People often think of sleep as a luxury, but in reality it is a necessity. Your body needs sleep to function properly. “Sleep is more than just rest; it’s about restoring the brain, spine and nervous system. Poor sleep can affect concentration, memory, mood, pain sensitivity, inflammation and how well the body recovers. Good sleep helps your brain and body function better the next day,” said Dr. Jagannathan. He also emphasized the importance of following basic rules for restful sleep. Here are some simple techniques that your doctor recommends.