Fascinating things your body does while you're sleeping

Getting enough sleep is important for many reasons—it slows down the aging process, lowers anxiety levels, boosts your mood, helps you maintain a healthy weight, and much more. But what is actually going on during the night? You may be surprised to learn that your brain doesn’t shut down during sleep. It’s actually working in overdrive.

If you’re not getting enough sleep—the National Sleep Foundation recommends adults 18 to 64 get seven to nine hours per night—you may be missing out on essential restorative time that helps you look, feel, and think better. Here’s what your body is doing while you’re sleeping, why these stages of sleep are important, and how to get more shut-eye.