What Really Happens When You Sleep
Sleep might feel like shutting down, but your brain and body are hard at work. Each night, you cycle through stages of sleep that help you restore energy, repair cells, process memories, and regulate your mood. Deep sleep helps your body recover and grow, while dreaming sleep (REM) supports learning and emotional balance. Without enough of the right kinds of sleep, your brain and body can’t function at their best. Learning what happens during sleep can help you understand why good sleep is so important—and how to get more of it.
What Your Brain and Body Do While You Sleep
Key Things to Know About Sleep
💤 Sleep happens in cycles, moving through light, deep, and REM (dream) stages every 90–120 minutes.
🧠 During deep sleep, your brain clears waste and helps store memories from the day.
💪 Your body repairs tissues, builds muscle, and strengthens the immune system while you sleep.
🧬 Growth hormone is released during deep sleep, helping with recovery and regeneration.
🌙 REM sleep supports learning, problem-solving, and emotional processing.
🔄 Missing out on deep or REM sleep—even if you get “enough” hours—can leave you feeling tired, moody, and forgetful.
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