Remember when you used to have a "bedtime?" The older you got, the worse it was to have to climb into bed at the same time every night, when all you wanted to do was stay up like a big kid. Being able to control when you sleep—that was the coolest thought in the world.

Then it happened, probably sometime in high school. We all did it; you procrastinate too long on an assignment, and end up going to bed at midnight, and then at one, and then two in the morning. Lucky for me, I have only had a handful of nights like that in my life. But for some, this is all too common.

By now we all know that the average teen needs to get eight to ten hours of sleep every night. Studies have reported that as little as 15 percentof teens report getting that very important recommended amount.

I have seen the effects of sleep deprivation in person; several of my friends have trouble functioning normally during the day, and that impacts their ability to learn, not to mention their diets. It can start out as a few harmless, and sleepless, nights, but many sleep disorders start this way. Insomnia is a huge problem among young people, and can often go undiagnosed.

One of the truest things I have learned so far in my life: Being tired sucks. That's why I think we should all start to think like kids again. At least, in this regard. Being a kid was awesome, anyway. So why not?

Maybe we should give ourselves a bedtime again. It might sound crazy, but sleep is so vital to so many parts of a person's health. If you want to be alert, awake, and most importantly to me, happy, set a time for yourself to close those eyes and relax.