Sleep isn't a luxury. It isn't something to sacrifice for productivity. It isn't "doing nothing." Sleep is active recovery—the time when your body repairs tissues, consolidates memory, regulates hormones, and processes the physical and emotional experiences of the day. And yet, an estimated one-third of Americans don't get enough of it. Learn why restorative sleep is essential for healing and how to actually improve your sleep quality. Why Sleep Matters for Pain and Healing I