Ah, sleep. A sometimes-elusive, but absolutely necessary bodily function with a seemingly endless number of benefits for physical, mental and emotional health. And still, many don’t prioritize it as they should. In case you need convincing of the importance of proper rest, we’ve compiled a list of the top three reasons that better sleep should be at the top of your to-do list for a healthier mind and body.

Whether it be a candle or a lightbulb, humans have historically found a multitude of ways to get around the darkness that nighttime brings. And now, we have more distractions than ever before that bring light into the night, from cars driving past our windows to phone and laptop screens. We may be more productive, but we’re also sleeping less: in 1910, most people slept 9 hours per night; now, one-third of Americans are getting less than 7 hours of sleep on a regular basis.

Your sleep is absolutely essential for your health, so it’s important to protect. However, many times that’s easier said than done with distractions abounding at seemingly every turn, whether they come from work, family, or just life in general. But setting boundaries and maintaining good sleep habits is more important now than ever, as we all face some uncertainty with the current situation and many find restful sleep harder to come by. Here are our top tips for maintaining strong and consistent “sleep boundaries.”