IntroductionMost people believe that stress is only caused by everyday actions such as working on a difficult exam, getting caught in traffic on the way to work, or even simply forgetting the phone at home. While there are more studied ways to stress out (like leaving things for the last minute or having a long argument with someone), it's less well known that lack of sleep can cause significant stress to the human body and mind. , leading to cognitive impairment (Giese et al., 2013). According to the National Sleep Foundation, adults over the age of 18 should get 7 to 8 hours of sleep per night, while pre-adults ages 5 to 17 should get 8.5 to 11 hours of rest (National Sleep Foundation ). Despite these numbers, as many as 40 million Americans may suffer from some form of sleep disorder and sleep deprivation, costing approximately $15.9 billion in healthcare spending (Walsh and Engelhardt, 1999). These numbers are significant in starting a discussion about ways to help those suffering from sleep deprivation symptoms. Sleep deprivation affects both children and adults similarly. Lack of sleep leads to irritability, decreased motivation, and higher levels of cortisol in the body in both age groups (Maggio et al., 2013). Cortisol is a hormone that helps the body use sugars and fats for energy and helps manage stress levels (Merriam-Webster Dictionary). When someone doesn't sleep for an adequate amount of time, the levels of these hormones increase, causing a perpetual cycle of stress and lack of sleep. One study found that poor sleep among residents led to negative reactions to daily life events (Williams et al., 2013). Nowadays, everything has to be done quickly, efficiently and well. Can… half of paper… their beds affect the quality and quantity of sleep. Another factor to take into consideration is that in this study, participants were asked to self-report their sleep habits. It would perhaps be useful for future studies if participants slept in the laboratory and remained there during the day as well. This study is vital not only for college students, but also for older adults and even teenagers because it will help them understand why they are unable to perform at their best after repeatedly getting enough sleep. It is vital that people know why sleep is so crucial to living a healthy life and the long-term effects it can have on one's life. High schools and colleges could also use the results of this study to find ways to educate students to take care of themselves so they can succeed not only in school, but also in life..