Shakespeare said sleep "knits up the raveled sleeve of care." What he meant was that sleep repairs the body. When you are ill, the first thing doctors prescribe is rest. Sleep allows the body to do the work of healing wounds, maintaining all the inner organs, and keeping skin refreshed. Skin care experts say that getting enough sleep is one of the main strategies for healthy, young-looking skin. Sleep also allows the mind to rest and to unburden itself of all the worries accumulated during the day. It also allows us to dream, which is vitally important for our well-being. Dreaming is traditionally associated with the deepest sleep, REM sleep, which studies show is the most refreshing and satisfying sleep, allowing us to deeply relax and wake up at our mental and physical peak.

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