By JoAnne Belisle

Happy Better Sleep Month! Yes, it is a real month. Before you roll your eyes and dismiss the importance of this month, Better Sleep Month is a big deal because sleep has a direct impact on your health and job.  Unsurprisingly, two-thirds of young adults report having trouble sleeping.

Not getting a good night’s sleep can negatively affect your health: it is associated with weight gain, obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure, and depression. It can even cause car accidents – driving drowsy is as dangerous as driving under the influence! Feeling irritable, short-tempered, and vulnerable to stress? This could also be the result of a bad night’s sleep.

So why can’t we sleep?

For many young adults, anxiety and stress are preventing us from getting a good night’s sleep. In a recent study, young adults ages 18 to 33 had the highest levels of stress. Student loans and job stability are the biggest contributors to anxiety. Many young adults lie awake at night worrying about how they will pay off their student loan debt, find a job, or figure out health insurance.

Almost half of all young adults between the ages of 18 and 25, and a third of adults between the ages of 25 and 35 reported unintentionally falling asleep at least once during the day in the past month. With youth unemployment as high as it is – with 16.1 percent of Americans between 18 and 29 out of work last month – we can’t afford to be sleeping on the job.

That’s why YI is here, to help young people have a voice through our #Don’tDoubleMyRate campaign for student loan debt, our national jobs tour, and our @YI_Care movement to ensure young adults get informed and insured. So follow us on Facebook and twitter, get involved, and get a better night’s sleep.