Sleep is as important as breathing or eating.
In fact, people can survive longer without food than they can without sleep. Sleep is vital for giving your body a rest and allowing it to prepare for the next day. It's like giving your body a mini-vacation. Sleep also gives your brain a chance to sort things out. Scientists aren't exactly sure what kinds of organizing your brain does while you sleep, but they think that sleep may be the time when the brain sorts and stores information, replaces chemicals, and solves problems.