The sleepmaxxing trend uses hacks and gadgets to optimize sleep, but experts warn this obsession with 'perfect' sleep can lead to orthosomnia, negatively impacting actual rest. Prioritizing fundamental sleep hygiene is recommended over chasing ideal sleep scores.

The sleepmaxxing trend uses hacks and gadgets to optimize sleep, but experts warn this obsession with 'perfect' sleep can lead to orthosomnia, negatively impacting actual rest. Prioritizing fundamental sleep hygiene is recommended over chasing ideal sleep scores.

The sleepmaxxing trend uses hacks and gadgets to optimize sleep, but experts warn this obsession with 'perfect' sleep can lead to orthosomnia, negatively impacting actual rest. Prioritizing fundamental sleep hygiene is recommended over chasing ideal sleep scores.

Sleep is essential for good health, but the latest wellness trend, sleepmaxxing, is raising questions about whether our quest for better sleep is actually keeping us awake.

What is sleepmaxxing?

It refers to the practice of using different hacks, gadgets, routines and products to optimise sleep quality and duration. From sleep trackers and blackout curtains to mouth taping, supplements, cooling devices and elaborate bedtime routines, this social media trend promises the perfect night's sleep. But experts warn that trying too hard to achieve 'perfect' sleep can sometimes have the opposite effect.

The following are some of the tips suggested for maximising sleep as per the trend:

  • taping your mouth shut while sleeping
  • not drinking anything during the two hours before bedtime
  • a cold room temperature
  • a dark bedroom
  • using a white noise machine
  • not setting a morning alarm
  • showering one hour before bedtime
  • eliminating caffeine
  • eating kiwis before going to bed
  • taking magnesium and melatonin
  • using weighted blankets
  • getting 30 minutes of sunlight every day
  • meditating daily for 30 minutes.

When does the trend become problematic?

The problem begins when healthy sleep hygiene turns into an obsession; sometimes gadgets too have a role in it. Instead of simple sleep, people may start monitoring every detail — how quickly they fell asleep, how much deep sleep they got and whether their 'sleep score' improved. It can get serious when a wearable reports a 'poor' night's sleep despite the person feeling rested.

As per a BBC report, doctors have noticed signs of orthosomnia in patients, a term used to describe an excessive obsession with achieving perfect sleep, often driven by sleep-tracker data. This can in turn affect the individual's sleep quality.

"With more and more people able to access daily data about their sleep and other health metrics through consumer wearables, even a person who is objectively sleeping well can become unnecessarily concerned with optimizing their sleep. While prioritizing restful sleep is commendable, setting perfection as your goal is problematic. Even good sleepers vary from night to night, experiencing less than desirable sleep a couple of times per week," mentioned Harvard.

Rather than chasing an ideal sleep score, focus on the basics: maintain a regular sleep and wake time, create a comfortable bedroom environment, limit caffeine and alcohol close to bedtime, and develop a relaxing wind-down routine.

For more, consult a health expert. 

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