoolers get way less than that (CDC.gov).

Not sleeping enough can mess with your brain. Sleep is when your brain organizes everything you learned that day. So if you stay up late studying, you might actually remember less the next day. It also affects your mood. I know when I don’t sleep well, I feel cranky, annoyed, or just totally drained. The National Sleep Foundation says lack of sleep can even make teens feel more stressed, anxious, or down (sleepfoundation.org).

Sleep is also important for your body. It helps you fight off sickness, and it’s when your muscles recover, which is huge if you play sports. If you’re always tired, you’ll probably notice you get sick easier or don’t have as much energy. One thing doctors recommend is putting phones and video games away an hour before bed. I know that sounds tough, but scrolling through TikTok at midnight makes it way harder to actually fall asleep.

At the end of the day, sleep is like charging your phone. If you don’t plug it in, it dies. The same goes for us—if we don’t get enough sleep, we can’t function. So even though it’s hard with busy schedules, aiming for those 8 to 10 hours really makes a difference.