A new trend is sweeping across TikTok, and it’s not another dance challenge—it’s sleepmaxxing. Part self-care movement, part tech-fueled biohacking, sleepmaxxing is all about optimizing your sleep to get the most rest, recovery, and performance out of every night.
According to Healthline, sleepmaxxing involves using a combination of strategies, gadgets, and lifestyle changes to improve sleep quality. From blackout curtains and melatonin gummies to more extreme tactics like mouth-taping and blue light-blocking sunglasses, the goal is to improve sleep and overall rest. But as with many social media trends, health experts say while there may be some health benefits to these so-called hacks, some may be unhealthy for your nighttime bed routine.
The Rise of Sleep Trackers and Tech
Many sleepmaxxers swear by sleep-tracking apps and wearables. These tools can offer helpful insights into your habits, highlighting how factors like caffeine, stress, or screen time may be impacting your rest. But experts caution that obsessing over data can backfire. Dr. Rafael Pelayo, a clinical professor in the sleep medicine division at Stanford University told CNN during an interview on March 10, that people shouldn’t rely heavily on what the app says and get anxious about their sleep before they even go to bed. That anxiety alone can disrupt sleep.
There’s also the question of accuracy. Dr. Salim Sunderram added that many consumer-grade trackers don’t actually provide a clear or reliable picture of what’s happening during your sleep. Inaccurate data can lead to unnecessary worry or misguided sleep tweaks, which can further disrupt your sleep.
Among the growing arsenal of sleepmaxxing tools, blue-light-blocking glasses have also become a fan favorite. The concept is simple: wear these glasses in the evening to filter out stimulating blue wavelengths emitted by screens and artificial lights, which can disrupt your…
Read the full article here
