You are getting sleepy. Your eyelids have transformed into 100 pound weights; your mouth opens up like a lion and lets out one silent roar after another. Gravity is pushing down hard on your entire body. Your neck begins to give into demanding pressure. Your head begins to look like the Leaning Tower of Pisa. Sounds become distant echoes as you fade into the silent whispers of the zzzzz's.

WAKE UP! WAKE UP! WAKE UP! You hear the words trespass through your slumber. They are so loud that your eyelids startle to consciousness. You notice a big black pen staring at you and a luminous computer light glaring in the background. Suddenly, the cozy white pillow you dreamed you were lying on becomes stacks of paper on your desk. You heart races to your throat, and you jump out of your seat. You are at work and your boss is not happy.

Unfortunately, in today's everyday hustle and bustle of modern life, sleep time is usually the first to be cut out of your busy schedule. According to the National Commission on Sleep Disorders, 40 million Americans are chronically ill with various sleep disorders. When you deprive yourself of sleep, your judgment, reaction time, and other functions are impaired. Sleep deprivation can lead to severe consequences, including losing your job, failing out of school, and -- the most dangerous of all -- falling asleep behind the wheel and causing an accident.

If you don't take the time to snooze, your health will lose. Different factors affect the amount of sleep each person needs, including age, health, and physical exertion. For most adults, seven to eight hours a night is a sufficient amount of sleep. Not only will getting proper shut-eye help you stay clear of dangerous accidents, but it will also help you look younger, get stronger and stay mentally alert. Here are the top 10 healthiest reasons you should make room for sack time, and tuck yourself in for a change.

1. Fewer Colds and Flus
2. Weight Management
3. Increased Muscle Growth and Repair
4. Better Skin
5. Increased Energy
6. Better Memory
7. Improved Mood
8. Better Sex
9. Better Stress Management
10. Faster Recuperation